Rock Gillaspie

Rock Gillaspie, age 53, of Midland, S.D., died on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at Avera St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre.

Rock Bennett Gillaspie was born May 9, 1963, in Pierre, the son of John J. And Avis (Schilling) Gillaspie. He grew up in Midland, and attended Midland School until 1977 when he moved with his family to Ord, Neb. He graduated from Ord High School in 1981. He then attended Wyoming Technical School in Laramie, where he majored in diesel mechanics. 

Rock then worked at A&G Diesel in Mitchell. He remained in Mitchell until moving to Ft. Pierre and working for an implement dealer in Blunt.

In 1987, he moved to Arizona with his brother, Jim, and worked for a landscaping company. He then moved to Texas where he worked at a construction company, before moving back to Ord in 1989, and worked for the John Deere dealership. In 1998, he began working for the State of South Dakota Department of Transportation, Murdo. He covered a wide area for the state, working on a variety of vehicles. 

He was a member of the Midland Volunteer Fire Department, Midland Ambulance Service and a town board member.

Rock enjoyed fishing, loved to travel and would visit with everyone. 

Survivors include his special friend, Lesa Hodgin, of Ft. Pierre, and her children, Amanda, Amber and Nick, and their children, Benjamin, Charlie, Nevaeh and Luci; three brothers, John L. (Danette) Gillaspie of Hot Springs, Ken Gillaspie of Pierre and James (Sharon) Gillaspie of Pierre; four sisters, Evie (Doug) Abrahamson of Bowman, N.D., Marilyn Hoyt of Ft. Pierre, Mary Schofield of Midland and Delores (Carl) Suminski of Ord, Neb.; special friends, Theron and Linda Hodgin; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Rock was preceded in death by his parents, John J. and Avis Gillaspie; two brothers, Ronald and Conrad Gillaspie; one brother and one sister in infancy; three brothers-in-law, Orris Skogen, Jim Hoyt and Vincent Schofield; a sister-in-law, Marilyn Gillaspie; and two nephews, Dean Joseph Gillaspie and Michael Schofield.

Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Wednesday, June 1, at St. William Catholic Church in Midland.

Interment was at the Midland Cemetery.

Arrangements were with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.