OBITUARIES
Robert E. Prunty
Robert E. Prunty, 92, of Rapid City, SD died Sunday, March 3, 2019, at St. Martin Good Samaritan nursing home.
Memorial Service will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday,
March 14, 2019, at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City, SD with Fr. Bill Zandri officiating.
Burial with military honors, will be 3:00 p.m. Thursday, March 14, 2019, at Black Hills National Cemetery at Sturgis, SD.
Robert E. Prunty son of, Earl and Hazel (Slocum) Prunty was born December 28, 1926, in Rapid City, SD. Bob went to school in Rapid City, graduating from RC High School in 1945. He served in the U.S. Navy. Following discharge from the Navy went to the SD School of Mines. On June 5, 1948, he married Eleanor Ballenger in Rapid City. With her help (she got a PHT — Pushing Hubby Thru — Certificate), he graduated in May 1950, with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Robert went to work as a design engineer for Oliver Corp., which subsequently became part of White Motor Corp. He always said the most enjoyable work was designing tractor parts and components and wound up as Vice President of Engineering and retired in December of 1987. Robert’s favorite times during those years was helping Eleanor raise three great boys and all that goes with that. He loved the boys’ activities along with family camping, fishing, skiing, golfing and traveling on various vacation trips all over the country. For retirement he and Eleanor went to beautiful Bella Vista, AR for more fishing, golfing and traveling. When they finally had to slow down in 2006, they decided to come back to the Black Hills to enjoy family, friends and the Hills. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2008. Robert was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Church.
Grateful for having shared Robert’s life are his wife of 70 years, Eleanor of Rapid City; three sons, Michael (Adrianne) Prunty of Rapid City, Richard Prunty of Wheaton, IL, William (Cindy), Bella Vista, AR; brother, William (Gigi) Prunty, Bozeman, MT; brother-in-law, Larry Engel, Olympia, WA and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Carol of Olympia, WA.
Arrangements are with Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City. www.kirkfuneral home.com.
PAID OBITUARY
Caroline Marie Searls
Caroline Marie Searls, 81, of Bella Vista, Ark., died March 4, 2019.
She was born the daughter of John and Ruby McCain, Jan. 5, 1938, in McDonald,
Kan. She was a co-owner for Ford Garage and worked for Beamgard Learning Center and Atwood Citizen Patriot before retiring. She enjoyed quilting and was a member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League of Bella Vista Lutheran Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Deloit Peterson; and daughter, Shawna Peterson.
Survivors include her husband of 18 years, Jim Searls; son, Robert (Pennie) Peterson of Trenton, Neb.; stepchildren, Mike (Lisa) Searls of Parker, Colo., and Sherry Lynn Nissen of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.;and four grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Friday, March 8, 2019, at Bella Vista Lutheran Church.
Online condolences may be made at www.funeral mation.com.
Arrangements were by Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory.
Charles Lamar Watkins
Charles Lamar Watkins, 71, of Bella Vista, Ark., died March 3, 2019, at Concordia Care and Rehab.
He was born April 26, 1947, to Charlie and Dorothy Watkins in Pangburn, Ark. He served in the U.S. Army. He was a welder and fabricator for Mid-America Manufacturing. He moved to Bella Vista six years ago from Jonesboro. Charles loved to crappie fish, watch Netflix and play with his fur babies, Kiki and Lucky.
He is preceded in death by his parents; and son, Bryan Watkins.
Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Sue Watkins; children, Andy Watkins (Tabitha) of Bentonville, daughter-in-law Kelly Watkins; sisters, Yvonne Clay of Tennessee, Peggy Orr of Jonesboro, Melba Griffin of Judsonia; brother, Larry Orr of Jonesboro; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at Bella Vista Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Larry Weihe officiating. Burial followed at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made at www.funeral mation.com.