Harold E. Riggins, also known as "Duke" to his family and friends, was born April 22, 1919, on the family farm, located eight miles northwest of Kingsley, Iowa, the son of Floyd and Marie (Dugan) Riggins.

He attended Union School for seven years, which was located west of the farm. In 1932, he moved with his family to a ranch on Bear Creek, 10 miles west of Wanblee, South Dakota. He graduated from Garner School in 1934.

At the age of 16, it was discovered he had night blindness, which he never let stop him from doing his normal activities, like riding broncs, which he was considered one of the best in the area.

Duke worked as a ranch hand for several neighbors. During World War II, he volunteered for the Army, but because of his night blindness, was denied acceptance. He, along with his three younger sisters and his youngest brother, held the family ranch together until the war was over and the other three brothers returned from the service.

He and his brother, Tuffy, operated the Searby ranch, west of Wanblee, until 1949 when they moved to a ranch east of Wanblee, which they operated until 1951. In 1951, he purchased a ranch south of Interior, which he continued to operate until retiring in October of 1996. Since retirement, he made his home in Kadoka with his sister, Faye Eisenbraun, until the time of his death.

Harold attended Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Kadoka.

Grateful for having shared his life are his two brothers, Wayne Riggins and his wife, Bonnie, of Wanblee, and J.L. "Tuffy" Riggins and his wife, Lola Joyce, of Wall; four sisters, Faye Eisenbraun of Kadoka, Valene Perault and her husband, Bud, of Belvidere, Ercell Albin and her husband, Woodrow, of Belvidere, and Cloreta Eisenbraun and her husband, Marvin, of Wanblee; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Cecil, Rex, Lynden, and Jerry Lee Riggins.

A memorial is established to the Kadoka Ambulance.

Mass of Christian Burial
Monday, May 4, 1998
10:00 a.m.
Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church
Kadoka, South Dakota

Celebrant
Father Bob Baden
Assisted by Deacon Gene Heckathorne

Music
JoAnne Stilwell - Organist
Jill Eckert and Shaun McKay - Vocalists

Ushers
John Eisenbraun - Stuart Riggins
Sterling Riggins - Brad Riggins

Active Pallbearers
Randy Eisenbraun - Quentin Riggins
Justin Riggins - Stephen Riggins
Kelly Riggins - Mike Perault

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Wanblee Community Cemetery
Wanblee, South Dakota