Former Mayor Arthur Paul LaCroix, 82, died on Friday, May 27, 2005, at his residence.
He was born December 8, 1922, in the Devil's Nest Hills of Knox County in northeast Nebraska to Oliver and Mary LaCroix. His parents and eight brothers and sisters moved to South Dakota where they farmed north of Wall. During the Depression his family journeyed to Rapid City which became their permanent home. Art was very proud of his part Santee-Sioux heritage, and followed his visions to great leadership.
In his early 20s, Art served in the United States Army in Europe during World War II where he took part in the Battle of the Bulge. He received a battlefield commission as well as the Purple Heart for being wounded in battle. He was a proud member of the 106th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop.
On September 28, 1947, while serving overseas Art married his late wife Trude Ertl in Gmunden, Austria. After returning home to the States with his new bride, he remained in the Army Reserve and retired as a Major after 20 years of honorable service.
In 1956 Art became a businessman as he joined Cyrus Pettigrew and Vern Lecy in partnership in the opening of the Linoleum Center.
Art served his community by taking an active role in the North Rapid Civic Association which led him to become an Alderman for Ward 4. When Art decided to run for Mayor he sold his business to pursue all the responsibilities for the Mayor's position, and to avoid any conflict of interest.
In 1975 Art was elected Mayor and served 12 years as Rapid City's longest active Mayor. His initial job was monumental and very challenging since Rapid City was still recovering from the devastating 1972 flood and needed rebuilding and more clean-up. Under Art's leadership the city was transformed into the Star of the West, the ravaged path of the flood turned into ball parks, bike and hiking trails, golf courses and greenbelts. Art worked on several big projects such as the airport, the Civic Center, a new main fire station and the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn Hotel. He was also instrumental in planning the city school administration building. He served on numerous boards and committees during his lifetime and was honored with many awards, including naming the LaCroix Links Golf Course and LaCroix Hall at the Civic Center in his honor.
Art was also a very talented artist whose alabaster sculpture "Shuntanka" has been cited in the National Geographic and Lapidary Journal. This particular sculpture is of two fighting stallions and has been on display at the Rapid City Art Gallery in the past. Other hobbies included golfing, skiing, hunting, fishing, playing the organ and wood carving. He also enjoyed baseball as a young man. He was a member of the Westside Kiwanis Club and was presented with the George F. Hixson Fellow award. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and served as honorary Chairperson for the Dahl Fine Arts Center campaign.
Art attended St. Therese Catholic Church where he carved the beautiful rose on the altar. After Trude's death, he married Hermine "Chris" Lemon and became a member of Blessed Sacrament Church.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Chris, son Michael LaCroix with wife Sally of Rapid City, stepson Dan Carlson and his wife Michelle of Capitol Heights, MD; stepson Levern Carlson and wife Sandra of Austin, TX; three sisters, Agnes Mousel of Rapid City, Gertrude Adams of Jacksonville, FL, and Margaret Hoggatt of Longview, WA; also three grandsons, Christopher, Anthony and James LaCroix and four granddaughters, Blaire, Ellese, Miranda and Rachel Carlson.
He was preceded in death by his parents Oliver and Mary LaCroix, his first wife Trude and his brothers Francis, Leonard, Roy and Everett LaCroix.
His family and friends will deeply miss Art who so unselfishly devoted his life to his family, community and country he cared for so much. We lost a wonderful man and a great leader. May he rest in peace.
Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Osheim-Catron Funeral Home. Christian Wake services, with Rosary, will be at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Blessed Sacrament Church.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Blessed Sacrament Church with Rev. Kevin Achbach presiding.
He was born December 8, 1922, in the Devil's Nest Hills of Knox County in northeast Nebraska to Oliver and Mary LaCroix. His parents and eight brothers and sisters moved to South Dakota where they farmed north of Wall. During the Depression his family journeyed to Rapid City which became their permanent home. Art was very proud of his part Santee-Sioux heritage, and followed his visions to great leadership.
In his early 20s, Art served in the United States Army in Europe during World War II where he took part in the Battle of the Bulge. He received a battlefield commission as well as the Purple Heart for being wounded in battle. He was a proud member of the 106th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop.
On September 28, 1947, while serving overseas Art married his late wife Trude Ertl in Gmunden, Austria. After returning home to the States with his new bride, he remained in the Army Reserve and retired as a Major after 20 years of honorable service.
In 1956 Art became a businessman as he joined Cyrus Pettigrew and Vern Lecy in partnership in the opening of the Linoleum Center.
Art served his community by taking an active role in the North Rapid Civic Association which led him to become an Alderman for Ward 4. When Art decided to run for Mayor he sold his business to pursue all the responsibilities for the Mayor's position, and to avoid any conflict of interest.
In 1975 Art was elected Mayor and served 12 years as Rapid City's longest active Mayor. His initial job was monumental and very challenging since Rapid City was still recovering from the devastating 1972 flood and needed rebuilding and more clean-up. Under Art's leadership the city was transformed into the Star of the West, the ravaged path of the flood turned into ball parks, bike and hiking trails, golf courses and greenbelts. Art worked on several big projects such as the airport, the Civic Center, a new main fire station and the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn Hotel. He was also instrumental in planning the city school administration building. He served on numerous boards and committees during his lifetime and was honored with many awards, including naming the LaCroix Links Golf Course and LaCroix Hall at the Civic Center in his honor.
Art was also a very talented artist whose alabaster sculpture "Shuntanka" has been cited in the National Geographic and Lapidary Journal. This particular sculpture is of two fighting stallions and has been on display at the Rapid City Art Gallery in the past. Other hobbies included golfing, skiing, hunting, fishing, playing the organ and wood carving. He also enjoyed baseball as a young man. He was a member of the Westside Kiwanis Club and was presented with the George F. Hixson Fellow award. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and served as honorary Chairperson for the Dahl Fine Arts Center campaign.
Art attended St. Therese Catholic Church where he carved the beautiful rose on the altar. After Trude's death, he married Hermine "Chris" Lemon and became a member of Blessed Sacrament Church.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Chris, son Michael LaCroix with wife Sally of Rapid City, stepson Dan Carlson and his wife Michelle of Capitol Heights, MD; stepson Levern Carlson and wife Sandra of Austin, TX; three sisters, Agnes Mousel of Rapid City, Gertrude Adams of Jacksonville, FL, and Margaret Hoggatt of Longview, WA; also three grandsons, Christopher, Anthony and James LaCroix and four granddaughters, Blaire, Ellese, Miranda and Rachel Carlson.
He was preceded in death by his parents Oliver and Mary LaCroix, his first wife Trude and his brothers Francis, Leonard, Roy and Everett LaCroix.
His family and friends will deeply miss Art who so unselfishly devoted his life to his family, community and country he cared for so much. We lost a wonderful man and a great leader. May he rest in peace.
Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Osheim-Catron Funeral Home. Christian Wake services, with Rosary, will be at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Blessed Sacrament Church.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Blessed Sacrament Church with Rev. Kevin Achbach presiding.
Former Mayor Arthur Paul LaCroix, 82, died on Friday, May 27, 2005, at his residence.
He was born December 8, 1922, in the Devil's Nest Hills of Knox County in northeast Nebraska to Oliver and Mary LaCroix. His parents and eight brothers and sisters moved to South Dakota where they farmed north of Wall. During the Depression his family journeyed to Rapid City which became their permanent home. Art was very proud of his part Santee-Sioux heritage, and followed his visions to great leadership.
In his early 20s, Art served in the United States Army in Europe during World War II where he took part in the Battle of the Bulge. He received a battlefield commission as well as the Purple Heart for being wounded in battle. He was a proud member of the 106th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop.
On September 28, 1947, while serving overseas Art married his late wife Trude Ertl in Gmunden, Austria. After returning home to the States with his new bride, he remained in the Army Reserve and retired as a Major after 20 years of honorable service.
In 1956 Art became a businessman as he joined Cyrus Pettigrew and Vern Lecy in partnership in the opening of the Linoleum Center.
Art served his community by taking an active role in the North Rapid Civic Association which led him to become an Alderman for Ward 4. When Art decided to run for Mayor he sold his business to pursue all the responsibilities for the Mayor's position, and to avoid any conflict of interest.
In 1975 Art was elected Mayor and served 12 years as Rapid City's longest active Mayor. His initial job was monumental and very challenging since Rapid City was still recovering from the devastating 1972 flood and needed rebuilding and more clean-up. Under Art's leadership the city was transformed into the Star of the West, the ravaged path of the flood turned into ball parks, bike and hiking trails, golf courses and greenbelts. Art worked on several big projects such as the airport, the Civic Center, a new main fire station and the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn Hotel. He was also instrumental in planning the city school administration building. He served on numerous boards and committees during his lifetime and was honored with many awards, including naming the LaCroix Links Golf Course and LaCroix Hall at the Civic Center in his honor.
Art was also a very talented artist whose alabaster sculpture "Shuntanka" has been cited in the National Geographic and Lapidary Journal. This particular sculpture is of two fighting stallions and has been on display at the Rapid City Art Gallery in the past. Other hobbies included golfing, skiing, hunting, fishing, playing the organ and wood carving. He also enjoyed baseball as a young man. He was a member of the Westside Kiwanis Club and was presented with the George F. Hixson Fellow award. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and served as honorary Chairperson for the Dahl Fine Arts Center campaign.
Art attended St. Therese Catholic Church where he carved the beautiful rose on the altar. After Trude's death, he married Hermine "Chris" Lemon and became a member of Blessed Sacrament Church.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Chris, son Michael LaCroix with wife Sally of Rapid City, stepson Dan Carlson and his wife Michelle of Capitol Heights, MD; stepson Levern Carlson and wife Sandra of Austin, TX; three sisters, Agnes Mousel of Rapid City, Gertrude Adams of Jacksonville, FL, and Margaret Hoggatt of Longview, WA; also three grandsons, Christopher, Anthony and James LaCroix and four granddaughters, Blaire, Ellese, Miranda and Rachel Carlson.
He was preceded in death by his parents Oliver and Mary LaCroix, his first wife Trude and his brothers Francis, Leonard, Roy and Everett LaCroix.
His family and friends will deeply miss Art who so unselfishly devoted his life to his family, community and country he cared for so much. We lost a wonderful man and a great leader. May he rest in peace.
Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Osheim-Catron Funeral Home. Christian Wake services, with Rosary, will be at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Blessed Sacrament Church.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Blessed Sacrament Church with Rev. Kevin Achbach presiding.
He was born December 8, 1922, in the Devil's Nest Hills of Knox County in northeast Nebraska to Oliver and Mary LaCroix. His parents and eight brothers and sisters moved to South Dakota where they farmed north of Wall. During the Depression his family journeyed to Rapid City which became their permanent home. Art was very proud of his part Santee-Sioux heritage, and followed his visions to great leadership.
In his early 20s, Art served in the United States Army in Europe during World War II where he took part in the Battle of the Bulge. He received a battlefield commission as well as the Purple Heart for being wounded in battle. He was a proud member of the 106th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop.
On September 28, 1947, while serving overseas Art married his late wife Trude Ertl in Gmunden, Austria. After returning home to the States with his new bride, he remained in the Army Reserve and retired as a Major after 20 years of honorable service.
In 1956 Art became a businessman as he joined Cyrus Pettigrew and Vern Lecy in partnership in the opening of the Linoleum Center.
Art served his community by taking an active role in the North Rapid Civic Association which led him to become an Alderman for Ward 4. When Art decided to run for Mayor he sold his business to pursue all the responsibilities for the Mayor's position, and to avoid any conflict of interest.
In 1975 Art was elected Mayor and served 12 years as Rapid City's longest active Mayor. His initial job was monumental and very challenging since Rapid City was still recovering from the devastating 1972 flood and needed rebuilding and more clean-up. Under Art's leadership the city was transformed into the Star of the West, the ravaged path of the flood turned into ball parks, bike and hiking trails, golf courses and greenbelts. Art worked on several big projects such as the airport, the Civic Center, a new main fire station and the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn Hotel. He was also instrumental in planning the city school administration building. He served on numerous boards and committees during his lifetime and was honored with many awards, including naming the LaCroix Links Golf Course and LaCroix Hall at the Civic Center in his honor.
Art was also a very talented artist whose alabaster sculpture "Shuntanka" has been cited in the National Geographic and Lapidary Journal. This particular sculpture is of two fighting stallions and has been on display at the Rapid City Art Gallery in the past. Other hobbies included golfing, skiing, hunting, fishing, playing the organ and wood carving. He also enjoyed baseball as a young man. He was a member of the Westside Kiwanis Club and was presented with the George F. Hixson Fellow award. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and served as honorary Chairperson for the Dahl Fine Arts Center campaign.
Art attended St. Therese Catholic Church where he carved the beautiful rose on the altar. After Trude's death, he married Hermine "Chris" Lemon and became a member of Blessed Sacrament Church.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Chris, son Michael LaCroix with wife Sally of Rapid City, stepson Dan Carlson and his wife Michelle of Capitol Heights, MD; stepson Levern Carlson and wife Sandra of Austin, TX; three sisters, Agnes Mousel of Rapid City, Gertrude Adams of Jacksonville, FL, and Margaret Hoggatt of Longview, WA; also three grandsons, Christopher, Anthony and James LaCroix and four granddaughters, Blaire, Ellese, Miranda and Rachel Carlson.
He was preceded in death by his parents Oliver and Mary LaCroix, his first wife Trude and his brothers Francis, Leonard, Roy and Everett LaCroix.
His family and friends will deeply miss Art who so unselfishly devoted his life to his family, community and country he cared for so much. We lost a wonderful man and a great leader. May he rest in peace.
Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Osheim-Catron Funeral Home. Christian Wake services, with Rosary, will be at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Blessed Sacrament Church.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Blessed Sacrament Church with Rev. Kevin Achbach presiding.
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