On March 9, 2011, Clair Richard Brich fought his last battle and joined his parents, sister, and daughter-in-law in their heavenly home. Father and friend, counselor, avid golfer and outdoorsman, Clair Brich wore many hats and those that knew him shall miss him dearly. Always ready to step in and do his part Clair left his home in Carthage, South Dakota and enlisted in the Army National Guard at age 17. As a member of Company A, 109th Engineer Battalion, 34th Infantry Division (also known as the Red Bull Division), he rose to the rank of Master Sergeant, responsible for the well being and safety of his troops in faraway places like Algeria, Tunisia, Salerno, Benevento and Mount Patano. After many months on the front lines of World War II, his wounds earned him a Purple Heart and a trip home to South Dakota just in time for fall harvest and pheasant hunting. He soon returned to his battalion in Italy where pursuit of the enemy was halted on May 2, 1945, with the German surrender. The 109th Engineer Battalion registered nearly 600 days in the combat zone, the longest period of time for any American unit in World War II. Upon his Army discharge, he made his way home to Carthage where he married his high school sweetheart, Beatrice Wallace on October 23, 1945. He enrolled in the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, spending weekdays absorbed in his studies and weekends touring the beautiful Black Hills, hiking the scenic trails and trout fishing the cold, clear running streams with his new bride. Clair graduated from SDSM&T with an Electrical Engineering degree. Shortly after graduation, they welcomed their first child, Patricia Claire, and the new family moved to Huron where Clair had accepted an electrical engineering position with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Three more children - Richard Wallace, Randall Francis and Monica Mary were born in Huron. After a brief and cold stint with the private sector in Duluth, Minnesota, Clair & Bea moved their family back to South Dakota. Clair went to work for the Western Area Power Administration in Watertown where their fifth child, Rebecca Susan, completed Team Brich. Adept square dancers and accomplished ballroom dancers, Clair and Bea sashayed through the years while the kids completed their education. Equally avid golfers, in 1979 with kids gone to college or elsewhere, theylooked approvingly at the Front Range banana belt and made the move to Fort Collins where Clair became Director of Operations for Platte River Power Authority. Fort Collins became the home base for Team Brich with kids frequently arriving from north, east and west to visit and partake in the Rocky Mountain adventures just out their parents front door. Camping, hiking and picnic lunches became the norm. Retirement involved travel to places around the globe, including Ireland, Rome, Alaska, where they journeyed by bus, boat and train to view Denali; and frequent winter trips to Arizona, Florida, Hawaii and elsewhere. In 2002 they moved to Rapid City to be closer to Patricia and Richard and nestled in their canyon hideaway where whitetail deer and red fox sauntered beneath their picture window. As age and time relentlessly marched on, their final move was in June, 2010 to Parkwood apartments adjacent to St. Marys Hospital in Pierre where Randall could keep a close eye on them. Diagnosed with cancer several weeks later, Clair fought bravely against his merciless foe. Surviving one bout of pneumonia and a two-month stay at St. Marys Hospice, Clair rallied and returned to their Parkwood apartment for the final two months of his life. Together till the end, he and Bea celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in October, 2010 with all of their children in attendance. Clair is survived by his wife, Bea, who remains at Parkwood in Pierre; daughters Patricia (Marc) Asmussen, Lead; Monica (Bob Bondurant), Des Moines, IA; and Rebecca (Larry Skrdla), Ord, NE; sons Richard Brich, Pierre; and Randall (Michele) Brich, Pierre; grandchildren Sol Brich, Pierre; Jed (Pauline Whittebrood) Brich, Rockport, WA; Tonya (Tery) Vig, Belle Fourche; and Ross Brich, Belle Fourche; brother Bernard (Dorothy), Magalia, CA; and sister Mary Ellen Qualm, Riverton, WY. Clair was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Martha Brich; sister Bernita Turner; and daughter-in-law Carolyn Brich. Clairs children and grandchildren continue thriving and carrying on the Brich tradition of outdoor adventures, family and faith. Visitation will be Sunday, March 13, from 6 until 7 p.m., with a Christian wake service at 7 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church in Rapid City. Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 14, at Blessed Sacrament Church. Burial, with military honors provided by Rushmore VFW Post 1273 and the South Dakota National Guard, will be at 1:00 p.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.