Rapid City Donald Digger Weiland, 87, Rapid City, died Sunday, December 25, 2011 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Donald L. Weiland, or Digger as he has been known since college, was born January 4, 1924 at Scotland, South Dakota. He was the fourth youngest in a family of 15 children. He attended Scotland High School where he excelled in athletics even though he was a small man. In 1943 he entered the army before graduating. Every year he told his family about landing in Okinawa on Easter Sunday. After returning from the Army he attended Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish. There he met Gladys Poppe and convinced her to get married while they were still in college. For 65 years she was the love of his life. They remained dedicated and devoted to each other. This was never more obvious than in the last few years. Donald and Gladys had three children: Cynthia, Steven, and Jeffrey. Donald received a degree in teaching in 1950 and taught in Newcastle, Wyoming and Cathedral High School. He taught for over 37 years finishing his career at North Junior High teaching eighth grade social studies. He was a remarkable teacher who kept his students captivated day in and day out. Throughout his teaching career he also coached football, basketball, and track, loving every minute of it. He was the first girls basketball coach at Central High School. In addition to teaching and coaching, Donald refereed high school basketball games nearly every Friday and Saturday night for 30 years. He was inducted into the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame after refereeing 15 State AA basketball tournaments. After retirement Donald became an avid golfer and gardener. He loved to dance and was known as Jitterbug King of Scotland, South Dakota. He was an amazing storyteller with a repertoire of stories that were requested to be told again and again. Donald was a devout Catholic who never missed mass. He was a long-standing member of Blessed Sacrament Church. He also belonged to the Rapid City Elks Lodge where he pursued his love of golf. After a round, he enjoyed sharing a beer and golf stories with his many friends. Donald loved nothing more than being with his family at holiday functions or the infamous Weiland family reunions. But highest on his list of favorites was watching one of his sons or grandchildren in a sporting event. His children and grandchildren loved him dearly. He left us on Christmas Day surrounded by his family. Donald is survived by his wife Gladys; his daughter Cynthia Hilton and her husband Clacie Neu of Rapid City; his son Steve and wife Cindy of Yankton, SD; his son Jeffrey and wife Jeanette of New Orleans, LA. His four grandchildren: Adrien Hilton and husband Brendan Fitspatrick of Brooklyn, New York, Taylor Hilton of Rapid City, Sophie Hilton of Portland, Oregon, and Josh Weiland and fianc Emily Peterson of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and one sister: Marie Ulmer and husband Merrit of Menno, SD; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents: Joseph and Julia Mohr Weiland; nine brothers: Clarence, Joseph, Ray, Vince, Bill, Harold, Edward, Arthur, and Frank; four sisters: Alice, Gertrude, Julia, and Vi; and one son-in-law: Jimmy Hilton. A Vigil Service was held at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 27, 2011. The Memorial Funeral Service will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church, 4500 Jackson Boulevard at 11:30 am on Wednesday, December 28 with Rev. Father Tyler Dennis officiating. Burial will be held at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis at 2:30 pm with Military Honors by Rushmore VFW Post #1273 and South Dakota National Guard, following a luncheon at the church. A memorial has been established to Black Hills State University.