RAPID CITY | Eric Mason, 43, died unexpectedly Monday, June 27, 2016, at home.

Eric was born on Oct. 6, 1972, at Grand Forks Air Force Base, ND, to Burt and Gretchen (Sailer) Mason. Eric spent his first six years on the base with his parents and big brother, Chris. He attended kindergarten at Carl Ben Eielson in 1978. When his baby brother, Jeffrey, arrived in November, Eric was so proud, that Eric insisted on taking him to school for show and tell. In 1979, the family moved to Rapid City, because Dad was transferred to Ellsworth Air Force Base. Eric attended school at Grandview Elementary, South Junior High and graduated from Central High School in 1990.

While at school, under the guidance of his art teacher, Mrs. Guisinger, his art skills blossomed. Eric developed many new skills to enhance his capabilities. He worked on the yearbook and the newspaper staff. He won Best of Show and other awards for his artwork at the Central States Fair in Rapid City. During the latter part of his Junior Year, he submitted an application and portfolio to the Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO. Eric was one of two students from the State of South Dakota selected to attend the conference. He also developed airbrush skills at a conference in Provincetown on Cape Cod and at another in Atlanta, GA. He attended classes at Black Hills State during the fall semester of 1990, while he worked at Hardees North.

In the spring of 1991, Eric worked for Mikohn Gaming in Rapid City as a graphic artist. While at Mikhon, he did the artwork for signs and games faces. In 1994, Eric accepted a job at A.C. Coin Co. in Las Vegas, NV. He did design work and his first big project involved work at the New York, New York Casino. After the New York, New York project, his company switched to building and installing gambling machines. Eric then traveled around the United States doing installs in casinos and even on a cruise ship that was docked in the Pacific Northwest. Due to the economic downturn in 2008, the elements of Eric's job were moved from Las Vegas to company headquarters in New Jersey. Eric moved back to Rapid City to be closer to his family. He started working at Rosenbaum Signs where he worked at the time of his death.

Eric enjoyed spending time with his family, researching and building LEGO projects, art, music, watching cooking shows and trying his hand at cooking and baking.

Eric is survived by his parents; his brother, Jeff (Laura) and much loved niece and nephew, Merrick and Grady Mason; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents and brother, Chris.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 7, at Calvary Lutheran Church, with Pastor Herb Cleveland officiating. Inurnment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in Eric's name.