Ernest C. Barton, 94 passed away Friday, June 19, 2020, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Ernie was born January 7, 1926 in Rapid City, SD. He served in the US Navy during WWII. He left Rapid City, and met and married Jean Mae Sandvik in Anchorage, AK while working on the Alaska Railroad. They moved back to Rapid City to raise their family and start Barton Masonry with his brother John Barton. Ernie and Jean Mae raised their growing family in Rapid City and were married for 50 years until Jean Mae passed away in 2002.  Ernie continued to live in Rapid City and watch his family grow with the addition of grandchildren and great grandchildren.  For ten years Lorraine Van Alstyne served as Ernie's companion and friend until she passed away in 2016.

Ernie was a successful Masonry Contractor.  He and John were part of building many iconic Rapid City buildings, including the the Cathedral of our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City Civic Center, Central High School. Ernie also oversaw masonry construction projects that included multiple buildings at Ellsworth Air Force Base and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and dozens more.  He loved to work and be active, he semi-retired at the age of 65 and closed ECB Masonry, but kept going and owned and managed several rental properties right up until his passing.

Ernie was an active member of the Rapid City business community, Chamber of Commerce, member and president of the Rapid City Builders Exchange, and past president of the Diplomats. He was a 57 year member of the Elks Club, a past president, and member of the Western South Dakota Buckaroos since 1975, and active member of the Custer Trail Riders for 45 years. Ernie loved life and cherished his family and friends, he was the life of any party. We will never forget his signature "Yippee", when he was having fun, which was most of the time.

Survivors include daughters, Dale Volmer (Dennis), Piedmont, SD. Debra Weimer (Len), Rapid City, SD  and Sally Cozort (Malcolm), Minnetonka, MN, stepson Rodney Yohn, and niece Kim Barton. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Brittne Shoberg, Bree Volmer Woods, Nicole Weimer, Trevor Weimer, Carissa Mitchell, Corinne Cozort, Samantha Cozort, and Tyler Cozort. Six great grandchildren, Ty Vollmer, Taran Vollmer, Devin Woods, Danae Woods, Brodie Mitchell, and Rayana Shoberg.

Come celebrate Ernie's life at James Kjerstad Event Center at the Central States Fair Grounds, 915 E. Centre St., Rapid City, SD 57701 from 10am to 2pm Thursday, June 25th. Funeral services will be at 11 am with a light lunch after. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to benefit the Western South Dakota Buckaroos Scholarship Fund. 1002 East Omaha St., Rapid City, SD, 57701.