Eugene C. Bishop SPEARFISH, SOUTH DAKOTA -- Eugene C. Bishop, 75, died Thursday, July 10, 2008 at Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota, after a fall off a ladder on July 5, outside his home in Spearfish. He was born August 8, 1932, in Jenera, Ohio, to Ray and Florence (Barber) Bishop, the eighth of nine children. He graduated from Arlington High School in 1950 and served in the US Air Force from 1952-1955. He was stationed at the Rushmore Air Base, South Dakota, (currently known as Ellsworth) and was involved in early atomic security. He met Donna Dahlberg at a dance in Whitewood, SD. They married on July 16, 1954, in Rapid City and raised six children. He was employed more than 30 years with the Federal Civil Service and served as the head of DPDO at Ellsworth AFB and locations in Hawaii and Korea. He retired in 1978 and had lived in the Nisland, SD and Sturgis, SD areas before moving to Ridgecrest, CA, in 1998. He had returned to South Dakota in May. Eugene was very active and had recently purchased a scooter to transport himself around town. He traveled with his sons to Hawaii and Boston this past spring and participated in the annual Volksmarch to Crazy Horse in June with his daughter. Two weeks ago he attended his High School reunion and family reunion in Ohio. Eugene was the model for hard work done well and could repair just about anything. He enjoyed playing card games, dominoes and cribbage. He was a master at checkers and chess. He loved to listen to Dean Martin tunes and watch reruns of Bonanza and Matlock. He loved peach pie, corn meal mush and ice cream. He was a wonderful father, grandpa and great grandpa Gene. "GP" will be missed by his family, friends and neighbors. Eugene will be celebrating his wedding anniversary this year with his wife, Donna, who proceeded him in death in July 2003. His six children survive: Genie (Vic) Ellis, Black Hawk, SD, Tim Bishop, Vacaville, CA, Kelly Geisinger, Minneapolis, MN., Jon (Melinda) Bishop, Santa Monica, CA, Mindy (Steve) Olsen and Dan and (Diane) Bishop, Ridgecrest, CA. Thirteen grandchildren include: Zeb (Laura) Ellis and Emily (Nick) Eiesland, Black Hawk, Lisbeth (Dan) Buchko, Rapid City, Dustin (Jenny) Geisinger, Justin, Thomas and James Geisinger, Minneapolis, Janelle, Josie and Brett Olsen and Aidan Bishop, Ridgecrest, CA, Jordan and Jake Bishop, Santa Monica, CA; and one great granddaughter, Eleese Eiesland, Black Hawk. Surviving brothers and sisters are Ralph (Madeline) Bishop, Walter (Helen) Bishop, Clair (Beulah) Bishop and Gerald (Pauline) Bishop, Findlay, OH, Mary (Robert) Hubbard, Fostoria, OH, Edna Roudebush, Dayton, OH, Marion (Madonna) Bishop, Vandalia, OH and Helen (Robert) Brinkman, Leesburg, VA. He also had many, many nieces and nephews. A graveside memorial will be held at a later date at the cemetery in Whitewood, SD.