Spearfish Gale M. Grinager, 91, passed over on Thursday, April 13, 2016 at the David M. Dorsett Health Care facility in Spearfish.

Gale Melvin Grinager was born April 22, 1925 at Madison, South Dakota to Melvin Lamore and Fern M. [Smith] Grinager . He grew to adulthood and attended school at Madison, graduating from Madison High School in 1943.

He entered the United States Army on May 3, 1944. After basic training, Gale was transferred to North Africa, then on to Italy where he "walked from the boot heel to the top" of Italy during the war. He was also part of the occupation forces in Italy and spent some time in Switzerland. Gale was honorable discharged on July 9, 1946 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He then attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD and received his bachelor's degree in business.

He married Mary Jo Helen Mason on July 30, 1951 at Belle Fourche, SD. They lived in Belle Fourche for a short time then moved to Pickstown, SD where his son, Gale A. was born, July 26, 1952. A year later they moved to Waverly, Ohio for two years and then moved to Rapid City where he worked for the South Dakota Employment office (Job Service) and at Mills Drug store as a pharmacist. In 1964, Gale was transferred to the Employment Office in Deadwood until his retirement in 1982. Gale was also served as the Lawrence County Veterans Service Representative and Farmers Insurance Representative.

His organizational memberships included; the V.F.W., American Legion, Rotary International, Rapid City Morning Optimists and B.P.O.E.

Mary Jo died on June 11, 1999. Gale moved to Rapid City on December 7, 2011 and a short time later moved to Spearfish.

Through the Optimists Club, Gale was one of the original founders of the Boys Club at the old railroad depot. He enjoyed working in the yard and gardening for Mary Jo.

Survivors include one son : Gale Allan Grinager (Deborah Todd) of Rapid City and one grandson: Jess Grinager of Lincoln, NE.

He was preceded in death by his wife, an infant son, Bobby in 1954 and his parents.

A change of date for his Celebration of Life Memorial service has been delayed to

Friday, May 5, 2017 at 11:30 am, Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Inurnment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery with military honors at 1:00pm.

A memorial has been established for the Club for Boys in Rapid City.