Rapid City. Grove Allen Rathbun, 85, died Tuesday, March 2, 2016 in the Rapid City Regional Auxiliary Hospice House of complications from prostate cancer. Born in Deadwood to his parents Marion and Grove (Jack) Rathbun of Nisland, SD on July 24, 1930, he attended the Nisland schools until graduation in 1948. He graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in 1952 as a mining engineer and from the University of California, Berkeley with his Masters in Mining Engineering in 1959. After working for U.S. Steel for 33 years until his retirement in 1985, he taught courses in Mining Engineering and Industrial Engineering at the S.D. School of Mines & Technology for several years.

Grove earned his private pilot's license at 17 and had 65 continuous years in the air. Grove joined the US Air Force in 1954 and honorably discharged in 1955. He was a member of the Air National Guard in both Duluth, MN and Pittsburgh, PA for more than 27 years, flying fighter jets, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel with a rating as Command Pilot in 1981. He continued his love of flying in his own Cessna 182. For his knowledge, professionalism and safety record, he was named a "Wright Brothers Master Pilot" by the F.A.A. in 2005 for having flown 50 or more years. He served several terms recently as the president of the South Dakota Pilots Association.

He was a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, having served as Senior and Junior Warden, was a dedicated guide for school and tour groups at The Journey Museum and was an ardent supporter of the SDSM&T Alumni Association. He was awarded the coveted Guy March Medal by the Alum Association.

Survivors are his wife Janet, sons; Steven (Diana) of Salt Lake City, Scott of Aurora, CO; and John (Deborah), two grandchildren David and Abigail of Chagrin Falls, OH and a brother David Rathbun of Nisland, SD.

A time to visit with family will begin at 9:00am at Emmanuel Episcopal Church with funeral services to follow on Monday, March 14, 2016 at 10:00a.m. with a luncheon following. The Committal will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis in the early afternoon.

Memorials may be sent to Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 717 Quincy St., Rapid City, SD 57701; the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Alumni Association, 501 East St. Joseph St., Rapid City, SD 57701; or The Journey Museum, 222 New York St., Rapid City, SD 57701.