HILL CITY- Howard G. Brunner, 74, is free of his pain, able to hear, walk, and see since he went home to the Lord on Friday, September 6, 2013. He died at the Rapid City Regional Hospital Auxiliary Hospice House in Rapid City after a seven year battle with metastatic bladder cancer. He was born in Hudson, SD on August 25, 1939 to Harvey and Marguerite Brunner. He had one brother, Jim Brunner of Custer. Just out of high school, he married Mary Jones in Hudson and proudly fathered Janice Jayne and Martin Duane. He started working at a young age with his dad, Harvey, in their blacksmith shop. His first away-from-home job was spent as a summer ranch hand. Howard's first full time employment was with Dual Manufacturing in Hawarden, Iowa. Later he was employed by SD Game Fish & Parks at Custer State Park. On September 2, 1964, he was severely burned while assisting in the suppression of the Headquarters Fire in Wind Cave National Park, after which he received the Fireman of the Year Award. He also worked as a fire lookout on Harney Peak and Mt. Coolidge. Howard and Mary then returned to Eastern South Dakota, where he supervised a shift at Otis Manufacturing for three years and also helped them to set up electronics factories in Taiwan and in Mexico. After returning to the states, he worked at a gas station, as a city police officer and managed the Eagles Club in Hawarden, Iowa. In addition, Howard worked as a trucker, Custer Mill & Newberg's, helped his dad on the ranch, dispatched for the Custer County Sheriff's Department before completing law enforcement training in Pierre. He served as a deputy for Custer County, then Pennington County, retiring as a sergeant after approximately 23 years. Patrolling at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with his "twin" Bob Gelderdt, on matching Harley motorycles was one of the highlights of his law enforcement career. In 2002, Howard retired from Pennington County only to find himself back at work as a security guard at Rapid City Regional Hospital for five years. Then he fired the engine at the 1880 Train, and volunteered as a guard at the Black Hills Sculpture Show in Hill City. After moving 16 times in 15 years, on Saturday, December 11, 1976, Howard finally settled down and married Sharon Cates Lytle in Rapid City. This Lutheran man and Catholic woman were married by an Episcopal Priest, in the study of a Methodist Church in Rapid City. He and Sharon lived for 31 years south of Hill City. Besides parenting his own children and Sharon's, he was very proud of his sponsorship of a Swedish foreign exchange student, Tomas Brungard. He and Tomas have treasure their relationship since the day Tomas stepped off the plane in August of 1979. The area blood bank loved Howard's blood. He was very proud of the 61 pints of A+ blood that he donated over many years. Howard rode the Custer and Buckaroo Trail Rides every year with his Dad. He always returned home from those rides with a great deal of satisfaction and stories to tell. He also enjoyed riding his mules in the Hills area. After he and Sharon finally retired, his last big project was building their dream house on the Deerfield Road facing Harney Peak. They celebrated their 36th anniversary last December. Howard loved his God and was a faithful Catholic. He served with his church family in many ways: as a regular Eucharistic Minister, usher, greeter, church council member, and maintenance committee member, but he also vacuumed and cleaned, washed and dried dishes, served food, changed liturgy materials, helped decorate for holidays, donated to Terra Sancta, sponsored a Christian Foundation for Children and Aging elder, and more. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Brunner, Hill City; his beloved daughter, Janice Beeman, Hot Springs; loving son, Martin (Marty) Brunner, El Cajon, CA; stepdaughter, Ronda (David) Sherman, Johnstown, NE; stepson, Gary Lytle, Anchorage, AK; brother, Jim Brunner, Custer; two granddaughter, Holly and Dawn; grandson, Jarad; three great granddaughters and one great grandson; step grandsons, Tyler and Derek Sherman and Josh and Brendan Lytle; niece, Erin (Nate) Brunner Chowning; nephew, James David (Li Jane) Brunner; and numerous in-laws; grand nephews and nieces; and special friends Tomas Bunegard and family, Sweden. Howard was preceded in death by his parents, and nephew Luke Gregson. All family and friends are invited to celebrate Howard's lifeto pray, and to hear and tell stories at his Wake. Visitation will be from 5:00- 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 13, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Hill City with the Christian Wake Service to follow at 7:00. A reception will follow in the Church Hall. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 14, at the Church with Rev. Brian Lane presiding. Interment will take place at Hill City Cemetery following the luncheon. "Earth is receding; Heaven is opening God is calling; I must go" - DL Moody Memorials have been established to St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church Scholarship Fund and Hill City Senior Center.