James "Jim" William Dark

James (Jim) William Dark, Summerset, SD (formerly of Sundance, Wyoming), passed away on February 4th, 2026, at Ft. Meade Veteran’s Hospital in Sturgis, with his wife Donna by his side.

Jim was born on September 6, 1947, in Nevada, Missouri, to Clarence and Wilma (Wallis) Dark. He grew up on a farm near Metz, Missouri where he learned to love the outdoors. During high school he was a star athlete and especially enjoyed playing baseball and basketball. He graduated from Metz, MO, where he developed a love for the great outdoors fishing and hunting birds accompanied by one or more faithful canine companions.

In high School he was a star athlete enjoying baseball and basketball. He graduated from Metz High School in 1965. Following graduation, he joined a sister and brother-in-law, Jim and Mary Ellen Murray in California. Jim entered the U.S. Air Force in 1966 and completed the “Electrical Power Production Specialist Course” at Sheppard Air Base in Texas in 1967. In April he was relocated to the 731st radar squadron, Sundance Air Force Station near Sundance, Wyoming. He reported daily to the PM-1 nuclear power plant atop the Bear Lodge Mountains working in specialty of power supply and was induced into the “Order of the Nervous Neutron”.

In March of 1968 he met Donna Hayward at the Sundance bowling alley and asked her to go out. They dated for 3 months before Jim received orders to report an 18th month tour at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. Anticipating the possibility that Donna could join him, they were united in marriage at Ellsworth Air Force Base on July 6, 1968.

Upon arrival at Clark AFB, however, Jim was placed in a temporary support group that would travel to numerous combat locations in SE Asia. His most frequent assignment was to a small base in the mountains above the demilitarized zone in Korea where the military was constructing power lines and all airmen were required to always have armed bodyguards.

Jim returned to Sundance and was honorably discharged in August 1972. Upon his return to Sundance, he joined his father-in-law, Calvin Hayward, in his electrical contracting business. A daughter, Darby was born in 1973, and another daughter, Jayme, joined the family in 1980. Jim was a patient and loving family man and father.

Jim and Donna later purchased the appliance portion of the Hayward business which they operated as Sundance Appliance for 35 years. Jim was also well known in the surrounding towns of Newcastle, Upton, Hulett and Moorcroft where he had many faithful customers before retiring and moving to Summerset, SD.

A loving and devoted man, Jim was always available to his family, friends and customers. He loved sports and enjoyed playing as well as watching. His true passion was God’s great outdoors where he spent endless hours fishing, hunting, playing baseball, camping and hiking accompanied by family and again, those faithful canine companions. He enjoyed working in his business and always appreciated the time spent at customers’ home making conversation and friendships.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Wilma (Wallis) Dark, a sister, Mary Ellen Murray. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Donna Dark, daughters Darby (Jason) Smiley of Rapid City, SD; and Jayme (Brock) Buresh of Maryville TN; grandchildren Jacob and Olyvia Smiley of Rapid City, SD and Brynn Buresh of Maryville, TN; sisters, Rosalee (Bob) Craig of Olney, TX and Carol (Leonard) Ayres of Leavenworth, KS, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Pheasants Forever or the Veteran’s Administration.