If you are reading this, you know that I am dead.  Writing this while alive cannot tell you at this time, if I am on the stairway to heaven or on the highway to hell.

I was born May 31, 1933, in Martin, SD to Joe and Vera (Gee) Lytle.  The sixth of seven children, weighing in at ? lbs. and ? inches Long.

We lived on the reservation on Pass Creek in a log home with dirt floor and a sod roof.

When I was almost 2 years old, we moved to a farm/ranch five miles northeast of Wasta, SD.  Here we survived (6 children and parents) in a three-room house during the Dirty Thirties and the Great Depression along with the grasshoppers and the drought.

I attended grade school at Wasta through the 7th grade. I attended 8th grade and high school in Wall.  I graduated from high school in May of 1950 at the age of 16.

There were not a lot of activities for youth in the 1940's.  About the only thing to do was play basketball.  We played outside in our shorts with ear flaps and wore mittens.  We became quite efficient at leaving windows to the gym unlocked so we could sneak in and play on the weekends.

I graduated from Wall High School in 1950.  I then spent 3 years on the farm and ranch.  I was recruited by Chadron State College to play basketball.

I attended Chadron State College from 1953 through 1957, graduating with a B.A. degree and an acceptance to the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry. I went to the Nebraska Dental School from 1952 to 1961.I Graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.

Nineteen sixty- one was a big year in my life.  I graduated from Dental school in May, passed the SD State Dental Boards in June, married the love of my life Nonie in July, and opened my dental practice in Rapid City, SD.

Winona (Nonie) and I were married July 9, 1961.  We have two children, Rusty and Jody Lytle Gallino.

I started my dental practice as an associate of Dr. May.  When he passed away, I assumed the practice and eventually bought the building.  I maintained the dental practice in the same building for fifty-three years, retiring in 2014.

I had the privilege of developing many new techniques for the treatment of dental disease and the treatment of debilitating headaches.  My techniques became known around the world.  I lectured on my techniques to many groups.  At one lecture in Minneapolis there were 535 in attendance from seventeen different countries.  I gave a lecture in Russia.

I was the first President of the SD Dental Service Corporation that eventually became Delta Dental.  I was a member of Delta Dental for over forty years.

My other great love was the farm/ranch life.  I lived for eight years as a child on the ranch north and east of Wasta. There is an old saying "You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy."  This was true with myself.  I got back into farming in 1966 and back into ranching in 1974.

During the early years on the ranch, I would work my full schedule at the dental office and then the nights and weekends I worked at the ranch.

My favorite thing to do at the ranch was moving dirt with the heavy equipment.  I leveled and developed many acres of land for irrigation.

I became a member of the Morning Optimist Club of Rapid City.  I worked my way up through the ranks serving in various offices and became the District Governor. I became only the 2nd Governor in the history of the district to reach the status of Distinguished Governor.

I was also very involved with the Club of Boys of Rapid City. I served on the board as Vice President and a short period of time as President of the Board.

I have some fond memories of boys camping out at the old house at the ranch. Of taking them to see deer, birds and other animals, cat fishing and hikes.

A person cannot have a wonderful life like I have had without being with wonderful people. To start with my parents were the solid foundation that my life started with.  Dad was the person that taught me honesty, integrity, your word is your lifeline.  One could use almost any good word here and it would be true.  Mom (God bless her soul)! No person ever worked harder to provide for her family. She had very little for herself, choosing always to put family first. She was the best cook that ever lived.  Her chicken and home-made noodles, her fried chicken (Nonie still talks about it), home-made bread baked in the old wood cook stove, cinnamon rolls, just you name it.

A person not only has to have good roots but have those roots well nourished.  Foremost in this area are the teachers that helped develop my mind.  Mrs. Ruth Bruce taught me in the 1st,2nd, and 3rd grades. Miss Marks was my teacher in the 7th grade.  Mrs. Estes was my teacher in the 8th grade.  In high school I had Mrs. Dartt and Glen Phillips along with several others.  In college Mr. Charlie Ruff.

Also in this area are the great people I had as athletic coaches.  Glen Phillips in high school and Loy Young as basketball coach at Chadron State College.  Both of these men had a big impact on my life.  They taught me to be the best I could be, and the end results are direct result of the amount of work put into it.

I maintained my dental practice for 53 years at the same location.  Dentistry was good to me, and I still cherish the great people I knew as patients and the many great people that worked with me. I am very appreciative of the many friends, relatives, and especially family that gave support and encouragement.

To the immediate family members that I was so lucky to have, I cherish all of you.  I have lived a great life, no regrets.  If I could do it over again, I would do it the same, same great love Nonie, great family, kids and grandkids.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, November 8, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel (Inside the Washington Room), 2111 N. Lacrosse St., Rapid City, SD.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.