RAPID CITY--Paul E. Case, 84, of Rapid City, South Dakota; Deadwood, South Dakota and Zapata, Texas, died Monday, October 20, 2008, at his home in Rapid City. He was born July 13, 1924, in Glenns Ferry, Idaho to Joseph Samuel Case and Pearl (Dollie) Marie Ozmun Case. As a young boy he blew on the wind, living all over the country and from time to time in cars and tents. He loved his times in the Nebraska Sand Hills where he made friends, learned to be a horse whisperer, continued his schooling, and joined the Navy on October 28,1941, at the age of seventeen just before the United States officially entered World War II. His sister, Nell Marie Case, was born just before he left for the Navy. He was sad to leave behind his new sister and his new car, which he gave to his Dad. He served on the USS Breese, fighting in every major battle in the Pacific Theater, from December 12, 1941, to December 5,1945. On June 21,1944, he married Maxine B. Williams from Chappel, NE, in Tacoma, Washington, on his only leave during Military Service. They were married 53 years. I am his daughter, Carol Marie Case, born in May before the war had ended. After the service, Paul enjoyed life as a salesman and pilot for International Harvester in Bridgeport, Nebraska. He was their first pilot and flew to the farms and ranches in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. His son, Gary Dale Case, my brother, was born June 1, 1952. Paul moved the family to Sidney, NE, in 1953 and worked in the oil fields for a time. It was in Nebraska that Paul began a career that would span several decades in the mobile home business. In 1956, he moved the family to Rapid City, South Dakota, where Paul had accepted a job with A.C. Nelson Mobile Homes as a salesman. When he bought one mobile home on his own to speculate, the company told him he had to quit or leave. He soon had his own sales lots, Green Star Mobile Homes, in South Dakota, Montana, and Nebraska. Later on, before the Rapid City flood in 1972, Paul decided to develop mobile home parks. He developed or improved Deluxe, Pleasant Acres, and Golden Acres Parks in Rapid City, and owned a park in North Platte, Nebraska. As part of the Rapid City business community, he was active in the Chamber of Commerce and served as Military Affairs Chairman. He was a member of the Elks Club, the VFW, and very active in Kiwanis. Paul, was always active in Mobile Home Associations, usually serving as President. He took a Dale Carnegie course to better his public speaking and was an advocate of homes for everyone all his life. In 1986, Paul, purchased a Mobile Park in Donna, Texas, called the Bit'0 Heaven. One day some folks from California stopped in and wanted to buy his park. He sold it and went to Zapata, Texas, and bought Four Seasons RV and Mobile Home Park from the Whitman's of Houston, Texas. He expanded this into a beautiful resort on Falcon Lake. He worked with many people and had a deep sense of thank you for all those who worked with him in his many endeavors. He further developed with a partner, Shady Haven Mobile Home Sales, and Rhoda Maria Country Estates in Zapata, Texas. His love of community motivated him to help Zapata get their own golf course which today stands as an asset to the people of Zapata. About this same time, Paul had opportunities in the Casino Gaming of Deadwood, South Dakota, where he participated in the Bella Union and Bella Union Theater. One of his corporations partnered with another corporation to own Main Street Deadwood Gulch Saloon. Paul Case Real Estate, another of his ventures, is a little rental business. Paul loved fishing, boating, snow mobiling, scuba diving, and flying. He saved and collected. He was a product of the "dust bowl" and the "dirty thirties." Dad played cards all his life and enjoyed these moments as times with friends. He had a sign that hung in his game room that says, "Eat, Sleep, Fish." He wanted one that said "Buy, Sell, Trade." He knew no stranger and friends are family. Dad was a quiet, simple, thinking man with a unique gift for story telling. He was the ultimate survivor and a classic example of the American success story. Family left behind includes me and Duane of Rapid City; Gary and Irina of Poulsbo, WA; Maxine of Rapid City; and his sister, Nell. Paul's grandchildren in Rapid City are Bret and Angel Hamm, Bart and Carey Hamm, Brandi Ickes, Lisa Gager and Anouska Willett. Christine and Carlton Baird live in Spearfish, SD. Paul's great grandchildren are Clay, Brinton, Zachary, Carl, Mason, Dylen and One Great Granddaughter, Isabella Dianne. Other members include Louise Brening of Bridgeport, NE, Helen and Al Lossi of Alliance, NE, Bill and Linda Case of Anaconda, MT, Gerald and Jean McColloch of Ogallala, NE, Charles and Sandee McCroden of Ogallala NE, Lead and Deadwood, SD and their families. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 25, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, with the family present, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at the funeral home, with Sister Susan Pohl officiating. Burial, with military honors provided by Rushmore VFW Post No. 1273 and the South Dakota National Guard, will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cornerstone Rescue Mission.