RAPID CITY- Richard "Dick" August Schleusener passed away peacefully on September 11, 2013. He was born on a farm near Oxford, Nebraska on May 6,1926, the youngest of four children. His parents, who survived the "dirty thirties" Dust Bowl years in rural Nebraska, placed a high value on education; Dick often mentioned his father telling him, "Get an educationnobody can ever take that away from you." Dick's education began in a one-room rural grade school in Oxford, and he would continue on to receive his bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Nebraska in1949. On June 12th, six days after graduation in Lincoln, he married Elaine Wilhelm. Their partnership would flourish for the next 64 years. When the Korean conflict began in 1950, Dick enrolled in Officer Candidate School with the United States Air Force. After graduation from OCS, Dick's appointment as a weather officer with the Air Force sent him to graduate school at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was exposed to the new science of cloud seeding to increase rainfall. Once released from active duty, he received his master's degree from Kansas State in 1956 and completed a doctoral program in Civil Engineering at Colorado State University in 1958. After receiving his PhD, he accepted a research position at CSU with a focus on cloud seeding for hail suppression and rainfall increase. In 1964, as a result of his expertise in the field of weather modification, Dick was recruited to become the Director of the newly formed Institute of Atmospheric Sciences at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T) in Rapid City. Under his leadership, the institute thrived and was successful in securing federal funding, recruiting outstanding staff and conducting a wide range of experiments, including an armor plated airplane to study large thunderstorms. In 1974 Dick accepted a job as Dean of Engineering and VP of SDSM&T, marking a transition from a research career to academic administration. In 1976 he was named President of SDSM&T and served until 1987. He often said what a privilege it was to have presented diplomas to more than 3,500 Tech graduates. After retirement from Tech, Dick became the Director of the BH Regional Eye Institute Foundation until his retirement in 1996. He also served a term on the Rapid City Council and was instrumental in the adoption of the "2012 project." Dick was an active member of Calvary Lutheran Church and a long time Rotarian. Throughout their lives, Dick and Elaine were most proud of raising and caring for their five childrenKathy, Rick, Rand, Deb and Jeffand later their ten grandchildren. Dick and Elaine traveled the country in an RV for a year after Dick's retirement and spent some years as "Winter Texans," always keeping Rapid City as home base. Their most treasured moments were with their grandchildren, and their favorite place was always with their family. His wife, Elaine E. Schleusener, Rapid City, preceded him in death. Survivors include his children and their spouses: Kathy (Max) Miller, Rapid City; Rick (Julie) Schleusener, Fort Collins, Colorado; Randy (Karen) Schleusener, Rapid City; Deb Schleusener (Pete Hallock), Apex, North Carolina; and Jeff (Lauri) Schleusener, Rapid City; his ten grandchildren: Amy Miller; Kelsey (Andrew) Schleusener Sprowell, Courtney, Jeff, and Christian Schleusener; Kate (Simon) Schleusener Ferrell and Tom Schleusener; Beth, Rick, and Annie Schleusener; grandchildren-in-law Marie and Donovan Davis; and many more close friends and family. The family wishes to thank the staff at Westhills who have so lovingly and thoughtfully cared for Dad for the past several years. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home, with a prayer service at 6 p.m. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 16, at Calvary Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Dwight Stensgaard officiating. Interment will be at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with flag presentation by the South Dakota Army National Guard. Memorials have been established for Calvary Lutheran Church Endowment Fund or to the charity of the donor's choice.