Richard H Torgerson, born May 2, 1945 in Rapid City died December 7, 2019 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Survived by his sister Dianne L (Torgerson) Hunziker and nephews Conrad Hunziker III, Mark Hunziker and niece Tritia (Hunziker) Moneypenny and grandnephews Chad Hunziker, Owen Hunziker, Conrad Hunziker IV and Noah Hunziker, and grandnieces Jules (Hunziker) Johnson. He was preceded in death by his parents Harris & Verley Torgerson, grandparents Hans & Mabel Torgerson and Arndt & Agnes Dahl and Lillie Dahl.

He received his graduate degrees in Geology and History at Redlands University, and was a professor there. He started and owned several businesses on the west coast. He eventually moved to Florida and became a stockbroker. He also lived in Denver before retiring and moving back to Rapid City in 2002, living in the Dahl Towers.

He loved to travel, having been all around the world with A.E. Dahl and Harris Torgerson. When traveling in the US, he always found a new path, trying to never take the same road twice. He accompanied A.E. Dahl on his trips to Borgund, Norway in search of the chapel they would eventually base the Chapel in the Hills on. Richard was there for the groundbreaking and served on the Chapel's Board of Directors and even volunteered there when not on the Board. He was at the Chapel for the dedication and the 50-year re-dedication held just this past July 6.

Rapid City and its surrounds always suited Richard and his various interests, both as a geologist with its rich and varied structure of the Black Hills and as a historian and its famed old-west history. No matter which part of the Hills you explored with him, he knew more about the area than he could possibly explain in a day. He was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge and facts.

His other passion was for hats. He had a hat for every occasion, and never left without one. He also had a joke for every occasion, often printing out thousands of jokes he found on the internet. He was always thinking of new ways to answer the simple question "how are you doing today?" using his love of language to use the most unusual word to describe something.

A family service will be held at the Chapel in the Hills.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Chapel in the Hills sent to 3788 Chapel Lane in Rapid City, SD 57702