RAPID CITY - Retired RC Police Officer Bob Berman, 85, passed away so peacefully on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at Rapid City Monument Hospital.

Bob was born on August 22, 1938, to Earl and Estella Berman in Rapid City, joining his older sister Elaine.  He attended school in Rapid and graduated in 1956 from Rapid City Central High School. During that time, he was working at Rex Oil Refinery.

Later that year he married his high school sweetheart Myrna Phillips, and they shared a life for almost 65 years.  During that time, they raised their three children Steve, Susan, and Janet.

Bob went on to work at Gifford Electric for the next 29 years.  He became the Regional Vice President and National Board of Directors of Illuminating Engineering Society which had him and Myrna traveling all over the country where he made many lifelong friends.  But his dream was to always become a policeman and he did in 1981 where he was first a reserve officer with the RCPD and later became full time where he became a senior patrolman and field training officer and finally a detective.  Even after retiring twice, he could not stay away from his home away from home.  He worked cold case files until he was 80 years old.  Being a member of the Rapid City Police Department was his biggest pride and accomplishment. He loved that job and loved his fellow officers with everything he had.  During that time, he was also a liaison officer at Rapid City Central.

Bob served as the President of the Black Hills Chapter of the Illuminating Engineering Society, Regional Membership Chairman of IES North America, Regional Vice President, and National Board of Director of the IES North America, was a member of the Sertoma Club, the South Dakota Blue Knights, and a proud member of the Hillsview Evangelical Free Church.

Baseball was always a big passion of Bob's.  He and Myrna were coaches of Little League baseball in the 60's and loved to follow their grandson Robi while playing baseball in Sioux Falls and later for Post 22.  Bob was great friends with Dave Ploof who he met while working at Central HS and he was very dedicated to the Post 22 program having held a season pass for many years.

Life was never easy after losing Myrna in 2021.  His health deteriorated and he moved into Echo Ridge Assisted Living and eventually Good Samaritan St Martins Nursing Home.

Survivors include his son Steve (Cheryl) Berman, and daughters Susan Dargin, and Janet (Aaron) Lalley, eight grandchildren, two great grandchildren, his nephew Mike Murray, and sister-in-law Jo An (Jim) Place.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Elaine Albertus and her husband Richard, his beautiful bride Myrna, his mother-in-law and father-in-law Alfred and Clara Phillips, sister in laws Helen (Jerry) Holzer, and Rita (Patrick) Collins.

Friends and family are invited to a visitation on Thursday, September 28, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.   Funeral services will be on Friday, September 29 at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home.  Light refreshments will follow the service.  Burial will be at Pine Lawn Memorial Park.  Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Hills View Evangelical Free Church.