Blaine Foss, long time resident of Custer, SD, passed away Oct. 15, 2021, in Palm Desert, CA due to complications from leukemia. He was 72.

Blaine (birth name A.B. Clark, III) was born on Aug. 26, 1949, to A.B. Clark, Jr. and Phyllis Loraine Graham in Mattoon, IL. Following the death of his father in 1950, Blaine and his sisters Carole and Dana moved with their mother to Mitchell, SD. His mother remarried in 1956 and sisters Eileen and Barbara joined the family. Blaine attended school and grew up in the neighborhoods of Mitchell. The family moved to Pierre, SD in 1964 and he graduated from T.F. Riggs High School in 1967.

After one "Animal House" semester at college that fall, the U.S Army found Blaine in Feb. 1968. He served two tours of duty in the Republic of Vietnam, first with the 4th Infantry Division and then with the 18th Engineer Brigade – achieving the rank of Sergeant. Blaine separated honorably in Nov. 1970 and returned to college on the G.I. Bill.

After graduating from the University of South Dakota in 1975, he sampled several vocations, eventually finding a home in the maintenance division of the National Park Service. Blaine worked at five National Parks in Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and South Dakota; retiring after 27 years of service. He was immensely grateful for the opportunity to work within an organization of such great purpose.

Blaine married the love of his life, Jeanne Tennyson of Custer, SD, in Jan. 1981. Their daughter, Ashley Kristine, who brought Blaine nothing but joy, was born in Jan. 1983 in Cedar City, UT. Blaine enjoyed traveling, especially up and down the West Coast, woodworking, riding and customizing his Harley Davidson, and perfecting his craft with smoked meats.

Blaine is survived by wife Jeanne, daughter Ashley and son-in-law David Hinderaker, sisters Carole Stiles, Dana Clark, Eileen (Ed) Anderson, and Barb (Joel Ayers) Foss, nieces and nephews, the Tennyson family, good friends and his pup, Cosmo. Never one for ceremony, Blaine requested no formal service. Jeanne and Ashley invite you to celebrate his life in your own special way.