CUSTER – Cal Perkins, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and a friend to all who met him, went to be with Our Lord on Friday, January 28, 2022, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimers.  Cal, as he preferred to be called, was born in Pecos, TX, July 16, 1942, to William Dallas and Mary Lee Perkins.  He contracted polio as a toddler and the family moved to Ft. Worth to be near a specialty hospital where his mother worked as an RN. Cal overcame the polio and went on to lead a full life.  He joined the US Army in September of 1960 and was Honorably Discharged in October, 1963. He attended Wayland Baptist College in Plainview, TX before moving to Abilene, TX, where he met the love of his life, Nancy, in July 1966; they were married November 29, 1966.  They moved with their two small children to Mesquite, TX in 1970 where their third child was born and the family lived in Mesquite until 1992. Cal attended Eastfield Community College, and worked as a contractor for 20 years before the family bought their small ranch in Custer as their forever home.

Cal was an extremely talented carpenter; many homes and businesses in the Custer area show the results of his many skills. Cal loved life and most of all, he loved his family, his pets and nature. He and Nancy were avid campers, enjoying the outdoors and the wildlife that he held dear. Always the light-hearted one in the room, he made people laugh and forget their troubles.

Cal is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Nancy, his daughter Holly (Ernie) Thornell of Custer, sons Joseph (Michelle) Perkins of Granbury, TX; Casey (Kelly) Perkins of Colorado Springs, CO; grandsons Christian Perkins of Denver, CO; Cameron (Claren) Perkins of Cheyenne, WY; and great-grandchildren Cyra and Caesen Perkins of Cheyenne.

Cal will live in our hearts and our memories forever and will be near us in the family burial place.  At his request, there will be no funeral service; the family is planning a Celebration of Life.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley's Funeral Home in Custer, SD.