Doug Bartelson was born in Hot Springs, S.D., on June 29, 1937, to Lyle and Mary Bartelson (Peterson). Doug grew up in the Custer, S.D., area attended grade school there and graduated from high school in 1955 in Hot Springs, S.D.

After graduating from high school, Doug and the family moved to Winner, S.D., where he worked in a body shop and helped his dad on the ranch. Doug served in the U.S. Army and in 1963 the family moved back to the Black Hills. He owned and operated three different restaurants in Custer.

In addition to the restaurants, Doug conducted several other endeavors including a trucking and excavation business. Doug was a hard working restaurateur, but his real passion, rooted in his childhood of growing up on a ranch, was tending his cows and putting up hay. If Doug put his mind to it he could fix or build anything and he was very particular about everything he did. In 1995, Doug was united in marriage to Ruth and they were lucky to have nearly 20 years together.

Later in life, Doug took great joy in owning his dog. Not only did he own a dog, he said he owned the smartest dog in the world. If you had any doubt about that all you had to do was ask him and he would tell you, or if he had a couple of drinks he would tell you without even having to ask.
Doug died Dec. 7, 2013, at Custer Regional Hospital after a long illness. He was 76.

Doug is survived by include his wife, Ruth of Custer; stepdaughters, Jane Houk of Hill City, S.D., Julie Frasier of Spearfish, S.D., and Carol Plaisted, of Custer; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother, Leonard Bartelson of Rapid City, S.D.; and niece, Michele Legg of Flagstaff, Ariz.

Services were held Dec. 12 at McColley's Chapel of the Hills, and burial was at the Custer Cemetery.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Custer. Written condolences may be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.