Everett Lee Burgess, 69, of Hot Springs, SD, passed away on December 16, 2018, at his home in Hot Springs, SD.

Everett was born on April 11, 1949, in Chadron, NE, to Edward B. Burgess and Mary A. (Hamilton) Burgess. He spent many wonderful years being raised by his grandparents Georgia-Ann and Lindon Hamilton. He loved his grandmother Georgia-Ann, dearly, and was by her side telling her he would be waiting for her when she came back from her procedure. Sadly she didn't make it through the procedure. He spent his early school years at the Pleasant Hill School near Oelrichs, SD, and some schooling in the Wall School District, to which later led to a GED after his military service.

While in Wall, SD he eventually made his way to work on the T6 Ranch near Creighton, SD, for Carroll Knuston, his mother Mary, and his brothers up until 1969.

Everett served in the U.S. Army and in Vietnam from January 29, 1969, until his honorable discharge on December 16, 1971. He was a Combat Engineer and had been promoted to the rank of an E4. Upon his discharge he had lost his youngest brother, Larry, to which he loved very much, in a car accident in December of 1971, and later resided in Sturgis, SD for a period of time.

Shortly after, when he was living with his mother in Hot Springs, SD, he received a letter from Donna M. Shepperson, in 1980, and knew he had to write her back. He always said, "I knew the Shepperson name and I was always going to marry a Shepperson". Prior to that though, his mother burned all the other sacks of letters he had received in her fireplace, and he told her, "this is the only letter that I need".

After he wrote the love of his life, Donna, he had made some not so lawful trips to Casper, WY, to meet her and telling his mother he was "only taking out the trash" before his three-hour commute. He married Donna M. Shepperson on August 09, 1980, and they resided in Hot Springs, SD. To their union in marriage they had three children, Beth, Beatrice, and Scott.

Everett is survived by his wife, Donna M. Burgess; daughter, Beth R. Archambeau, son, Scott L. Burgess; grandson Skyler W. Archambeau; and three-month old granddaughter, Ava M. Burgess, all of which reside in Hot Springs, SD.

Everett was proceeded in death by his grandfather, Lindon Hamilton; grandmother, Georgia-Ann Hamilton; father, Edward B. Burgess; mother, Mary A. Knutson; brothers, Franklin D. Burgess; Clinton "Neil" Burgess; Larry D. Burgess, and a stillborn infant George Burgess.

Visitation will be held at 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Chamberlain McColley's Funeral Home in Hot Springs, SD on Thursday, December 20, 2018.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM at Chamberlain McColley's Funeral Home in Hot Springs, SD on Friday, December 21, 2018 with committal services at the Hillside Cemetery near Oelrichs, SD.