Matthew James 'Matt' Canfield, age, 71, passed away September 15, 2012 at his home in Edgemont, SD.

Matt was born September 30, 1940, at home in Downing, WI, the 5th of five siblings, to Ted and Anna (Schmidt) Canfield. He lived in Downing, WI for 15 years. His father left home when he was very young, leaving his mother to raise five children on her own. Just before his 16th birthday the family moved to Baldwin, WI, where his mother got a job as a Nursing Home Administrator.

By this time Wes, his oldest brother, was in the US Air Force, Al, the next oldest, was working in Minneapolis, MN, Marlene, his sister, was working in St. Paul, MN. Denver and Matt were still in high school. They both attended Baldwin High School with Denver graduating in 1957 and Matt graduating in 1958 from Woodville High School.

Just after his junior year in high school, Matt hitched hiked to Timber Lake, SD, and worked on a cattle ranch. This would become his main home until 1963. From 1958 until 1961, Matt served in the US Army. In 1963 he went to Alaska for a short period of time, returning to Timber Lake to manage the ranch he had worked at for so many years.

From 1966 until 1993 he worked at many different occupation, including trucking, butcher-meat cutter, ranching, livestock sales yard, building construction, sawmill, logger, millwright, mechanic, welder, heavy equipment operator, mining, body shop, pyro-technic, owner-operator of Canfield Trucking in Livingston, MT, machinist-welder at BNRR in Livingston, MT, owner Bandera Mining in Custer, SD, until a back injury forced him into retirement in 1993. Matt hated retirement because he knew nothing but hard work and building things since he was 8 years old.

Matt was a volunteer firefighter from 1970 until 1978 at Cleghorn Volunteer Fire Department in Rapid City, SD, while there he was training captain, assistant chief at which time the greatest honor-recognition was bestowed upon him. In the 1972 flood in Rapid City he was nominated for "National Firefighter of the Year" for service above and beyond the call of duty for his rescue and organization skills.

Survivors include, his wife, Judy Marzolf Canfield of Edgemont; daughters, Vickie (Jim) Sheffers of MI; Kimberly (Jerry) Traphagen of Rapid City, SD; step-son, Tobbie Mountain of Rapid City; step-daughters, Jenny (Pedro) Duarte of Custer, SD; Paula Marzolf of Rapid City; brother, Denver (Diane) Canfield of Rochford, SD; sister, Marlene Stratton of Sheridan, WY; 10 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 21, 2012, at the Edgemont Senior Center in Edgemont, SD.

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.