Samuel Frank Scott, 83, long time Custer businessman, was born October 5, 1926, to Frank Samuel and Evelyn (Robinson) Scott in Hot Springs, SD. He attended schools in Hot Springs and Custer and graduated in 1944 from Hot Springs High School. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1944, served as medical technician and was honorably discharged. In 1946, Sam returned to Custer to work with his father in the family rock business which he expanded and operated until retiring in 2006. On February 26, 1950, he married Rose Marie Best and raised 5 children.

Sam and Rose owned and operated Scott's Rock Shop for over 40 years. During his years in the rock business, Sam and Rose manufactured and sold rock and mineral specimen kits to colleges and schools. Sam also mined Rose Quartz and sold the large boulders for cemetery markers and monuments on the east coast. Some of the Rose Quartz that he mined was sent to Germany to be made into jewelry. Sam was instrumental in forming the Custer Rock Club and helped organize the ninth state rock and mineral show in Custer. Sam and Rose went to Pierre and lobbied to have Rose Quartz made the state mineral and were successful. Sam was proud to serve as; city council man, past president of the South Dakota State Gem and Mineral Society, owner of Scott's LP business, owner of Scott's Rock Shop and Free Museum, and deacon of the Custer Community Church. He was a past member of the American Legion and a member of the Custer Lutheran Fellowship ECLA. Sam passed away from cancer peacefully at his home on Saturday, February 20, 2010.

Honored to have shared his life include his wife of 60 years, Rose Marie Scott; three sons, David and Diane Scott of Lakewood, CO; Douglas and Penny Scott of Spokane, WA; and Allen and Kristi Scott of Custer; two daughters, Adele Painter of Placerville, CA, and Susan and Gary Woodford of Custer; twelve grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Grandchildren include Jennifer Painter Cowles, Scott Painter, Nicole Scott, Kayla Scott Harrington, Shawn Scott, Jon Scott, Andrea Scott, Amanda Scott, Bethany Scott, Victoria Gray, Betsy Shearer, Cassie Plooster. Great grandchildren include Katie Cowles,
Jenessa Cowles, Madelaine Cowles, Abigail Cowles, Samuel Cowles, Michaela Cowles, Brendan Scott, Destiny Scott. Sam was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather to his family.

Memorial service will be at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at the Custer Lutheran Fellowship Church in Custer with Pastor Tom Opoien and Pastor Kent Narum officiating.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Sam's name to benefit the Custer Ambulance or Hospice of the Southern Hills.

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