Thomas Henry Barnes

RAPID CITY - Thomas "Tom" Henry Barnes, 66, lost his battle with cancer early in the morning on April 26, 2011, at Hospice of the Hills in Rapid City, surrounded by his family, friends and loved ones.

Tom was born March 9, 1945, in Mitchell and graduated from Mitchell Notre Dame High School in 1963. He attended the University of South Dakota and received an undergraduate degree before enlisting in the U.S. Army. Tom volunteered to serve a tour in Vietnam as a member of the 101st Airborne Division where he reached the rank of E4. 

Thereafter, Tom entered law school at the University of South Dakota. During his tenure Tom had an article published by the University of South Dakota Law Review and served as the Law Review's first symposium editor. Upon graduation from law school, Tom served as a law clerk for the United States District Court, District of South Dakota, Western Division.

Tom joined the law firm of Costello, Porter, Hill, LLP, in 1974. He worked there until his retirement in 2009.

Tom was also very active in the State Bar being a Bar Commissioner, a member of the Board of Governors of the South Dakota Trial Lawyers, President of the South Dakota Young Lawyers Association, and headed its CLE committee. Tom was also the President of the Pennington County Bar Association and was very instrumental in helping to form a local insurance claims adjuster association and served as its second President.

In 1971 Tom married the mother of his three kids, Jodene Ehrich.

In his leisure time, Tom enjoyed hunting, fishing and hiking the canyons in the Four Corners area. He was also a huge baseball fan and was always willing to tell everyone about his love of the Boston Red Sox.

Tom is survived by his daughter, Rebecca Hansen, and son-in-law Chris Hansen, Denver; and his two sons, Brian and Sean Barnes, both of Rapid City.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a 7 p.m. Celebration of Life today at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Friday, April 29, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rapid City with the Rev. Ed Vanorny presiding.

Burial, with military honors provided by Rushmore VFW Post 1273 and the South Dakota Army National Guard, will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of the Hills, 224 Elk St., Rapid City, SD 57701.

His online guestbook is available at www.osheimschmidt.com.