Dorance "Nail" Langley

Dorance "Nail" Langley passed away peacefully on the morning of August 21, 2025, after a courageous two-year journey with Alzheimer's disease. Nail's natural humor and stubbornness allowed him to live a very full life right up until the last three months at which point he suffered a sudden and severe decline. Thereafter, the compassionate staff at Avera Maryhouse and Avera@Home Hospice of Pierre helped his daughters better provide for his care until his passing. Nail's daughters and close family friend Carol Uecker adjusted their schedules to make sure that at least one of them visited him each day until his passing.

Nail was born on October 18, 1938, at home in Custer State Park to Alma and Dorance Sr. The family later moved to Rapid City due to the war and then to Bremerton, Washington where his father worked for the Navy after the war. In 1945 the family returned to Rapid City, S.D. where Nail grew up and attended school in Rapid City.

Nail joined the Army in October of 1956. In January of 1957 he was sent to the Signal Corps in Ft. Gordon, Georgia where he trained in electronics. In the fall of 1957, he was sent overseas to the 545th Signal Depot Company where he repaired equipment for the depot and various units at their locations. Nail returned to the United States in October of 1959 and was relieved from active duty.

Nail joined the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in March of 1960 and served in various locations and eventually moved to Pierre in 1965. He retired from the company in July 2002 after 42 years of service. Nail enjoyed working with the telephone people, the Telephone Pioneers nonprofit volunteer organization, the Friday night crew at the VFW, and also driving the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) van from Pierre to Sturgis and back. Nail also enjoyed hunting deer in the Black Hills with longtime friends and family, elk hunting trips to Colorado, fishing and bird hunting. Nail also cherished many memories during the many trips he made with his family for his daughters' various athletic adventures over the years.

Nail married Deanna Cournoyer of Pierre on April 19, 1973. Following Deanna's death in March of 2014, Nail continued to enjoy plenty of family time with his daughters and their spouses, his grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He also continued helping family with his "handyman" skills and, as an extremely knowledgeable "fixer of everything", Nail shared a vast wealth of knowledge with his daughters and sons-in-law concerning everything from vehicle repairs, electricity, home repair, cooking, the "right" way to mow a lawn, etc. There is no doubt that Nail's children have absorbed an incredible number of skills from the knowledge he shared, and they are forever grateful for the time they spent with him and the many memories they made together.

Nail is survived by his children Kimberly (Don), Denise (Adam), and Dawn (Seth) along with several grandchildren and great grandchildren, his brothers Frank (Colleen), and Sherman (Carol), and his sisters Eldora (Jim) and Viola and numerous nieces and nephews along with friends from his youth and close friends he made over his years with the telephone company.

An outstanding father and family man, Nail will be missed dearly by his family and friends.

A military burial will be held for Nail at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, S.D. on September 22, 2025, at 12:30 p.m., followed by a small social gathering for family and friends in Sturgis, S.D.

Nail's family wishes for donations to be made in his name to Avera@Home Hospice Care of Pierre.