Dale R. Rovere

1949 - 2021

Dale R (Rusty) Rovere

RAPID CITY | Whether you knew him as Rusty, Turbo or Harry the Speed Freak, you were blessed to be in his presence as he always had a smile on his face. We all knew and loved him as our Dad, husband, mentor and hero.

Dale R (Rusty) Rovere, 72, of Rapid City, SD, died peacefully on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at his home surrounded by family after a two-year struggle with ALS. On March 28, 1949 Rusty was first of the three children born to Dale & Beverly Rovere in Deadwood, SD. Rusty attended school in both Deadwood and Winner, SD and enjoyed many memorable summers working on his Grandpa Joe's ranch near Bear Butte. After graduation from Deadwood High School in 1967, he studied at South Dakota School of Mines.

In 1969 Rusty was drafted and served in the Vietnam War earning the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Bronze Star Medal and Army Commendation Medal.

Prior to serving in the Army, you could find Rusty turning wrenches at Eddie's Chevrolet in Deadwood. Upon his return, he studied at Black Hills State University and started working alongside his father in the retread shop at Dale's Tire & Retreading in Deadwood. Dale's Tire moved to Rapid City in 1974 where Rusty worked alongside his late father and two sons diligently to support his family and grow the business for nearly 50 years until ALS limited his ability to work.

In 1972, Rusty met his sweetheart, Jane Gieszler, while she worked at the Covered Wagon Drive-In in Deadwood and they married in 1974. Jane and Rusty had a very loving 47-year marriage and three children: Todd, Michael and Jennifer.

Rusty spent his free time riding motorcycles and snowmobiles all over the Black Hills and tuning Corvettes and Camaros, most recently his yellow '58 Corvette. Rusty was very loyal to the General Motors brand and mostly Chevrolet. Never one to be disrespectful of the law, but out of pure joy for speed, there are rumors of Rusty's not-so-legal drag racing, outrunning the police and maybe an exhibition driving ticket while in his 60's, all done with a smile on his face.

Most Saturdays, Rusty (Harry the Speed Freak) could be found at Southside Service in Deadwood chatting with friends and seeing what speed parts were being installed that day. On Sundays during the winter Rusty (Turbo) met his friends at Trailshead Lodge for the breakfast confessional on who cheated the most that week before riding Mallow Camp to see whose sled was really the fastest. He proved he was the fastest when he won the King of the Hill at the West Yellowstone Snowmobile Expo in 1994.

If you could stud it, mill it, port it, polish it, bore it, stroke it, change the spring rate in it, gear it, turbo it, super charge it or add more boost to it, you can bet your behind Rusty did it. If you could make it look stock while doing it, even better.

Rusty helped his boys make their toys go faster (as well as his own) and supported sending his daughter to college even though it was a long way from home. He passed on his love of manual transmissions to his all three children. The only thing Rusty loved more than speed was spending nights by the fire with Jane and their beloved cat, Boo.

Rusty was loyal to his employees, customers, competitors and the manufacturers he purchased tires from. If Rusty expected more out of his employees or manufacturers, it wasn't for the bottom line of the company, it was to take care of his customers. He was never afraid or unwilling to share his knowledge of the tire business or anything mechanical except when it came to winning races.

Rusty is preceded in death by parents Dale & Beverly, uncles Norris and Joe Rovere and aunt Arlene Pennington. Survivors include: his loving wife, Jane, and two sons, Todd (Beth) and Michael both of Rapid City, and daughter, Jennifer (Kyle) Sobota of Shakopee, MN; Grandchildren: Emily and Kaylee Rovere of Rapid City. Surviving siblings include Chris Rovere (Paul Giffin) of Rapid City and Debbie Rovere of Reno, NV.

Lunch and a celebration of life will be held at his home on Sunday, September 19th at 2pm. A private service will be held at Black Hills National Cemetery.