ERNEST C, GOTTSCHALK

Memorial services for Ernest C. Gottschalk 73, were held at 2:00 p.m. at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel with Chaplain Simon Looking Elk officiating. Burial will be at a later date at the Black Hills National Cemetery. A memorial has been established to the Vale Centennial Park & the Vale Volunteer Fire Department.

Ernest was born at Faith, SD on February 14 1926, to Martha (Wiggins) & Frank Gottschalk. He grew up in Faith & attended South Flint Rock School and high school in Faith. He started a saddle shop in Faith, which he later sold and went to work at the Faith Power Plant. There is where he started working on radios. He then opened his own radio and TV repair shop in Faith. He was married to Teresa Stiles of Broadview, MT in 1949. Ernest opened his road show of movies in the area and he continued to open theaters until he had 13 in all

In 1970 Ernest moved to Sturgis. He married Jolene Smith at Belle Fourche, SD March 2, 1972. In 1975 the couple moved to Vale. It was there that he helped Otto Evers at the 2nd Hand Store. In 1986 he became interested in cemeteries and the history of the cemeteries. He started making markers to mark unmarked graves In 1993 he was presented an award for volunteer projects. He also did a lot of research on the celebrities of the area.

Ernest died at the Fort Meade Veterans Hospital Friday morning, May 21, 1999

Survivors include his wife, Joelen of Vale, SD and one brother‑in‑law, Richard Royer, Spokane, WA; also several nieces and nephews.

A brother Clarence and a sister, Elayne Royer, preceded him in death