Gary Thomas RHONE

   Research Notes:

"Gary Thomas Rhone, son of Harold and Marjorie (Simenson) Rhone, was born June 16, 1947 in Fargo, ND. As a child he moved with his family to Sioux Falls, SD where he grew up. Following his graduation from Washington High School in 1965, Gary attended South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD.

Gary entered the U.S. Navy on June 7, 1966 at Sioux Falls and served in Vietnam. Following his honorable discharge on December 2, 1969 at Long Beach, CA he returned to Sioux Falls.

Gary was united in marriage with Joyce Bushue on May 9, 1970 in Sioux Falls. He began his career with the Sioux Falls Police Department in 1971. He also attended Augustana College for three years. During his tenure with the police department, he became a member of the South Dakota State Tactical Unit, was one of the original members of the SFPD S.W.A.T. Team, taught Sioux Falls schoolchildren as a D.A.R.E. instructor and was appointed to the Citizen's Committee on Correctional Policy and Programs. Gary retired as a sergeant in the SFPD Identification Unit in 1997. He then worked as a Court Security Officer for the State of South Dakota and served until illness prevented him from continuing.

Gary earned numerous awards throughout his career, including Knights of Columbus Peace Officer of the Year, the Fraternal Order of Police Cecil Fisher Memorial Award and the John M. Bliss VFW Post 628 Policeman of the Year. He also received many citations for going above and beyond the call in the performance of his duties. In his free time Gary enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, leatherwork and saddle refurbishing, horseback riding and his John Deere tractor. Above all, Gary cherished his family and loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Joyce; two children, Lisa Anderson and her husband Jeff, Pierce, NE, Jeff Rhone and his wife, Kelly, Lincoln, NE; five grandchildren, Quentin Anderson, Carter Anderson, Kelton Anderson, Abbey Rhone, Landon Rhone; his mother, Marjorie Rhone, Sioux Falls, SD; one brother, John Rhone and his wife, Julie, Sioux Falls, SD; three sisters, Sandi Rivet and her husband David, Harrisburg, SD, Cheryl Loban, Sioux Falls, SD, Teri Knutson-Ellerbe and her husband Glenn, Cincinnati, OH; and a host of other relatives and friends." ²

   Marriage Information:

Gary married Joyce BUSHUE on 9 May 1970 in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., SD, USA.