Aberdeen: Mass of Christian burial for H.I. King, 57, of Aberdeen will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 502 Second Ave. S.E., Aberdeen, with Fr. Shaun Haggerty, Monsignor Marvin McPhee and Monsignor Steve Barnett officiating. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 Fifth Ave. N.W., Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the mortuary, with a liturgical wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation continues one hour before Mass at the church on Saturday.
H.I. King passed away on Sept. 11, 2012, at home surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with Multiple System Atrophy.
H.I. was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Buffy, and proud father of his four children: Betsy and Kaitlin (27), Annie (24) and Sam (16).
H.I. truly loved living life and built it on a strong foundation with his faith in God. He thoroughly enjoyed entertaining family and friends with his exceptional cooking skills, making many memorable holiday and Sunday dinners. H.I. was a great storyteller and had a contagious laugh that made everyone around him join in. He had a passion for helping and serving others throughout his profession and everyday life. He genuinely cared deeply for all the people who came into his life. H.I. especially enjoyed watching his son Sam play baseball, golfing with his daughter Annie, and the sense of humor of his twin daughters Betsy and Kaitlin, all of whom he loved so dearly.
Hiram Irving King III was born on Aug. 1, 1955, to Dr. Bernard F. King and Susan J. King-Schutz (Smith). He graduated from Roncalli High School in 1973 and then attended college at the University of South Dakota, where he received a Bachelor of Science and later his Juris Doctor. H.I. was admitted to the South Dakota Bar in 1984. After working for a brief time in Rapid City, H.I. returned to Aberdeen, where he served as Assistant City Attorney before joining the law firm of Tonner, Tobin, and King. H.I. practiced law with compassion, integrity and understanding until the time his illness forced him to retire.
On Aug. 18, 1979, he married his childhood sweetheart and love of his life, Mary Jo "Buffy" Herges. Throughout their blessed 33 years of marriage, they held true to their vows and showed an extraordinary example of true love and support for each other. Including his four children, H.I. was blessed to become a loving grandfather of two grandchildren: Gabriel Irving (6, son of Betsy King and Brad Bunt) and Meadow Leigh (2½ - month-old daughter of Kaitlin and Dustin Malsom).
In addition to his wife, children, and grandchildren, H.I. is survived by his mother, Susan; seven sisters and two brothers who love and will miss him immensely: Mary and Bill Novotny, Phoenix, Ariz.; Kathy and Charlie Hanish, Fargo, N.D.; Judy and Tom Lien, Rapid City; Dr. Bernard and Kathy King, Rochester, Minn.; Elizabeth and Dennis Barnett, Kansas City, Kan.; Jennifer and Mike Klisares, Kansas City, Kan., Jane King, Ashville, N.C., Sam and Sue King, Omaha, Neb. and Alison and Kevin Randall, Charlotte, N.C. Stepfamily, Mark and Annette Schutz, San Francisco, Calif., Scott Schutz, Rapid City; Robert Schutz, Rapid City; Dr. Kathy and Jeff Schneekloth, Sioux Falls; and Brad Schutz, Salt Lake City, Utah. H.I. is also survived by fifty nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his loving father, Dr. Bernard F. King and step-father, Raymond M. Schutz.
Loved deeply by his family and friends, H.I. will truly be missed by those who knew him. He remained so gracious throughout his difficult battle with MSA and was a true example of courage and faith during a trying time.
Memorials preferred to Avera North Plains Hospice or the Aberdeen YMCA.