Stanley Washburn Morse was born in St. Paul, Minn., in 1915 to Stanley and Myrtle (Fossum) Morse. His family moved to Redfield, S.D., when he was a junior in high school. It was there that he met and married Ethel Davis, his high school sweetheart and beloved wife for 70 wonderful years.

During the early years of married life Stan and Ethel moved several times to accommodate Stan’s work. They lived in Sioux Falls and Madison, S.D., where daughter Kay was born.

Following a short stay in Ironwood, Mich., they relocated to Watertown, S.D., where Stan worked as a Boy Scout executive.

Their next move took them to Santa Monica, Calif. There Stan again worked for the Boy Scouts as an executive for the Crescent Bay Area Council. Following that he became the Director of the Community Chest in Santa Monica.

Stan was an active member of the Kiwanis in Santa Monica, serving as president from 1973-74. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite Freemasons, the Al Malaikah Shriners and a member of Concord Masonic Lodge No. 13 in Watertown. Stan was self-taught and a voracious reader. In 1978 he was accepted as a member of Mensa. He always had an extensive workshop where he enjoyed fixing and building projects for his home. He was an avid golfer who loved a game of pool and a good glass of wine.

After retiring Stan and Ethel moved to Fountain Valley, Calif., where they enjoyed playing golf and entertaining family and friends. They moved to the Custer, S.D., area in 2003 and lived with their daughter and son-in-law.

Stan always loved the Black Hills. In high school, in the 1930s he would hitchhike out to the Hills where he watched the progress on the carving of Mount Rushmore and fished and hiked with his buddies.

On Aug. 1, 2008, Stan and Ethel celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary surrounded by family and friends.

Stan will be remembered as a loving and giving husband, father, brother and grandfather. He lived his life with honesty and integrity and enriched the lives of all who knew and loved him.

Stan died Aug. 13, 2011, at Rapid City (S.D.) Regional Auxiliary Hospice House. He was 95.

Stan is survived by his daughter, Kay (Charles) Hoag of Custer; granddaughter, Starr Ann Hoag of Wichita, Kan.; and grandson, Daniel Hoag of Dallas, Texas.