Home > United States of America > South Dakota > Meade County > Sturgis > Black Hills National Cemetery > SGT Clair Richard Brich

SGT Clair Richard Brich

View larger map

Birth	:	12 Dec 1922 Carthage, Miner County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	9 Mar 2011 Pierre, Hughes County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, Meade County, USA
Coordinate	:	44.3689003, -103.4753036
Plot	:	I_178
Inscription	:	SGT US ARMY WORLD WAR II
Description	:	Clair Richard Brich PIERRE - On March 9, 2011, Clair Richard Brich fought his last battle and joined his parents, sister and in their heavenly home. Father and friend, Brich counselor, avid golfer and out-doors man, Clair Brich wore many hats and those that knew him shall miss him dearly. Always ready to step in and do his part, Clair left his home in Carthage and enlisted in the Army National Guard at age 17. As a member of Company A, 109th Engineer Battalion, 34th Infantry Division (also known as the Red Bull Division), he rose... Read More	Clair Richard Brich PIERRE - On March 9, 2011, Clair Richard Brich fought his last battle and joined his parents, sister and in their heavenly home. Father and friend, Brich counselor, avid golfer and out-doors man, Clair Brich wore many hats and those that knew him shall miss him dearly. Always ready to step in and do his part, Clair left his home in Carthage and enlisted in the Army National Guard at age 17. As a member of Company A, 109th Engineer Battalion, 34th Infantry Division (also known as the Red Bull Division), he rose to the rank of Master Sergeant, responsible for the well being and safety of his troops in faraway places like Algeria, Tunisia, Salerno, Benevento and Mount Patano. After many months on the front lines of World War II, his wounds earned him a Purple Heart and a trip home to South Dakota just in time for fall harvest and pheasant hunting. He soon returned to his battalion in Italy where pursuit of the enemy was halted on May 2, 1945, with the German surrender. The 109th Engineer Battalion registered nearly 600 days in the combat zone, the longest period of time for any American unit in World War II. Upon his Army discharge, he made his way home to Carthage where he married his high school sweetheart, Beatrice Wallace, on Oct. 23, 1945. He enrolled at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City, spending weekdays absorbed in his studies and weekends touring the beautiful Black Hills, hiking the scenic trails and trout fishing the cold, clear running streams with his new bride. Clair graduated from SDSM&T with an Electrical Engineering degree. Shortly after graduation, they welcomed their first child, Patricia Claire, and the new family moved to Huron where Clair had accepted an electrical engineering position with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Three more children Richard Wallace, Randall Francis and Monica Mary were born in Huron. After a brief and cold stint with the private sector in Duluth, Minn., Clair and Bea moved their family back to South Dakota. Clair went to work for the Western Area Power Administration in Water -town where their fifth child, Rebecca Susan, completed Team Brich. Adept square dancers and accomplished ballroom dancers, Clair and Bea sashayed through the years while the kids completed their education. Equally avid golfers, in 1979 with kids gone to college or elsewhere, they looked approvingly at the Front Range banana belt and made the move to Fort Collins, Colo., where Clair became Director of Operations for Platte River Power Authority. Fort Collins became the home base for Team Brich with kids frequently arriving from north, east and west to visit and partake in the Rocky Mountain adventures just out their parents front door. Camping, hiking and picnic lunches became the norm. Retirement involved travel to places around the globe, including Ireland, Rome, Alaska, where they journeyed by bus, boat and train to view Denali; and frequent winter trips to Arizona, Florida, Hawaii and elsewhere. In 2002 they moved to Rapid City to be closer to Patricia and Richard and nestled in their canyon hideaway where whitetail deer and red fox sauntered beneath their picture window. As age and time relentlessly marched on, their final move was in June 2010 to Parkwood Apartments adjacent to St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre where Randall could keep a close eye on them. Diagnosed with cancer several weeks later, Clair fought bravely against his merciless foe. Surviving one bout of pneumonia and a two month stay at St. Mary's Hospice, Clair rallied and returned to their Parkwood Apartment for the final two months of his life. Together till the end, he and Bea celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in October 2010 with all of their children in attendance. Clair is survived by his wife, Bea, who remains at Parkwood in Pierre; daughters, Patricia (Marc) Asmussen, Lead, Monica (Bob Bondurant), Des Moines, Iowa, and Rebecca (Larry Skrdia), Ord, Neb.; sons, Richard Brich, Pierre, and Randall (Michele) Brich, Pierre; grandchildren, Sol Brich, Pierre, Jed (Pauline Whittebrood) Brich, Rockport, Wash., Tonya (Tery) Vig, Belle Fourche, and Ross Brich, Belle Fourche; brother, Bernard (Dorothy), Magalia, Calif.; and sister, Mary Ellen Qualm, Riverton, Wyo. Clair was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Martha Brich; a sister, Bernita Turner; and daughter-in-law, Carolyn Brich. Clair's children and grandchildren continue thriving and carrying on the Brich tradition of outdoor adventures, family and faith. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a 7 p.m. Christian wake service Sunday, March 13, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Rapid City. Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Monday, March 14, at Blessed Sacrament Church with the Rev. Andrzej Wyrostek presiding. Burial, with military honors provided by Rushmore VFW Post 1273 and the South Dakota National Guard, will be at 1 p.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. A memorial has been established for Blessed Sacrament Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. His online guestbook is available at www.osheim schmidt.com.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is SGT Clair Richard Brich's memorial?
SGT Clair Richard Brich's memorial is located at: Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, Meade County, USA.
When did SGT Clair Richard Brich death?
SGT Clair Richard Brich death on 9 Mar 2011 in Pierre, Hughes County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the SGT Clair Richard Brich's memorial?
Latitude: 44.3689003
Longitude: -103.4753036

Family Members:

Parent

Francis H. “Frank” Brich

(1887 - 1975)

Martha Ellen “Nellie” Kellar Brich

(1895 - 1976)

Spouse

Beatrice Regina “Bea” Wallace Brich

(1920 - 2014)

Siblings

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Black Hills National Cemetery
Sturgis, Meade County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3689003, -103.4753036

2. Curley Grimes Memorial Cemetery
Sturgis, Meade County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3764500, -103.4691300

3. Fort Meade National Cemetery
Sturgis, Meade County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4021988, -103.4757996

4. Bear Butte Cemetery
Sturgis, Meade County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4111595, -103.4947968

5. Saint Aloysius Cemetery
Sturgis, Meade County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4141340, -103.5193420

6. Pleasant Valley Cemetery
Tilford, Meade County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3192500, -103.3531160

7. Galena Cemetery
Galena, Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3349220, -103.6438410

8. Crook City Cemetery
Crook City, Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4432100, -103.6241500

9. Piedmont Cemetery
Piedmont, Meade County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2425780, -103.3871730

10. Oak Ridge Cemetery
Deadwood, Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3891983, -103.6766968

11. Whitewood Cemetery
Whitewood, Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4617820, -103.6330030

12. Roubaix Cemetery
Roubaix, Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2789380, -103.6656600

13. Mount Moriah Cemetery
Deadwood, Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3760986, -103.7253036

14. Saint Ambrose Cemetery
Deadwood, Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3821983, -103.7266998

15. Nemo Cemetery
Nemo, Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1872800, -103.5066410

16. Anderson Cemetery
Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4747009, -103.6896973

17. South Lead Cemetery
Lead, Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3478510, -103.7606260

18. Little Dane Cemetery
Saint Onge, Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5252500, -103.6705540

19. Mountain Meadow Cemetery
Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2038994, -103.6557999

20. West Lead Cemetery
Lead, Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3484001, -103.7779999

21. Gate of Heaven Cemetery
Saint Onge, Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5353000, -103.7237000

22. Terry Cemetery
Terry, Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3344290, -103.8165110

23. Vale Cemetery
Vale, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6138992, -103.4052963

24. Holy Cross Cemetery
Englewood, Lawrence County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2818985, -103.8047028