Frank Blair

Frank Blair, 61, of Miller, passed away peacefully Friday, December 15, 2017 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls with his daughter at his side.

Funeral service were held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 21, 2017 at the Ree Heights Auditorium with Rev. Brian Jones officiating. Burial followed at the Morningside Cemetery in Ree Heights.

Frank was born July 17, 1956 in Miller, South Dakota to Jim and Lois (Perdow) Blair. Frank was a lifelong Hand County resident. He attended grade school in Ree Heights, went to high school in Miller for a few years but his true love wasn’t school, so he got his GED. He then decided one of his favorite things to do was driving semis, he drove for some custom harvesting crews, then later decided to haul cattle.

Frank met his future wife Darlene Trautman along with her son William “BJ” at the Miller Sale Barn, they were married on June 4, 1982, in the Miller Sale Barn Lobby. They lived around Miller area while taking care of their children. They had one daughter, Ashley in 1983. Frank adopted William “BJ” Blair in 1983 to complete their wonderful family of four. Frank and Darlene later divorced.

Frank worked numerous jobs and excelled in them all. He worked for many farmer/ranchers being a good and dependable farm hand. He worked many years at Dakota Ag Coop (St. Lawrence Elevator) doing numerous jobs to keep it proudly serving their patrons. He proudly served on the local police departments later in his life and always was proud to be a local volunteer fire fighter and EMT. No matter what he did, it was trickled back to a steering wheel of an 18 wheeler. He logged well over a million miles in a semi and truly loved every mile. It wasn’t just driving that made his day, it was the people he met along the way. When he wasn’t grabbing gears in his numerous trucks he drove in his free time, he was cruising his pickup to every gun shop or race track in South Dakota.

Frank had a passion for dirt track racing, he wanted to be involved any way he could. He busted his butt during the week so Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night he could watch race cars. He truly enjoyed being a fan in the stands or prepping the track for Central Speedway in Miller. Frank would have had a racecar, but he listened to his loving daughter and decided against it. The gun shops in South Dakota are going to miss Frank, especially in his last few years his desire and passion for guns grew. MG Oil and Heartland Transportation treated Frank wonderful for his desire and love of trucking and in return, Frank spent a lot of time in the toy store (gun shops). He loved people, outdoors, 18 wheelers, and dirt.

He is survived by his father, Jim Blair; two children: William “BJ” Blair and Ashley (Lee) Conkey; grandchildren: Jazmin, Chasitie, Chelcie, Jordan, Sirinity, Brielee, and Marshall; great grandson, Kyler; siblings: Jeanne Deuter, John (Babby) Blair, Verna (Tim) McMahon, and Loyce (Carl) Hoskins; aunts: Mardelle Blair, Myrtle Blair, Phyllis Perdew, and Rhea June Carstensen; uncles: Ted Blair and Dave (Joan) Blair; three nephews and their families; four nieces and their families; many cousins; and last but not least the countless number of people that have been a part of his everyday life.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lois; and niece, Heidi Blair.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Frank's services.