Michael "Banjo" Riley

Mike "Banjo" Riley, 61, of Highmore, passed away Monday, March 1, 2021 at his home after an intense six month treatment for small cell lung cancer.

A celebration of life will be held 12:00 p.m., Saturday, March 20, 2021 in the East wing of the Highmore Auditorium.

Banjo, as he was known by his friends and customers, was born on November 1, 1959 to Marvin and Charlsa (Dieshler) Riley in O’Donnell, Texas.  Mike grew up around Sulphur Springs, Texas where he pitched baseball there during his high school years.  His dad, Marvin, was teaching him to be a mechanic and when he was old enough, he had him join him working as a mechanic on the power lines.  That is where he would meet the love of his life, Christi Gibson, whose father was the general foreman of the power line crew.  They were married on March 21, 1981.  They spent many years in Pinehurst, Texas where they raised two children: son, Curtis; and daughter, Shauna.

Mike grew up in a family that loved motorcycles and even more loved to ride them.  Mike and Christi often rode Harleys for many years in Texas and on warm days in South Dakota, you would often see them riding around town.  He was currently restoring his Dad’s cycle that Richard and his dad built.  He enjoyed the company when anyone came to visit and working alongside his wife and talking with his customers was something he missed.  His family was the most important thing to him, and he enjoyed time spent with them.  Mike also dearly loved his dog, Chevy.

In 2007, Mike and Christi moved back to Christi’s hometown, Highmore, South Dakota to help take care of her mom.  In Highmore, Mike became a well-respected mechanic first working in a shop and then working for Solberg Farm until he fell ill.

Grateful for having shared his life is his wife, Christi, Highmore, SD; son, Curtis and granddaughter, Harper, Pierre, SD; daughter, Shauna (fiancé, Mike Moran), and stepdaughter, Preslie Moran, Houston, TX; brothers: Richard (Patsy) Riley, and Willy Riley; and sister, Judy Keller all of Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his mother and father-in-law.

Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Mike's arrangements.