Tip Sisk
November 8, 1934 ~ May 1, 2008
Our beloved husband and dad, "Tip", Clayton James, Sisk departed this earth to join his Lord and Savior May 1st, 2008 at the Hand County Memorial Hospital, Miller.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30a.m., Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Miller with Father Chester Murtha officiating. Burial was in G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller with military honors. Visitation was held from 3:00-7:00p.m., Tuesday, May 6 at the Reck Funeral Home, Miller followed by a 7:00p.m. prayer service.
Clayton was born November 8, 1934 in Miller, SD to Josephine (Koc) and Carl Sisk. He attended Miller schools, along with his 4 brothers and sister. "Tipper" earned his nickname "tipping" backwards on a chair at the gas station. Tip graduated with the Class of 1952 and attended USD for 2 years. He returned to Miller and joined his father and Brother Bob at Sisk Standard Service, which they purchased from his Uncle Mike in 1956. He began a lifetime of community service in the SD National Guard in 1957.
On February 17, 1962 Tip married "the lovely Harriet Winsell", and had an instant family with daughter Russ Ann; Carla Marie completed that family in 1964. Tip hunted, bowled, and built the family business, purchasing D & D Standard in 1965; he installed an Automatic Car Wash in 1970. Tip and Harriet coached girls’ softball, driving two cars to out of town games. In 1980 Sisk Standard was sold to Gary Niederauer. Tip and Harriet traveled as T & H Marketing in direct sales for a few years; he then managed Niederauer Oil until 1994. They purchased Harriet’s business, Collector’s Paradise, and Tip began work at Hand County Implement where he was assistant manager. Throughout these years, Tip’s garden supplied produce for family and friends.
Tip selflessly gave his community and state more years of service than his 73 years of age: 21 years as a National Guardsman, Retired Major; a volunteer firefighter 15 years, two terms as fire chief; 19 years as Ward 2 Councilman, three years as Council President; a 12 year term as Mayor Sisk began in 1985. In 1990 the town of Miller saw an impressive number of positive economic and community developments with improved water storage, drainage, and other accomplishments. Tip was former director of Miller C & C, past member of Hand County Planning Commission, active in the Miller Economic Development Board, as well as co-chair of the Miller Area Community Foundation from 1994 until 2007. Beyond hometown service, he was director and chairman of the former District 5 SD Municipal League. He spent many years on the Water Development Board (Cendak, Mid Dakota, now Central Plains) as director, secretary-treasurer, and vice-chairman, along with 5 or 6 trips to Washington, DC successfully requesting funding for his fellow South Dakotans’ future water needs.
Tip is survived by his wife Harriet of Miller, daughters Russ Ann Sisk and husband Brad Talbert of Hot Springs, SD (formerly of Helena, MT) and Carla Sturn, husband, Ron, and sons, Jon and Ken of East Helena, MT. Brothers Charles of Pierre, Frank of Colorado, Carl Jr. of Minnesota, sister Barb Bouren of Ree Heights and their families.
Preceding him in death were his parents and brother, Robert.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Miller Area Community Foundation or as you wish.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with his arrangements.
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Harriet and girls–Kari and I extend our sympathy to you and your girls on the loss of Tip. I am just thinking about the fun trips to Reno and Vegas we took together for Standard. He will be missed. Out thoughts and prayers go out to you. Joan and Kari
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Harriet, and your family.
Dorothy
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Sisk family. Bob spoke often of good memories and the “good old days” that he and Tip spent at the local station in Miller. We will keep the entire Sisk family in our prayers.
Anita & Terry Loterbauer
Dear Harriet, So sorry to hear of the passing of your husband “Tip”.
Please accept my sincerest sympathy.
JoAnn
My thoughts are with Tip’s family. Major Sisk was my supervisor at a couple SD Guard camps. He was a good guy to work for and with.
Sorry to here of Tip,s passing
Tip has been a good freind for many years dealing with him at Hand Co. Impl. He will be missed very much dealing with him and as a freind.
Harriet, Russ Ann and Carla — So sorry. I’ve had you all in my thoughts since mom called. I loved the video. Several of the photos took me right back to the “old neighborhood.” It’s been 30 years since I left Miller but whenever I’d come home, I would always make it a point to drive by the house and oftentimes I’d find Tip in the garden and we’d have a visit. He always took great pleasure in reminding me of some shenanigan Russ and I had pulled (generally something I had forgotten — or would have preferred to forget). Tip was a good neighbor. I’ll miss seeing that grin when I’m in the neighborhood. My deepest sympathy to you and your loved ones. Sherri
Harriet, Russ Ann and Carla,
I am so sorry for your loss. Tip was a great friend and I have many fond memories of working with him at the Station. We always had a great time and many laughs while we were supposed to be working. As long as we remember him he really never will be gone. God Bless.
My deepest sympathies to the Sisk family. Tip was fun to work with and always entertaining, Especially when he was under the influence !!!! I’ll miss him.
My heart goes out to my good friend Barb Bouren, for the loss of her very talented brother who gave so much in life.