Rush Funeral Home Logo
Logo Image
(605) 859-2400 You can call us 24/7
Newsletter Get new obituaries by email
Search Search through the obituaries

Funeral services will take place on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at 10:00 AM (Mountain).

St. William Catholic Church
Midland, South Dakota

Midland Cemetery
Midland, South Dakota
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 31, 4-6 p.m. with a prayer service starting at 6 p.m. at St. William Catholic Church in Midland.



Print Obituary

In memory of

Rock Gillaspie

of Midland, South Dakota, died on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at Avera St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre at the age of 53

Rock Bennett Gillaspie was born May 9, 1963, in Pierre, South Dakota, the son of John J. And Avis (Schilling) Gillaspie. Rock grew up in Midland, and attended Midland School until 1977 when he moved with his family to Ord, Nebraska. He graduated from Ord High School in 1981. He then attended Wyoming Technical School in Laramie, where he majored in diesel mechanics.

Rock then worked at A&G Diesel in Mitchell, South Dakota. He remained in Mitchell until moving to Ft. Pierre and working for an implement dealer in Blunt.

In 1987, he moved to Arizona with his brother Jim, and worked for a landscaping company. He then moved to Texas where he worked at a construction company, before moving back to Ord, Nebraska in 1989, and worked for the John Deere dealership. In 1998, he began working for the State of South Dakota Department of Transportation out of Murdo. Rock covered a wide area for the state, working on a variety of vehicles.

He was a member of the Midland Volunteer Fire Department, Midland Ambulance Service, and a town board member.


Rock enjoyed fishing, loved to travel, and would visit with everyone.

Survivors include his special friend Lesa Hodgin of Ft. Pierre, and her children Amanda, Amber and Nick, and their children Benjamin, Charlie, Nevaeh, and Luci; three brothers John L. (Danette) Gillaspie of Hot Springs, Ken Gillaspie of Pierre, and James (Sharon) Gillaspie of Pierre; four sisters Evie (Doug) Abrahamson of Bowman, North Dakota, Marilyn Hoyt of Ft. Pierre, Mary Schofield of Midland, and Delores (Carl) Suminski of Ord, Nebraska; special friends Theron and Linda Hodgin; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Rock was preceded in death by his parents John J. and Avis Gillaspie; two brothers Ronald and Conrad Gillaspie; one brother and one sister in infancy; three brother-in-laws, Orris Skogen, Jim Hoyt and Vincent Schofield; a sister-in-law Marilyn Gillaspie; and two nephews Dean Joseph Gillaspie, and Michael Schofield.


Visitation was held from 4-6 p.m. MDT on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, at St. William Catholic Church in Midland with a prayer service starting at 6 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:00 a.m. MDT on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at St. William Catholic Church in Midland.

Interment was held at the Midland Cemetery.

The dress will be casual, just like Rock.


Open the Memorial Folder

VISITATION
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
4-6 p.m. with a prayer service at 6 p.m.
St. William Catholic Church
Midland, South Dakota

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Wednesday, June 1, 2016 - 10:00 a.m.
St. William Catholic Church
Midland, South Dakota

CELEBRANT
Father Kevin Achbach

MUSIC
Marianne Frein - Organist
Barb Jones - Vocalist
“On Eagles Wings”
“Shepherd Me O God”
“Beautiful Savior”
“Gift of Finest Wheat”
“Amazing Grace”

USHERS
Reuben Vollmer - LeRoy Fedderson

PALLBEARERS
Johnny Gillaspie - Daniel Gillaspie
Jay Gillaspie - Cody Gillaspie - Tim Gillaspie
Joe Gillaspie - Aaron Olson - Nick Hodgin

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
SD DOT Crew
Midland Fire Dept. and EMT’s

INTERMENT
Midland Cemetery
Midland, South Dakota

  • Praying for you at this difficult time for the loss of Rocky; it happened far too soon. May our loving Lord comfort you; help you thru this loss. God bless you with great memories. ~ Joyce (Vollmer) Williamson Rapid City, SD (6/7/2016)
  • Sending my love to all my family. Rock will truly be missed. ~ Camille Kelly-Hinrickson Sioux Falls, SD (5/31/2016)
  • I am so sorry for your loss! Rocky was a good guy and always enjoyed visiting with him. You are in my thoughts and prayers. ~ Mary Jo Jones Midland,SD (5/30/2016)
  • We are sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Rock loved his family very much. May God wrap his loving arms around each of you and give you strength during these difficult times. ~ Katrina and Vaun Hewlett Pierre, SD (5/29/2016)
  • Thinking of all family and friends during this difficult time.. Its always difficult and almost unfair losing a person as special as Rock. Thoughts and prayers to his entire family. ~ Margaret Seidel Ord, NE (5/28/2016)
  • Sorry to hear of Rock's passing! He was a guy that you could talk to and share ideas with. He will be missed greatly! ~ Joe Millage Philip, S.D. (5/28/2016)
  • We are so sorry to hear of Rocky's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. He never failed to always have to time to come and talk to everyone. He was from a very special family that meant a lot to me. Betty ~ Betty and Darwin Haerer Wall, SD (5/27/2016)
  • Sorry for your loss Rock was a great guy, co-worker, friend and all around person. He will be greatly missed by many. Our thoughs and prayers are with you all. ~ Steve & Robyn Bothwell Hayes, SD (5/27/2016)
  • Rock an I have been friends for many years, 30. I will miss him and all the good times we had spending time with others. I can remember Rock and Woody Goodrich helping me out several times with fixing my cars. And even times helping with my daughter's. Rock will be missed. I don't know just how to say it. I did love him as a friend and like a brother I never had. Remember the good things and the fun things. ~ Teresa Rupe Pierre SD (5/27/2016)