Richard Serino

Richard G. Serino was born in New York City June 1, 1934.
He was the son of Jerry and Elsie Serino. He attended Iona schools in New Rochelle, N.Y., playing baseball and graduating from high school in 1951. He went on to Syracuse University earning a degree in forestry in 1955.
Following college, he served in the U.S. Navy aboard the aircraft carrier WASP with cold war tours in the Mediterranean and South Atlantic.
Joining the U.S. Forest Service, he was assigned to Custer where he met and married Janet Gates, daughter of Hobart and Ann Gates, in August 1960.
They began their 62-year journey together in the Black Hills at the Tepee Ranger Station near Newcastle, Wyo. They followed this first tour with assignments in Wyoming, Colorado and California. His peers along the way called him the “Guardia Del La Floresta” and he served as Smokey the Bear for parades. He retired from the Inyo National Forest in January 1988.
In retirement, Dick sold cars, life insurance and was a personal trainer for the YMCA and became an inspiration for his clients.
The Serino family returned to Custer, S.D., in 1996, where Dick served on the Board of the TELCO Credit Union and on the city planning commission. He was an avid skier and sports fan.
Dick, of Custer, passed away Aug. 31, 2022 in Rapid City, S.D. He was 88.
He is survived by his wife, Janet of Custer; daughter, Mary Louise Krull (Henry) of Soldotna, Alaska; grandchildren, Anton, Elan adn Alyeska also of Soldotna; daughter, Deneyse Serino of Tucson, Ariz.; grandson, Benjamin Churchill (Laura); great-grandson Walker of Spokane, Wash.; and granddaughters Tanya Churchill of Austin, Texas and Sophie Serino of Tucson.
Arrangements have been placed under the local direction of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.
Written condolences may be made at chamberlainmccolleys.com.