Janet Mae (Dobesh) and Richard James Septka




Richard was born on November 1, 1926 in Sturgis, South Dakota
to Ernest Bryan and Hazel Pearl (Crockford) Septka. He grew
up on a ranch near Volunteer, and after graduation he taught
school at Haley and Red Top School.

He served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. 
After his discharge in 1953, he returned to Sturgis 
where he worked as a carpenter.

He married Janet Mae (Dobesh) Darnell at Sturgis
on October 8, 1969.

Richard and Janet owned an operated the Septka
Greenhouse, Nursery and Florist until her
death in 1981.

Richard enjoyed reading and fishing.

Richard, 77 of Sturgis, died at the Fort Meade
Veterans Hospital on Thursday, December 4, 2003.

Surviors include one brother and his wife, 
Clinton and Hope Septka of Sturgis; and two
stepdaughters and their husbands, Donna and Mark Love
of Gillette, Wyoming, and Deborah and David Freitas
of Laramie, Wyoming. Two step granddaughters, one step-son,
five nieces, and two newphews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Janet on November
12, 1981, his parents, brother Donald and sister Carmen.

A memorial has been established to the Fort Meade Hospice.






Cowboy's Prayer

O Lord, I've never lived where churhes grow;
I've loved creation better as it stood
That day you finished it, so long ago
And looked upon your work and called it good.

Just let me live my life as I've begun!
And give me work that's open to the sky:
Make me a partner of the wind and sun,
And I won't ask a life thats soft and high.

Make me as big and open as the plains;
As honest as the horse between my knees;
Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains;
Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze.

Just keep an eye on all that's done and said;
Just right me sometime when I turn aside;
And guide me on the long, dim trail ahead --
That stretches upward towards the Great Divide.



Janet's Memorial