Howard Warren Morrison was born March 22, 1921, in a log home his grandfather built on the Morrison Ranch north of Phillip, S.D.
He enjoyed boxing while in high school where he earned the nickname Tuffy. He also boxed in college and the Air Force. He was a South Dakota state boxing champion and a contender in the Golden Gloves. He also served as referee in many South Dakota state boxing tournaments.
He married Neva Langner of Elkton, S.D., on Aug. 10, 1941. Neva passed away Sept. 10, 1965.
Howard was a World War II veteran. He worked in aircraft factories prior to serving in the Air Force from 1944-1946. He was a lower ball gunner on a B-17 and a right scanner (gunner) on a B-29. His three brothers were already serving in the military when he joined because he thought he needed to do his part. He lost his youngest brother, Donnie, when the B-24 he was copiloting was shot down and he was MIA for several years.
He was a game warden and a land manager for the South Dakota Game Fish & Parks from 1949-1970, during which time he helped with Boy Scouts and trained many youth in the hunter safety course.
Upon leaving the Game Department, he began his search for his dream place and in the fall of 1970 he purchased 50 acres in Little Spearfish Creek Valley in the Black Hills near Lead. There were over 37 springs and 14 dams on this property and he started a trout hatchery, which he operated until 1996 when he sold the property.
After selling the hatchery, he lived in a log cabin in Spearfish Canyon for a year, before moving to White Lake, S.D., where he purchased 10 acres with a log home. He also had some land near Pickstown that had a grouse booming grounds and other wildlife, which he enjoyed.
In 2014 he sold his log home in White Lake and moved to a smaller home in Fulton, which he enjoyed very much. Howard was preceded in death by his wife Neva, parents, three brothers Wallace, Lyle and Donnie; two sisters Iola (an infant) and Caroline McGibney (James).
He is survived by two daughters Camilla Walton (Stan), Humboldt, S.D., and Patricia Peterson (James), Fernly, Nev.; son Thomas Morrison (Kathy), Farson, Wyo., and a sister Dorothy Strande (Arthur), Rapid City, S.D.; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
