Donald "Don" Bailey of Belle Fourche passed away peacefully on July 5, 2025 surrounded by his family. Don was born on July 30, 1940 in Clark, S.D. to Sylvester "S.J." Bailey and Olga Rasmussen. He grew up on the family homestead near Baileys Lake. He was baptized and confirmed at at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Clark, S.D.
Don graduated from Thorp High School in 1958 and then attended South Dakota State College, Northern State Teachers College and the University of South Dakota where he earned Bachelor's and Master's Degrees as well as his teaching certification.
Don married Helen Steen on August 27, 1961. Together, they raised four children: Ona Rae, Steven John "S.J." and twins Lynn Alan and Lee Burton. He started his teaching career at Highmore and then moved back to Clark where he taught math and science for many years.
He retired from teaching in 1978 and moved to Spearfish where he started a construction company. Don always enjoyed helping others whether through his teaching career, truck dispatching or working at the Belle Fourche Landfill and handyman work. He was known as a generous and honest man to all who knew him. Throughout the years, Don enjoyed woodworking, camping, feeding his birds and card playing. He was a longtime member of the Lutheran church, the most recent being St. James Lutheran in Belle Fourche.
He is survived by his wife Hellen; children Ona Rae (John) Archer of Stanwood, Wash., S.J. (Annette) Bailey of Spearfish, Lynn (Rachel) Bailey of Sioux Falls and Lee (Audra) Bailey of Spearfish; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister LaVern Wells and brothers Merrill and Kenneth.
A visitation was held Thursday, July 10 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Kline Funeral Chapel in Belle Fourche. Funeral Services were held Friday, July 11 at 2:00 P.M. at St. James Lutheran Church in Belle Fourche. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark on Thursday, July 17 at 2:00 P.M. with lunch and fellowship following at the Community room in the Ullyot Building.
A memorial will be established for Richard M. Schulze American Cancer Society Hope Lodge.
The funeral was livestreamed and can be viewed on Don's Obituary Page at klinefuneralchapel.com.
An online guestbook and video tribute is available at klinefuneralchapel.com.
