Richard Alden CUTLER

Section Sycarmore- Plot # 39
VETERAN US Army, Major Jag lawyer

Richard Alden Cutler
August 26, 1941 - May 08, 2019

Richard Alden Cutler, 77, of Sioux Falls passed away peacefully on May 8, 2019 after a three-year battle with Glioblastoma brain cancer.

His funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM Monday, May 13, 2019 at First United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls followed by a reception at the church. Visitation with family present will be from 2:00 – 4:00 PM on Sunday, May 12, 2019 at Miller Funeral Home – Southside Chapel, 7400 S. Minnesota Ave., Sioux Falls.

Rich was born on August 26, 1941 in Mitchell, South Dakota to Roland and Dorothy Cutler. Rich grew up in Wessington Springs with his sister Liz and brother Jim. Rich graduated from Wessington Springs High School in 1959 and attended the University of South Dakota, where he majored in History. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1963, graduating summa cum laude. Rich was Cadet Colonel for the ROTC unit and a member of USD’s championship track team. In 1965, Rich earned his law degree from USD, again graduating summa cum laude. Rich received an Honorary Doctorate of Business from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1986, and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from USD in 1997.

Following law school, Rich attended the United States Army Language Training Academy at Fort Ord, California where he learned to speak fluent German in less than 12 months. Rich served in the JAG Corps of the United States Army, attaining the rank of Major and spending his last three years assigned to the United States Embassy in Bonn, Germany.

After leaving active military duty, Rich returned to South Dakota to join the Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith law firm where he practiced for 30 years. In 1997, Rich formed the Cutler Law Firm with his son Kent. Rich was instrumental in the growth of the Cutler Law Firm from four to 20 attorneys during the past 20 years. Rich served as attorney, business counselor, and friend to countless clients with whom he continued to work until he retired from the practice of law. He took great pride in the fact that his family has continuously practiced law in South Dakota for four generations, beginning in 1906.

Rich was not only a well-respected attorney, but an astute entrepreneur. During his career, Rich acquired a significant real estate portfolio consisting of many commercial properties, development land, and farm land. In the early 1970’s, Rich founded Satellite Cable Services, Inc. which owned and operated cable television systems in Brookings and 60 other South Dakota communities. Rich had the privilege of serving as the President and Chairman of the Board of the National Cable Television Cooperative. Because that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, Rich purchased Palmer Gulch Lodge in the Black Hills in 1972 and developed the Mt. Rushmore KOA campground, which was the start of Recreational Adventures Co. RAC is now the largest KOA franchisee, owning and operating 13 campgrounds spanning the northern tier of the United States from Oregon to New York and serving hundreds of thousands of guests each year. In addition, Rich was a board member and owner of Enercept, Inc., a company located in Watertown that produces structural insulated panel systems for residential and commercial projects.

Rich was community minded and philanthropic. He served as campaign chairman for the United Way and served on many boards including the South Dakota Community Foundation, Children’s Home Society, South Dakota Hall of Fame, Sunnycrest Village, Downtown Rotary, Sioux Falls Community Development Advisory Committee, and Sioux Falls Downtown Development Corp. Rich served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dakota Wesleyan University, the USD Foundation, and the National Music Museum at USD. Rich also co-chaired Campaign South Dakota which raised over $133 million for the USD Foundation. In 2007, Rich was recognized for his lifetime of accomplishments by induction into the South Dakota Hall of Fame.

Rich’s proudest accomplishment was his family. As a young family, Rich and his wife Sharon spent as much of the summer months as possible at their Black Hills cabin with their three sons, Kent, Chris, and Justin. This allowed Rich to be personally involved in the operation and development of Palmer Gulch and to spend time riding three wheelers and motorcycles with the boys. Christmas was always a special time generally spent skiing with his family which grew to include eight grandchildren.

In more recent years, Rich became a collector of art by various South Dakota artists including Harvey Dunn and Oscar Howe for which he was a recipient of the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Support of the Arts. Rich and Sharon particularly enjoyed spending the winter months at their home in LaQuinta, California, where they entertained friends and Rich played cards almost daily at LaQuinta Country Club.

Rich is survived by his caring wife of 56 years, Sharon; son Kent (Carolyn) Cutler of Sioux Falls, and their children, Dylan and Katie; son Chris (Natalie) Cutler of Hill City, South Dakota, and their children Jac, Rebecca, and Abby; and son Justin of Hill City, South Dakota, and his children Maddie, Miles, and Max. Rich is also survived by his sister Liz (Arlan) Barber, of San Diego, California; his brother Jim (Joyce) Cutler of Westford, Massachusetts; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in loving memory can be made to any of the following: First United Methodist Church, National Music Museum (USD), Sioux Falls Community Foundation, Sunnycrest Village, or Ava’s Hospice House.

Contributed on 11/23/19 by 9katz
Email This Contributor

Suggest a Correction

Record #: 270492

Don't Follow