Graveside services for 77-year old Bruce Ireland of Spokane, WA, are Sunday, October 31, 2021 at 1:00 at the Martin Community Cemetery in Martin, SD.
Bruce Lee Ireland was born January 28, 1944, to Theodore “Slim” Ireland and Geraldine “Gerry” Christensen. He passed away Oct 12, 2021, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, WA.
Bruce joined siblings: LaWanda “Sis” and Donny at the Ireland Ranch east of Martin, but later his first year Slim purchased a ranch at Folsom, SD, and the family moved there.
Bruce attended all eight grades at the Folsom School and then went to New Underwood High School where he participated in all sports. He especially liked track and field – and was good, placing at the state track meet in the High Jump.
Bruce graduated from New Underwood as the Salutatorian of his class, then attended South Dakota School of Mines where he majored in Chemical Engineering and he graduated with Highest Honors.
After college, Bruce was employed by Shell Chemical in San Francisco, CA. While there, he met Yvonne Grenier. The couple married but later divorced.
Bruce then decided to go back to college and study to become an attorney. He received his second degree and passed the Bar Exam in both South Dakota and Washington state, practicing law in Washington until his death, He also sat on the bench as a judge several times, which he greatly enjoyed. In his spare time, Bruce volunteered on Ski Patrol.
Bruce is survived by his sister, LaWanda (Rodney) Rayhill, brother Bud (Peggy) Ireland; aunts Eulaila Mansfield and Wilma DeBoer; nieces Kami Ireland, Lana Dacar, and Kayla Olson; and nephews Kory, Kent, and Kevin Rayhill. Bruce is also survived by many cousins on the Ireland side.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Slim and Gerry Ireland; older brothers Roger Dale, who died at the age of two, and Donald Ireland; sister Sherry Thomas; and nephew, Kerry Rayhill.
Bennett County Funeral Services in Martin is in charge of arrangements.