Richard William Pauley, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2025 with his beloved daughter Stephanie and grandson Taylor by his side. Richard was born in Portland, OR on July 10, 1937 to the late Katherine and Adam Pauley. He was raised in Vale, South Dakota on the family farm along with his brother and sisters Joan, Linda and Robert.

He attended high school in Newell, South Dakota and graduated in 1955. Richard participated and excelled in basketball, football, and track and field. He was also Class President and Vice President for several years. After graduation Richard lived on the family farm and helped his dad develop and grow the business. Richard married Lorelei Hill in December 1957 and they had their first child Barbara in June 1958. They had a second daughter, Stephanie in April 1960.

After years of working at the family farm, both Richard and Lorelei had the desire to further their education and moved to Spearfish, South Dakota and attended Black Hills State College. After graduating in 1969, the family packed up and moved to California and arrived in August 1969 where the temperature was 120 degrees. The family settled in nicely and had many friends and a very active social life.

Richard was hired by Holly Sugar in Brawley, CA. Richard was an Agriculturist and assisted in bringing the latest developments in sugar beet culture to the growers.

Around 1979, Richard took a new job and moved to Gilroy, California in the agriculture industry. After a divorce, Richard moved back to the Black Hills of South Dakota and after retirement from the agriculture industry, he enjoyed being a truck driver in his 60’s. He traveled around the country and thoroughly enjoyed seeing parts of the US with that career.

Richard reconnected with the love of his life and childhood sweetheart; Evelyn later in life, and they married in South Dakota and lived together in both Spearfish and Summerset, South Dakota.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn; parents, Katherine and Adam Pauley. He is survived by his daughters Stephanie and Barbra; Sisters Joan Trankle and Linda Stoll, Brother Robert Pauley; grandchildren Mark McGrath, Holly Haggerty, Taylor Burroughs, Rachel Rizutto, Sarah Bueno, Trevor Lance; two great grandchildren McKinley and Baby (name not known).

Richard will be buried next to his grandfather William “Bill” Pauley and grandmother Molly in Vale, South Dakota. Memorial service date TBA with announcement sent out by his daughter Stephanie.