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Stath 'Sam' S. Mantzeoros

August 1, 1928 - July 2, 2017

U.S. Veteran

Service Date July 7, 2017

Location St. John the Theologian Orthodox Church

Visitation will be 5 to 7pm Thursday, July 6th, at Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home. The Trisagion Prayers of Mercy for the Departed will be prayed at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday July 7th, at 10 a.m. at St. John the Theologian Orthodox Church, 601 Flormann St., Rapid City. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.

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Stath “Sam” Mantzeoros, 88, Rapid City, passed away Sunday, July 2nd, 2017 at Rapid City Regional Hospital surrounded by family.

Born August 1st 1928 in Rapid City, SD to Greek immigrants, Sotereos and Lamprene Mantzeoros, Stath was very proud of being 100 % Greek and was determined to pass the Greek language and traditions to his kids and grandkids.

He graduated from Rapid City Central in 1946 where he was well known for his dancing and was well known for the phrase “Hey! Let’s dance!!”  He later graduated from college with a Bachelor’s degree in Business.

Sam owned and operated many bar/lounges throughout the years including Coney Island, Villa Lounge, Box Elder Lounge, Belle Starr, The Outer Limits and other businesses. Sam also owned several residential properties. Stath also brought boxing and wrestling to the area being first promoter and managing several youth and famous names including boxer Joe Lewis and wrestler Cowboy Carlson.

A family oriented man, he enjoyed spending any available free time with his family and would always be ready to head to the lake for a day on the pontoon fishing or to the Black Hills to go hunting.  Sam took pride in teaching all family to fish and hunt and was very proud of their successes. In addition to hunting and fishing, Sam was very proud of and close to his grandchildren and great granddaughter and their accomplishments including baseball, ballet and taekwondo.

Sam was always willing to help anyone in need. “Feed the hungry and clothe the naked,” formed the foundation of how he lived and how he treated other people. He was always willing to share his knowledge with anyone to help them learn new tasks and better themselves. His hospitality, humor and quick wit was well known to all.

As a World War II veteran, Stath was very proud and was actively involved with VFW, DAV, MOOSE AND AMERICAN LEGION, including participating in honor guards years ago.  He was actively passing patriotic knowledge to all family.

On August 25, 1952 he married Helen Georgas in Kalamata Greece in an arranged marriage and brought Helen to Rapid City.  Soon after he brought over several family members from Greece as well.  He also shared his love of the Orthodox faith with his wife and the two helped establish St. John the Theologian Orthodox Church in Rapid City. Married for 54 years, she preceded him on August 1, 2007.

Stath is survived by daughters Nitsa (Roland) Waterson; Tia Perry; grandchildren Elaine (Dustin) McNulty, Christopher Waterson, Evyenia Cooper, Thanos Perry and great-grandchild Eliauna Waterson. He is also survived by nieces, nephew and cousins. Stath was preceded in death by his wife Helen; parents; sister and other family members.

A memorial in his name has been established at St. John the Theologian Orthodox Church, 601 Flormann, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701.

 
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