James "Jim" William Schmidtgall, age 69, of Huron, SD passed away on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at the VA Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD after a brief battle with cancer. His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 15, 2014 at the Welter Funeral Home in Huron, SD, with military honors by the Huron Veterans Council. Jim's committal service will be 11:00 a.m. MST Friday, May 16, at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD, with the Rev. Darwin Kopfmann officiating. Visitation with the family present will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at the Welter Funeral Home in Huron; or one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Thursday. James William Schmidtgall, the son of William and Ruby (Weber) Schmidtgall, was born on July 31, 1944 in Huron, SD. During his childhood, Jim was active in Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts for many years. He attended school and graduated from Huron High School in 1962. Jim went on to attend Orange Coast Junior College in Costa Mesa, CA graduating in 1970. Jim served his country in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed in Okinawa and Guam as part of the Navy Seabees during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged on July 30, 1965 due to illness. Jim lived in Garden Grove, CA and Alpena, SD before moving back to Huron, SD. Jim worked for Huron Sash and Door. Jim was a very active member of the Huron Noon Lions and held various offices throughout his years with the club. Jim was the sausage maker for the club every year during Pancake Days. He sold 50/50 tickets at the races on Saturday nights and at the Wissota Races. Jim also delivered Meals on Wheels and picked up old eyeglasses for the Lions Eye Division. Jim would help at the fairgrounds, parking cars for special events, driving the golf carts for the State Fair, and opening and closing the Heartland Museum. Jim was also the ticket taker for many of the tournaments at the Huron Arena, and he especially enjoyed the Dakota Oyate Challenge Basketball Tournaments. Jim was also a member of the American Legion, the Varmint Hunter's Association, the North American Hunting Club, The NRA and RSVP. Jim loved to read and do word puzzles. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping. Jim enjoyed his shooting and belonged to the Metallic Silhouettes Pistol Club. One of his most prized possessions was his extensive collection of pistols, guns, and scopes. Jim had no children but "adopted" his cousins and their kids as his own, and was very faithful in following their school activities and sports. Jim was godfather to Kayla Kopfmann and took that title very seriously. Grateful for having shared in Jim's life are several cousins, their spouses and families; his aunt, Inez Schmidtgall Grace; and his uncle, Kenny Weber. Jim was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents; his father and mother; and several aunts and uncles. Memorials in Jim's name may be made to the Huron Noon Lions Club.