James E. (Jim) Pier was born June 11, 1917 at Belvidere, South Dakota, the son of L.A. and Edith Mae (Waterbury) Pier.

He grew up in the Belvidere area, graduated from Belvidere High School and then attended South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City.  As a young man he worked as a teller in the Belvidere State Bank.

Jim was united in marriage to Esther Velma Sundell on his birthday, June 11, 1940 at Belvidere.  They made their home in Belvidere all their married life.

Jim entered the U.S. Army on January 13, 1944 serving during World War II.  He served with the Battery B 659 Field Artillery in Germany and France until his honorable discharge on February 12, 1946.

He returned to Belvidere where he continued working at the Belvidere State Bank.  Later he became president of the bank and served in that capacity until his retirement.

After retiring, he and Esther continued to make their home in Belvidere.  His wife preceded him in death on July 12, 1996.

Grateful for having shared his life are his son, William J. Pier of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; two daughters, Lynn Thomas of Loveland, Colorado and Tamara Pier of Rapid City, South Dakota; five grandchildren; a sister, Virginia Simpson of Rapid City and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to his wife, Esther Velma Pier, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Jill Peterson; his parents; a brother, Robert A. Pier; two sisters, Dorothy "Dode" Kendall and Marjorie "Midge" Snedigar.

A memorial has been established to the Belvidere Cemetery.

Services
Friday, November 5, 1999
2:00 p.m.
Prebysterian Church
Belvidere, South Dakota

Minister
Pastor Gary McCubbin

Music
Syd Iwan - Pianist
Terry Karrels - "The Lord's Prayer"
Larry Grimme - "Gone Home"

Eulogy
Sally Anderson Rollins
Erin Osborn (granddaughter of Jim Pier) - "Family
Reminiscences about Jim-Dad"

Ushers
Mike Perault - Joe Leutenegger

Active Pallbearers
Dean Blom - C.D. "Wib" Osborn
Jack Hanson - Francis Osborn
Tom DeVries - Al Badure

Interment
Belvidere Cemetery
Belvidere, South Dakota