John Britton

John Richard Britton was born in Lead, S.D., Jan. 14, 1928, to John Charles and Marion Henrietta (Pomeroy) Britton. He lived in southwestern South Dakota on various farms, working with family. At 14 he left home, went to Nebraska and worked with farmers and ranchers. He returned to his family before leaving after joining the U.S. Army. John was a WWII veteran, having served in occupied Japan during the reconstruction after the bombing.
On discharge from the Army, he bought a gas station in Hot Springs, S.D., for a short while. He met Ruth Marvin (Pond) at Deadwood Days of ’76 and fell in love with the love of his life. They were married Oct. 14, 1949, and he gained two daughters with this union, Ruth Virginia and Cynthia Christine. He went to work at the Black Hills Ordinance (Army) Depot (Igloo, S.D.) and in the years following Norine Ella, John Joseph and Jackie George were born.
Due to the closing of the base at Igloo in 1965 the family was transferred to Ft Irwin, Barstow, Calif., then to Presidio, San Francisco Calif., where he retired in 1973 and returned to Hot Spring. John and Ruth treated this time as an extended vacation and visited and traveled on his off time.
On return to Hot Springs, they settled on the Argyle, S.D., and he worked for TA Bonde at Maverick Truck Stop, delivering gas all around southwestern South Dakota. He loved the job and visiting and talking to his customers.
John loved to play cards, games and tinkering with the brothers and brother-in-laws. He and Ruth had been married over 50 years when Ruth passed away in 2000.
John passed away June 26, 2024, at Pine Hills Assisted Living in Hot Springs. He was 96.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, John Joseph; infant son, Jackie George; daughter, Ruth Virginia Braddish (Charles); brothers, Robert, Jesse and Charles (Lester); sisters, Marion Dodd and Karen McCleery; grandson, Rudy Toman; great-grandson, Cody Toman; and six brother/sister-in-laws.
John is survived by daughters Cynthia (James) Benton and Norine (Robert) Baird  of Hot Springs; 24 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; 17 great-great-grandchildren; several sister/brother-in-laws; numerous nieces and nephews; and friends and acquaintances.
Gravesite services will be held July 10 at 11 a.m. at the Pringle (S.D.) Cemetery. Please bring a chair to the cemetery.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Hot Springs.