Russell ‘Sam’ Schultz

Russell Samuel “Sam” Schultz was born Oct. 28, 1939, to Nellie Mae and Russell Lewellyn Schultz in Rensselaer, Ind. He grew up in Kentland, Ind., and graduated from A. J. Kent High School in 1957. He loved athletics and played football, basketball and track. He excelled in track, breaking school and county records in the quarter mile and the high jump.
He attended Purdue University, majoring in philosophy and graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1960. Sam then attended Union Theological Seminary in New York City from 1960-64. During that time he worked two years in the inner city to improve housing and living conditions in impoverished areas. Later he worked one year for the office of economic opportunity to help families own their own homes. In his last year, he served as an intern pastor at a Long Island church. Upon graduation in 1964 he received his Master of Divinity degree and was ordained as a minister in the United Presbyterian Church.
In 1964, he moved his family to Boulder, Colo., to pursue a doctorate in Theology and Philosophy.
His restaurant career began in 1965 when disillusioned with the quality of the graduate program in Colorado. He left school and took a job managing The International House of Pancakes to support his family. Over the next 10 years he would manage multiple restaurants and a resort in Colorado.
In 1975, along with other family members, he purchased the Chief Restaurant in Custer, S.D., followed by the Dakota Cowboy Restaurant and Motel, Wild West World, and The Stage Stop Restaurant and Theater. He opened Laughing Water Restaurant at Crazy Horse Memorial and later Reintree Restaurant in Phoenix, Ariz., and The Dark Horse in Custer. His restaurant career spanned over 40 years, bringing quality food and service to the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Sam was very creative, always designing a new project or looking for a better way of doing a task. He spent many of his working years remaking his restaurants.
He spent his hobby time and retired years keeping up with his many children, encouraging them to think deeply and work hard. He enjoyed “fixing” and painting cars. He was an accomplished photographer and writer, often printing the photos he had taken.
His daughter Shawn loved horses and Sam invested heavily into Windance Farms Training and Breeding Center and into Eros, her steel art business. He encouraged creativity and athletic and academic pursuits in all his children, nieces and nephews. He never missed an opportunity to support them at any of their athletic, musical or theatrical events. He often said his greatest accomplishment was his children.
Sam passed away peacefully Saturday, March 2, 2024 of natural causes. His family was by his side. He was 84.
He was preceded in death by his mother; father; brother, Max; and sister, Joan.
Sam is survived by his sisters, Sandra (Joe) McFarland of Rapid City, S.D., and Sharon Jones of Custer; eight children, daughter, Shawn (William) Schilling of Custer, son Austin (Rachael) Schultz of Omaha, Neb.; daughter, Luressa (Charles)  Edrington of Germany, Alexandria (Cody) Stoltenberg of Omaha, daughter, Ashley Schultz of Lincoln, Neb., daughter, Alisha (Cody) Herman  of Custer, son Jaden Schultz of Custer, daughter Skye Schultz of Custer; and his 12 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, March 9, at 11 a.m. at Living Outreach Church in Custer. Following a reception after the service, Sam will be laid to rest at Custer Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Cards may be sent to:  
Alisha Herman (daughter), 12254 Walker Rd, Custer SD 57730; Sandra McFarland (sister), 1125 Settlers Creek Pl, Rapid City, SD 57701.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.