Todd Bert Pelissier, age 64 of Richardton Health Center, Richardton, he beat the Flu, escaped Covid-19, but lost the Cancer battle on May 14, 2020.
Todd was born on January 23, 1956 in Dickinson, the son of Bernie and Blanche (Harmon) Pelissier. He was six months old when he was wrapped up and moved to northern British Columbia, Canada. He was 14 when Blanche and Bernie loaded up and moved back to the Pelissier ranch south of Medora. Todd spent a little time in high school, enough to know he needed out of there! He did a stint in the Job Corp., did some ranch work, welded, then off to driving truck—a million miles, accident free. He could cook on the engine while driving, only a “foodie” would learn to do that. It was his life’s calling until diabetes struck. NOT a good thing for a successful foodaholic.
The diabetes ended the trucking. Todd moved to an apartment in Dickinson where he kept busy going to weekly auction sales, volunteering for numerous good causes, hanging out, finding bargains, mostly food, fishing poles, knives, Louis L’ Amour books by the box….you don’t want to ask what he collected…it was all a bargain.
Todd loved his little garden, tomatoes and cucumbers. He loved phones, we never knew which one to call, when he changed and then switched back to the old one, over and over and over. He was a “jokester”. Jim says Todd remembered every joke since he was 12 years old and loved to tell them over and over. Every family event was a big deal to Todd, even our annual cemetery picnic.
He lived in the Richardton Health Center the past two years, after he became unable to care for himself. His wonderful caretakers at Richardton would take him on his much needed shopping trip so he could get his supply of private snacks, consisting mostly of candy, chips, nuts, jerky, small cans of pork & beans, and oysters, canned and smoked.
Todd is survived by his sisters, Laura (Bud) Griffin, and Linda (Larry) Fritz; brother, Jim (Tina) Pelissier; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two nephews, Quain Fritz and Dallas Griffin.
There will be a Private Memorial Service at 2 p.m., Monday, May 25, 2020 at the Harmon-Tetly Cemetery, south of Medora.
The Richardton Health Center staff was so good to Todd, that the three of us siblings want the staff to share Todd’s Memorial donations. They can be sent to Laura Griffin, 3911 116th Ave SW, Dickinson, N.D. 58601 or Linda Fritz, 24573 Outback Trail, Hermosa, S.D. 57744.
