Harold J. Berendes, 85, of Rapid City passed away on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Fort Meade, SD.

Harold was born in Colome, SD to Harry and Maude Berendes on the family farm south of Colome.
He attended Colome Public School system. He has told the stories of riding his horse, Ol’ Bill to and from school in the sunshine and rain and snow. Bill knew his way home without any direction from Harold or his brothers. He was on the Colome Cowboys football team, doing his best to score!!

At the end of high school, his world was turned upside down by WWII. He was very eager to join his older brothers at war to become the patriot that he remained the rest of his life. He served on the USS Vestal, a maintenance and repair ship that followed many convoys throughout the South Pacific. His favorite saying was “born in South Dakota , raised in the South Pacific”. His scariest moment at sea was when a Japanese submarine torpedoed the USS Vestal, hitting it and becoming stuck in the portside of the ship. Thankfully, the torpedo did not explode. It was a dud. He experienced sailing through seven typhoons and never did get seasick. He was proud of being a landlocked sailor who never experienced seasickness” like the sailors from the coastal states”, according to him.

Being grateful when the war ended, he then returned to Colome where he met the love of his life, Elaine Martin from Colome. Harold met Elaine at the Corner Café in Gregory, SD which his brother, Glen, owned and operated. They fell in love at a dance at the Colome Auditorium. They were married Sept. 3rd, 1947 in Spokane, WA, where Harold was serving in the Army-Air force at Fairchild Air Force Base. He discovered he had restauranteur talents as he ran the NCO Club on base. This set in motion the career he followed all the rest of his life.

Other than his family, Harold’s second love of his life was serving fine foods and cocktails. He did this in several establishments, all with their individual challenges and rewards. From 1964-1970, he leased the Gaslight Restaurant in Rockerville, SD with Eddie Spinar, a lifelong friend. From 1970-1977, he leased the Captain’s Table Best Western Restaurant in Custer, SD. On October 1st, 1977 he bought The Red Garter Lounge in Rapid City, SD. Jan. 1, 1978, he was following his passion and bought the restaurant that was next door to the lounge and named it Harold’s Prime Rib and Steakhouse. This is where he became world renowned for his prime rib. Harold and Elaine received many certificates of appreciation and they were voted Retailer of the Year in 1993.

Harold and his family owned and operated this business for 26 years. He made countless friends and helped a lot of people who needed employment. He was a kind, tough businessman who was respected and feared due to his demeanor. Underneath the tough exterior was big-hearted, soft soul.

In addition to his love of food and drink, he enjoyed being an (average) golfer. His buddies and son could always be found on the Elks Golf Course in the summertime. Harold’s Red Garter Lounge sponsored many golf tournaments where family and friends came from near and far for these big events. Harold’s favorite hole without a doubt was the 19th hole!!

He was an avid all- around sports fan who dearly loved the New York Yankees and Minnesota Vikings.

Having lost his loving wife, Elaine in 2002 and with his business retirement soon after that, it was a difficult and sweet time in his life. Harold was nurtured and loved by his children. He often said to his kids, “I don’t know what I’d do without you”. He loved his grandchildren, Dawn Jedrykowski, who considered Grandpa Harold her dad, Ami Scull-Larson, (Nathan), Andy Scull (Jessica) and the wee ones, great-granddaughters, Veda and Kaya Scull.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Maude Berendes, brothers, Kenneth (Shine), Glen, Clifford, Darrell (Moon), a baby daughter, Susan Elaine, son-in-law, John Jedrykowski, and wife Elaine and many, many dear friends.

Harold’s Survivors are his sister, Darlene Scissions and brother, Bobby (Kathy) Berendes, his children, Marlene Berendes, Sandy Berendes, Jim and Anne Berendes, and Patty Berendes and Jim Mudlin, and his three grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.

So, now, it REALLY is time to… “turn that damn jukebox off”.

Funeral Services are Friday, January 22, 2010 at 10:00 am at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City with Father Bill Zandri officiating. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Burial with full military honors will immediately follow the service at the Black Hills National Cemetery, near Sturgis, SD. Fellowship and lunch following at the American Legion Club in Rapid City, SD