Chuck Risse

Chuck Risse May 3, 1938 - August 29, 2025 Charles Henry Risse was born in Martin, SD, on May 3, 1938. He was confirmed in the Catholic Church as Charles Henry Joseph Risse and entered into eternal rest on August 29, 2025, at the age of 87, after an ongoing struggle with asthma and, in his final year, pulmonary fibrosis. He was an intelligent, resourceful, quick witted, and compassionate person who believed in principled hard work, slipped in a sharp one-liner here and there, and went the extra mile to help others. He meant a lot to so many and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Born to Frank and Anna (Burger) Risse, Chuck was the second youngest of six children (Elsie, Martha, Ed, Dave, and Rita) sharing in the loving antics and simple comforts of family life in the sandhills southwest of Martin near his Uncle Ben and Aunt Mary. Chuck married Jane Ann Engelbert on October 2, 1965 and shared over 60 years together, devoted to one another, their faith and family.

His elementary years through grade 8 were spent at the Little White River country school just 1.5 miles down the road from where he grew up. A few stories he fondly recalled include family gatherings with neighbors, driving to church in the family’s 2-door ‘39 Chevy, his mom processing chokecherry juice in 2 quart jars for jelly-making, playing baseball on the farm with his brothers, visits from his sisters from teaching school, trapping mink and weasels to earn his own spending money (in addition to shagging baseballs), and traveling with his parents and his sis, Rita, on the train to Missouri to visit “dad’s family.”

Chuck graduated from Bennett County High School in 1956 where he excelled in math and science and participated in track and field, basketball, FFA, and student council. He continued his education at South Dakota State College (now SDSU), earning a B.S. in Chemistry/Math and Biology in 1960. During those years, Chuck was involved in ROTC and pitched for the Jackrabbits baseball team, helping lead them to their first North Central Conference championship. In 1964, he received a Master of Natural Science in Chemistry/Math from Arizona State University through the National Science Foundation summer program. It was in Arizona where he and several of his classmates discovered their passion for hiking and, in Chuck’s case, also rocks. In fact, it was often said that Chuck never met a rock he didn’t like!

After college, Chuck taught chemistry and mathematics for 39 years in South Dakota and Nevada. After three years in Hot Springs, SD (1960–1963), he spent three decades in Las Vegas, NV where he taught at Garside Junior High, Las Vegas High School, Clark High School, Bonanza High School, and AMSAT (the Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Applied Technology). He concluded his career at The Meadows School, a private school in Las Vegas (1995-1999). Known for his rigorous approach and unwavering commitment to excellence both in the classroom and across the district, Chuck not only served as a math department chair and contributed to numerous district curriculum committees, but also played a key role in founding the Secondary Math Contest in Clark County, the Math Institute, and the AMSAT. Nothing pleased him more than seeing his students realize their potential in math and science and take what they learned to great heights! Always striving to help others succeed, Chuck dedicated countless hours beyond the school day to coaching baseball, basketball, chess, and Varsity Quiz and tutoring students.

While baseball remained a life-long passion, getting to play with his brothers and family on various teams (Martin Merchants, etc.) and a summer of semi-pro ball in Watertown SD, coaching (Little League, Legion, high school, and especially family!), and being inducted into the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995, his interests went far beyond that. In addition to treasuring any time spent visiting with family and friends, either in person or over the phone, he enjoyed getting together with his poker group and taking time out to hunt (deer, elk, quail, pheasant, etc.), fish and rock-hound across Nevada. In fact, “33 mile marker” in AZ was a favorite quail hunting spot of Chuck and Jane’s. And those rocks found their way into several fireplaces when Chuck and Jane built their house in Vegas and a cabin up in Panguitch Lake, Utah. Summers were often spent in South Dakota, where Chuck and Jane shared farm life (growing wheat and alfalfa and raising various animals) with their three daughters and quality time reconnecting with their South Dakota families – a couple of hootenannies and many a Pinochle, Pitch, and Cribbage game included! His German determination, combined with farm experience, science and math know-how, and a willingness to build or fix almost anything himself, kept his project list overflowing — even if it meant fashioning his own tool to get the job done! From woodworking and stonework to growing and sharing a steady bounty of apricots, tomatoes, and lemons with friends and family over the years, Chuck was always hands-on and looking ahead at solving the next problem.

Chuck also loved being a grandpa. He enjoyed supporting and attending his grandkids’ school events, music recitals, theater performances, and sports games, sharing his knowledge with them, and spending time together. Fishing and driving the ATVs at the cabin, family trips, and time spent during holidays and special occasions were favorite moments.

Chuck is preceded in death by his parents Frank and Anna; sisters and brothers-in-law Elsie and Wendell Johnson and Martha and Jimmie O'Neill; brother and sister-in-law Ed and Gloria Risse; brother Dave Risse; and sister-in-law Virginia VanderMay-Pinkston.

He is survived by his wife Jane Risse of Las Vegas NV; sister Rita (Art) McDonald of Lame Deer MT; sister-in-law Joyce Risse of Martin SD; daughters Lisa (Brach) Thomson of Bigfork MT, Rebecca Risse of Henderson NV, and Stephanie (Chris) Sega of Reno NV; Spanish exchange student “daughter” Eloísa Feliu-Rey; grandchildren Kyle (Isabella) Thomson, Jenica Thomson, Kila Hose, and Zach Hose; and many dear nephews, nieces, and friends.

Services will be held at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Martin, SD: Rosary/Vigil on Friday, Sept. 26 (7:00 PM) and Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, Sept. 27 (10:30 AM). Interment to follow at Martin Catholic Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held in Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 18 (2–5 PM).

“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.”