Funeral Rites Today For Col. M. L. Shade
(Rapid City, S.D. Daily Journal article; Monday, August 10, 1949 issue.)
Hot Springs, Aug 10-Funeral services for Col. Myron Lewis Shade, first commander of the state American Legion, first superintendent of Custer State park, and member of the first highway commission under the late Gov. Perter Norbeck, will be held at Hot Springs today.
Rites will be conducted at the Battle Mountain Veterans hospital chapel at 1:30 p.m., with a Spanish American War veterans’ ritualistic service. Masonic services will be held at the gravesite.
Rev. Clifford Fylling of Custer, assisted by Rev. Carl Locke of Rapid City, will officiate.
Col Shade was born in Princeton, Ill., May 23, 1876. He died at the Veterans’ hospital Sunday morning, after undergoing surgical care during the past 11 weeks. He is survived by his widow, one son, Lewis G. Shade of Ft. Worth, Texas; a brother, O. H. Shade of Mitchell, and several nieces and nephews.
Col. Shade enlisted as an infantry private in the Spanish American war in 1898, and served with the volunteers at Manila and San Fernando. Upon discharge he re-enlisted in the 36th U.S. Regulars, and was in 22 engagements. After three years in the Philippines, he returned to the United States.
Upon his return he entered the insurance business in Sioux Falls, Redfield, and Mitchell, and joined the S.D. National Guard in each city. He rose to the rank of captain in the guards, and was promoted to major while serving on the Mexican border in 1916.
His regiment was then sent to France for its first engagement in World War I at Soissons. When the American field army was organized, Shade was advanced to Lt. Col. in the artillery. He was later made commissary officer, and won the support of Gen Pershing and Marshall Foch in expediting supplies and troops to the front.
In 1919 Gov. Peter Norbeck appointed Shade a member of the state highway commission. With Scovel Johnson, engineer, Col. Shade was instrumental in the construction of the scenic Needles highway.
He helped organize the American Legion and was elected its first department commander in South Dakota. Col. Shade was also a life member of the Spanish American War camps, and organized the first provisional department of South Dakota.
In 1925 he came to the Black Hills to accept the position as first Custer State park superintendent. During the past 10 years Col. Shade and his wife have lived in the Custer State park and in Custer. He was city justice of the peace and city assessor.
Col. Shade was a member of the Masonic lodge and received his 50-year jewel a year ago. He was also a charter member of the South Dakota Historical society.
On April 24, 1904, he was married to Jane O. Giese in Princeton. On January 2, 1933 Col. Shade was remarried to Mrs. Margaret Ewart at...[remainder of article is missing].
(Transcribed from original article. Photo added.)
