George F SCHEIDT

George F. Scheidt, 66, chief of the Rapid City Fire Department, died unexpectedly early Sunday afternoon, January 22, 1939. He had been suffering from a recurrent illness for about two and a half years, but recovered a number of times and resumed his duties as chief of the fire department.

Chief Scheidt, who was appointed to direct the fire department in June 1929, attended to his duties as usual Saturday, and was up and around the house Sunday morning before he collapsed. He died about two p.m., a few minutes after a son, Elmer, returned from a business trip to Omaha. A daughter, Mrs. M. J. May, who is enroute from New Orleans to Rapid City, has not yet learned of his death.

Scheidt was born February 13, 1872, in Joliet, IL, where he grew to manhood. For a number of years he was in the sheet metal business there with a brother, Frank Scheid, before moving to Lockport, IL, where he worked for a sheet metal and hardware firm. He later returned to Joliet, where he was a member of the fire department for six years. In 1903 he moved back to Lockport and became a partner in the firm for which he previously worked. His interst in fire work continued there, where he served as chief of the department for four years before again moving to his hometown, where for three years he was in charge of the pipe fitters in a steel mill.

He was married to Carrie Ebner August 6, 1901, and came to Rapid City in 1910, settling on a ranch west of the city. After living on the ranch for nearly three years, the family moved to Rapid City, where he became associated with the Sweeney Hardware Company. Two years later he began working in the sheet metal and roofing department of the Duhamel company, where he worked for 14 years until he was appointed chief of the Rapid City Fire Department.

When he first came to Rapid City he joined the North Rapid Hose company, a volunteer fire organization, which he was to consolidate with three other volunteer hose companies to form the Rapid City Fire Department.

When the veteran fire fighter became chief of the department it had a pumper and a fire truck, which under his direction were increased to three trucks and ladder equipment. The fire hall was enlarged under his direction.

Chief Scheidt was vitally interested in fire prevention work, which in part was responsible for decreasing fire losses in Rapid City.

Among his survivors are his widow, Carrie; a son, Elmer Scheidt; three daughters, Mrs. May, Miss Elizabeth Scheidt, and Mrs. Lawrence Rossum; two brothers, Ed Scheidt, Chicago, and Henry Scheidt, Joliet; a sister, Mrs. Frank Parthun, Joliet; and five grandchildren, Mary Louise and John Mathew May, Beverly Ann, Robert Francis, and Elizabeth Jane Rossum. All of his children and grandchildren live in Rapid City.

Funeral arrangements will not be made until the family is able to contact Mrs. May. The body is at Behren's mortuary.

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