Tony Sentovich, 86, Lead, SD

On Sunday morning, November 30, Tony left this world for his next great adventure. He had his golf clubs, fly rod, gold pan and cribbage board with him, ready for all takers.

Tony was born in Lead, South Dakota on December 20, 1927 to Mike and Nike Sentovich and grew up on Gwinn Ave., known as Slavonian Alley. He loved Lead and the Black Hills and always said that Lead was the greatest place in the world to grow up.

Tony and his three brothers; John, Chris and Mike had a childhood filled with adventures and fun that only comes by growing up in a small town. They sledded down Stone Street in the winter and walked to the frog pond to fish in the summer. Swimming in the "plunge" or bowling at the Homestake Recreation Center were fond memories. He also claimed that he spent many hours in the library at the Recreation Center. Tony could always be found at one of the many dances that were held in Lead and around the area, and his dance card was never empty.

Tony's dad owned a small grocery store in Lead, Pavlovich & Co., and Tony would tell of the many hours he and his brothers spent delivering groceries up and down the steep streets and steps of Lead. Tony loved to talk about the wine making traditions in Lead and how the grocery store would receive a box car of grapes in the fall from California that the Sentovich boys would then deliver around town.

Tony graduated from Lead High School in 1945 and enlisted in the Army. Although he really wanted to travel and be part of the action, he was stationed at Ft. Bliss in El Paso for his service years. After he was discharged from the Army he of course came back to the Black Hills. In the Black Hills Tony could be found working in the store or in Deadwood working.

It was in Deadwood that he met Lennora Sandone. Tony and Lennora were married in Dallas, Texas. Children Mark, Lora, Mitch and Sue made for a busy family life. With Tony's love of adventure the family would live in Texas, Arkansas, the Black Hills, Florida and Montana. Eventually they were divorced and Tony moved back to his "Black Hills".

In the Black Hills Tony met Phyllis Fleming and they spent the next 32 years living life together. Tony and Phyllis both loved the hills and all the trout streams, golf courses and back roads they enjoyed exploring. They traveled to Alaska for a summer, where Tony panned for, and found, gold. There were also gold explorations in California, Montana, Arizona and British Colombia. Tony and Phyllis also spent some great winters in Texas at Cedar Creek Lake where the Fleming clan had a lake house. Tony enjoyed the respite from Black Hills winters but always wanted to be back in the Hills for summer, where the gold pan, fly rod and golf clubs were always in the car.
Tony was the guy every woman wanted to dance with, the trout needed to watch out for, men wanted to golf with and the poker and cribbage players wanted to avoid! He liked to win, either with the trout or the cards! Tony loved life and had an easy way that endeared him to all, he was a man who walked his own road.

For the past four months Tony has been living at the Hospice Unit of the Fort Meade Veterans Hospital, where he found willing (if unsuspecting) black jack, bingo and cribbage players. His family is forever grateful for that time he so enjoyed, and the caring and supportive staff who made sure his days were filled with fun activities.

Tony is survived by his wife Phyllis Fleming, Lead, SD; children Mark and Christina Sentovich, Seffner, FL; Mitch and Faye Sentovich, Naples, FL; and Sue and Chip Eckert, Goleta, CA. He had 11 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren (another on the way) three brothers; John and Kay Sentovich, Germantown, TN; Chris and Delores Sentovich, Longmont, CO; and Mike and Barbara Sentovich, Los Alamitos, CA. There are many nieces and nephews that will also miss him a great deal. Tony was very close with his cousins Norma Buich and Carol Buich both of California.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents, Mike and Nike Sentovich, and infant grandson and his daughter, Lora Beck.

Vigil Service for Tony will be at 6 pm, Monday,, December 8, 2014 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Lead. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 am, Tuesday, December 9, at St. Patrick. Inurnment will be at Black Hills National Cemetery following the luncheon.

In Lieu of flowers memorials have been established to the Hospice Unit at Ft. Meade Veterans Hospital, Hospice of the Northern Hills and the Lead-Deadwood High School Golf Program.

Arrangements are under the care of Lead-Deadwood Memorial Chapel in Lead.