Beloved by all who knew him, Dr. Paul Swisher, 68, of Spearfish, SD passed into the arms of his Savior on November 29, 2025.

Born on April 20, 1957, to Dr. Lowell (L.P.) and Ardith (Ardee) (Fischer) Swisher, Paul became a world traveler at a young age, living in Germany during his father’s military service. He would be joined by sisters Ann and Beth and brother Peter and was raised in rural, small-town Kadoka, S.D., surrounded by people, places, and experiences that were foundational for his lifelong search to learn, try, and do everything of interest. Kadoka remained a treasured place for Paul and will be his final resting place, per his wishes.

Paul graduated from Kadoka High School in 1975 and followed in his father’s footsteps, first to Concordia College, from which he graduated in 1979, and then to the University of South Dakota Medical School, becoming Dr. Swisher ("Doc") in 1983. He spent the majority of his medical career working in emergency room settings in various locations to include Spearfish, Deadwood, and Hot Springs, S.D., and Dickinson, Bowman, and Elgin, N.D. He was a calm and steady doctor whose main priority was taking care of his patients and doing right by them. In addition to earning the respect and love of his colleagues and patients, he earned a reputation for cooking amazing meals for the medical team when he was on shift, and we still hear from them about certain soups and recipes they enjoyed over the years.

Paul married Miriam (Mimi) Armerding on May 26, 1979. Their paths had crossed several times in the past. Mimi, who grew up in Wheaton, IL, became a nurse and was working in Kadoka for the senior Dr. Swisher. He once casually mentioned to Mimi that his son, Paul, would be home from college soon. And the rest is history! Paul and Mimi balanced each other in all of the right ways, and they made an incredible team raising their five children: Megan Beth, Jonathan Paul, Kaija Elise, Brent Peter, and Audri Miriam. They always said their children were their greatest joy and legacy. Paul loved sharing and passing on his knowledge and skills and going on epic adventures with them every day, which expanded as grandchildren arrived. His love for his family knew no bounds.

Paul enjoyed and excelled at so many things; he was a jack of all trades and a master of all of them, seemingly. People who met him often tried to guess his profession (aided in part by his distinct style of dress, which called for the clothes one needs for whatever job one is accomplishing that day), and those guesses ranged from mountain man, lumberjack, mechanic, gourmet chef, builder, boat pilot, rancher, camping guide, master gardener, musician, antique ski collector, golf course designer, and beyond. And they were all correct. There was nothing “impossible” for Paul; if he could dream it, he could learn whatever he needed to make it happen. He proved this time and again and so enjoyed when people would marvel at the successful execution of his plans and designs, whether it was his SnowBus (a combination snowcat and school bus) and "Hobo RV" with its train-whistle horn, his rural golf courses, his tipis, his hundreds of spaghetti squash he grew and shared each year, etc., etc., etc. He made the lives of everyone he met more interesting, and everyone has a legendary story about Paul (which are all true).

A profound part of Paul’s life was his journey to recovery, and he experienced nearly 25 years of sobriety before his death. He always had a talent for creating rapport with anyone he met in any situation (there were no strangers, only future friends!), and this trait, along with his honesty, generosity, and authenticity in sharing his story with others allowed him to be mentored by and to mentor many people whose lives were impacted significantly through their relationships with Paul.

Most importantly, Paul had a deep and abiding faith in God. He spent a great deal of time thinking and preparing for his next great adventure to his eternal home, and we rejoice in knowing death is not the end. The medical staff at the Spearfish hospital, a place that felt like home in many ways because of his work history and connections there, treated him like family and honored him, as well as our family, with their care and kindness in his final days after a rapid decline due to terminal cancer.

We are so grateful to everyone who walked with Paul along the way. He was part of, loved, and was loved by so many communities of people, and without a doubt, he loved and cherished you all. We will miss him every day and are so grateful to have been part of his life and legacy.

Paul is survived by his wife, Mimi; his children, Megan Sand (Kirby), Jonathan (Virginia), Kaija, Brent (Terra), and Audri Iversen (Andy); his siblings, Ann Henrichsen, Beth Swisher, and Pete (Karen) Swisher; grandchildren, Jefferson, Cora, and Lowell Sand; Hudson and Joseph Swisher; Eva, Henry, and Lucie Swisher; and Edith, Eloise, and Ansel Iversen; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews; and so many special and lifelong friends.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Spearfish, S.D., with a private burial to follow at a later date at South Creek Cemetery in Kadoka, S.D.

In the spirit of Paul’s generosity, please direct a gift or memorial to the charity of your choice.

Paul Swisher Memories: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdiLsm1GxVBMPcoWBwVrMXqKNTHyaLDUGNpEDfu4aWDf7Zmmw/viewform?pli=1

Paul Swisher Photo Share: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yH60ZbACLznQW9Y3X1YN1_iH23ZwYRaP

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com.