James ‘Jim’ Houska, 75 died Monday August 1, 2011 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. He was born July 21, 1936 in Bijou Hills, near Kimball, SD, the son of James and Hellen (Pipal) Houska. He grew up near Kimball and attended Kimball School. Jim married Velda Thayer in 1958 in Kimball. They then moved to Rapid City and had 6 children, where he worked for Fairmont Foods and Brown Swiss Dairy. He enjoyed being part of the pit crew for numerous race car drivers at Black Hills Speed Way. Jim moved his family back to Kimball in 1974 where he owned and operated “Houska’s Auto Repair”. In the 1990’s he was then employed for John Deere in Chamberlain. In 2000 he married Sandra Bullis where he once again opened up his own repair shop “Houska’s Small Engine Repair”, until late 2008 when he moved closer to his children and grandchildren in the Black Hills due to his health conditions. His hobbies included collecting and restoring John Deere equipment. Jim is survived by his five children, Donald Houska, Greeley, CO; Kathy Else, Piedmont; Cindy Houska, Box Elder; Patty Colvin, Hill City; Daniel Houska, Rapid City; 21 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; 2 step-sons; 4 step-daughters; two sisters, Detta Milner, Chamberlain and Rita Higel, Salinas, CA and his dog, Pepper2. He is preceded in death by his second wife, Sandy Houska, his parents, 2 brothers, 2 sisters, and infant son, an infant granddaughter and his dog Pepper1.