The sad news comes this week of the passing of Don Barnett, on January 12, aged 83. Barnett was a 29-year-old second-year Mayor of Rapid City in June 1972 when his city was struck by the Rapid City flood, the most destructive natural disaster in South Dakota history. This blog wrote about his visit, in 2022, to Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary, where he shared his memories on the 50th anniversary of that disaster. Barnett also wrote a book, Thorns and Roses: Rapid City 1971-73, about that time. It is an excellent book – it reads like a novel. His time as mayor also coincided with the civil disobedience of the American Indian Movement.
Following Barnett’s death, South Dakota Searchlight shared another post with Barnett’s flood memories.
Barnett was the 1978 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, losing to Congressman Larry Pressler. He left politics after that, building a successful career in business and eventually moving to Colorado.
I was glad to get the opportunity to hear Barnett share his story about the Rapid City flood, and to visit with him afterwards. He was a leading player in one of South Dakota’s most significant, and tragic, events. Barnett’s full obituary is available here.
SoDak Governors 