Ace Inghram

Ace Inghram, age 84 of Faith South Dakota, died Wednesday, July 13, 2022. 

The funeral was held Monday, July 18, 2022 at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Faith.  There was no visitation.  Interment took place at Slim Buttes Lutheran Church Cemetery, near Reva. Arrangements were with Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche.

Ace’s funeral was broadcast live online from his obituary page, located on the funeral home’s website: www.LeveringtonFH.com

Glen Ace Inghram was born on February 22, 1938, at the Faith Hospital to Glen and Mabel (Ramsay) Inghram.  Ace grew up on the family ranch at Deep Creek with his grandparents Ray and Maggie Inghram close by.  The family raised cattle and sheep.  Ace was homeschooled for two years then attended Mud Butte and Bison, finishing his high school years at Brookings, SD School of Agriculture where he was involved in Little “I” and the boxing club.  

While attending confirmation in Bison at the American Lutheran Church, he spoke to a young blonde during lunch, and they became friends.  A couple years later, their friendship grew and the duo, Ace and Karen, could be found at dances, church, and at the Laflin Bronc Ride, where Ace earned five dollars for every bronc he rode—more often than not, good food and gas money for future dates was made.  On January 17, 1959, Ace married Karen Sabo at Faith Lutheran Church in Rapid City, SD.  Ace and Karen had six children:  Justin, James, Lona, Laina, Lisa, and Lexy.  During those years, Ace worked on many ranches in the Reva/Bison area:  Diamond “A” south of Faith, Ray Escherich, Roy Nelson, Bob Elling, Mendenhalls, Bar H, the Hackamore, and Thorsons.  In 1974, Ace and Karen moved for the last time back to Faith, where they bought their place.  Ace began teaching Ag in Eagle Butte, and later began driving truck, eventually buying his own truck and establishing Ace Inghram Trucking in 1986 with a red Kenworth cabover, the truck which allowed him to buy his blue Peterbuilt.  As an independent trucker, he built a solid base of repeat ranchers year after year, hauling their cattle to pasture or sale, as well as hauling sheep. He also made many friends with other independent truckers during his trucking career. In his later years, he and Jack Keckler continued trucking until Jack’s passing, at which time he retired from trucking.  Ace and Karen put together a band, Karen and the Country Gentlemen, and played hundreds of dances during the seventies and early eighties.  Ace loved a good card game, playing cribbage, pitch, and Whist with anyone who was up for a hand.  Ace was a stockman and enjoyed livestock, always having chores.  His family was important to him and he enjoyed his holidays with good home-cooked food, surrounded by his family. 

Ace is survived by his wife, Karen of Faith; sons, Justin (Sharmin) of Faith, James (Melodee) of Faith, daughters, Lona (Pat) Tibbs of Belle Fourche, Laina (Randy) Russell of Gillette, WY, Lisa (Elton) Anson of Miller, Lexy (Matt) Kindsvogel of Bison, Sisters-in-Law Cathy Inghram, Laurie Sabo, Dawn Sabo, and Rhonda Makoweicki and special cousin, Jill Newhouse. Ace’s grandchildren include Cody, Roy, Eva, Kassidy, Nalen, Stormy, Jarret, Jace, Ketch, Mariah, Shyann, Ryan, Tanner, Tel, Tyler, Torrey, and Treyton, as well as 21 great-grandchildren. Ace is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Ace was predeceased by parents, Glen and Mabel Inghram, his brother, Allan “Bunky” Inghram, and sister, Marlene Vetter and brothers-in-law, Dean Vetter, Dwight Sabo, and Doug Sabo, daughter-in-law, Vicki Inghram, and mother and father-in-law, Irving and Delores Sabo.