Stanley Davis Wilkes passed away Monday, August 8, 2016 with his wife Arlene at his side.  He was born in Sioux Falls, SD February 12, 1929 to Keith and Charlotte Wilkes.  He grew up in Sioux Falls, SD, attended high school in Mitchell, SD and graduated from Rapid City, SD in 1947.  He joined the US Army and was honorably discharged in 1949.
 
He started Stockman’s National Life Insurance Company in the 1960’s and founded Land Development Specialists in Great Falls, MT.  He settled in Seattle, WA area where he and his wife Arlene eventually bought Classic Yachts in Des Moines, WA. He was a 29-year member of the Des Moines Yacht Club.  They retired in 2014 and moved to Yuma, AZ.
 
Stan is survived by his wife Arlene Knight, her son Bob Knight, Jr. and four children: Marilyn Eide of Sioux Falls, SD; Dave Wilkes (Jenni) of Fall City, WA; Diane MacGregor (James) of Seattle, WA; and Denise Wilkes of Bonny Lake, WA.  He has one grandson Christopher Eide (Karla) and his three children of Highlands Ranch, CO., two sisters Winifred Lampert of Allendale, NJ and Dorothy (Dode) Osman of Huron, SD and several nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his parents and oldest son, Craig Wilkes.

Published in the Highline Times section of the Westside Weekly, September 2, 2016.