Orville Hall

Orville H. Hall was born June 30, 1938, in Pierre, S.D., to Sam and Signe (Sletto) Hall. He grew up in Vivian, S.D., the youngest of five brothers.

In 1956 he graduated from Vivian High School and went on to attend his mother’s alma mater, Black Hills Teachers College (now Black Hills State University).

He graduated May 1959 with a bachelor of science in education and began his teaching career in Hot Springs, S.D., that fall. He met Nila Rust, the love of his life, in Hot Springs and they were married Aug. 21, 1960. His teaching career included Hot Springs, Vivian, and Witten, S.D.

In the summer of 1970 he received his masters degree at BHSU and moved his family to Hill City, S.D., to become superintendent of the Hill City School system.

Orville and Nila built and opened the Hall Mart grocery store in Hill City in 1972. After selling the grocery store Orville became executive director of the Black Hills Girl Scout Council for five years. He often reflected upon his time with the Girl Scouts as one of his favorite jobs. He felt that he was able to have a significant influence on future leaders and garnered many lifelong friendships. 

Orville and Nila then bought and operated The Rushmore Cafe, where he was always ready with a pot of coffee and loved talking to everyone. Orville was elected as the first mayor of Hill City. Orville and Nila were one of the founding members of the Community Lutheran Church in Hill City.

In 1988 they moved back to Vivian, where they owned and operated a restaurant and lounge until they retired in 2005. The restaurant was a local favorite and hunters returned year after year for the great steaks, drinks and conversation.

Orville and Nila started the annual Vivian Syttende Mai, the Norwegian national celebration, complete with lutefisk, lefsa and a parade.

Orville and Nila’s retirement involved spending their summers in Vivian and traveling to Yuma, Ariz., for the winter. Orville was an avid gardener throughout his life and always enjoyed showing his crop to anyone that stopped by for coffee.

They were unique as a couple. Throughout their 61 years together they were rarely apart. Having started several businesses and working as a team, they contributed to every community they lived in.

Orville passed away Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, at Avera St. Mary’s in Pierre, S.D. He was 83. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Signe (Sletto) Hall; and four brothers and their wives,  Clifford (Lola) Hall, Oris “Rusty” (Carol) Hall, Wayne (Beverly) Hall and Alvin (Helen) Hall.

Orville is survived by his wife, Nila (Rust) Hall of Vivian; two children,  Roger (Tami) Hall of Rapid City, S.D., and Keeta (Blaine) Mackay of Mesa Ariz.; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.