Brian Richard Stubson, 78, passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society in Sioux Falls. Graveside Services with Military Honors will be held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls.

Brian Richard Stubson was born on October 6, 1947 in Minneapolis, MN. His family moved many times while he was growing up but landed in Sioux Falls, SD where he graduated from Washington High School in 1965. He was the eldest of seven children in the household and when his father left the family when he was 12, Brian took on many responsibilities and was a devoted son and brother, all while keeping his goofy and silly sense of humor, which he kept and shared throughout his life.

Brian was a jack of all trades and worked many different jobs in his lifetime, first as a paperboy for the Argus Leader and as a bus boy working alongside his mother who was a server at various restaurants, including Lemon's, where Minerva's is now. After graduating high school, Brian went to school in Springfield, SD to become a draftsman and then worked as a draftsman for the Highway Department of the State of South Dakota in Pierre after graduating. Hearing that his classmates' draft cards were being called up to be drafted into the Marines for the Vietnam War, Brian decided to join the US Army and enter their two-year program. He was stationed in Ft. Benning, GA and was assigned to work as an Audio Engineer in the Audio Recording Department. After his mother was in a car accident, Brian left the US Army an Honorable Discharge for hardship and was awarded the national Defense Service Medal for sharpshooting during training. After the Army, he used the GI Bill to attend South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Geography and Social Studies. To prepare for college, Brian memorized the dictionary by reading it every night before bed.

Brian lived in and traveled to many places in the United States, and set foot in every state except Hawaii and Maine. He was also an avid car guy and owned and fixed up over 50 cars in his life, with a particular fondness for Ford and Mercury. After his many adventures across the country, he again returned to the Great Plains where he built a house in southwest Sioux Falls with the help of his brothers Lanny and Jim. In 1981, Brian met the love of his life, Janette (Jan), at Night City disco in downtown Sioux Falls. Two years later they were married at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Canton, SD on September 3, 1983. In 1986, his daughter Katrina was born, and four years later in 1990 his son Andrew was born. He was an enthusiastic and dedicated father and never missed a softball game, basketball game, or band concert. He enjoyed teaching his children about building and fixing things, sports like basketball and baseball, playing pool, planting flowers, caring for animals, and the process of learning and studying in school. Brevity wasn't Brian's strong suit and when his children asked him questions about the world, he always gave the long explanation to make sure his kids understood the answer and how he got to the answer. A true professor of life. Using his construction and draftsman skills, Brian designed and built a giant play tower out of wood and recycled materials in the backyard for his children, and he made sure all the kids in the neighborhood felt welcome in their backyard to play. He always wanted everyone to feel included. Brian enjoyed many hobbies and acquired many skills, especially playing pool, and toured the country playing in pool tournaments. He was a defensive player and was famous for "hooking" his opponents, making it impossible for them to find a clear shot. His smile lit up every room he entered, and nearly everyone describes him as a funny, thoughtful, and kind man.

For 20 years, Brian worked as a groundskeeper for the VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. He took great care in everything he did, including tending the grounds, planting flowers, trimming the lawns, and removing snow in the early hours of the morning before the workers and patients drove in, using extra salt on every sidewalk just to be safe. His wife Jan also worked at the VA and they would take their lunch breaks together and would laugh together watching the gophers and squirrels eat the French fries they'd feed them. After Brian took an early retirement, he worked as a driver for Wheelchair Express, a non-ambulatory ride service for disabled and healing patients, driving across the four-state area making sure they made their appointments on time and safely. Riders often requested Brian specifically because he took the corners with ease, went slowly over every bump in the road, and took extra time to make sure the riders got in and out of the vehicles safely and pain-free. It was around this time that he became devout in his Christian faith and enjoyed spending time studying the Bible with friends and sharing his faith with anyone who would listen.

When working at Wheelchair Express became too hard on his body, Brian quit that job and took a part time job working at a small laundromat in town. It was there when his cognitive decline became noticeable and so he decided to fully retire from working. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, which became Dementia. His wife did her best to keep him happy and healthy at home for many years before he required additional care. He moved into Good Samaritan Village memory care unit in July of 2024 and was known in the memory care unit there for always cracking jokes, dancing, and his memorable smile. After an eight-year battle with Dementia, Brian died on Sunday, June 7th surrounded by his family.

Brian is survived by his wife Janette (Skells) Stubson of Sioux Falls, his daughter Katrina Stubson of Minneapolis, MN, and his son Andrew Stubson of Sioux Falls, SD, and his sisters Cheryl (Stubson) Lima of Linden, Michigan, and Patricia (Stubson) Millar of Las Vegas, Nevada, brothers Lanny Stubson of Lewiston, MT, and Jim Stubson of Sioux Falls, SD, and cousin Carol (Green) Arnold of Plano, TX.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother LaVerne Stubson and father Marvin Stubson, brothers Terry Stubson, Robert Stubson, and David Jansen, and his beloved aunt Eleanor Green, uncle Gordon Green, and cousin Charlie Green.

To honor Brian's memory, his family asks that all donations be sent to the Alzheimer's Research Association and the Veterans Community Project which helps build homes for homeless veterans.