George Dee Mitchell

George Mitchell was a true original—a cowboy, a businessman, a biker, an outdoorsman, a sailor, and a friend to everyone he met. He was funny, very funny, knew everyone and had a big heart. With a quick wit and an electric charisma, he was effortlessly cool. 

 As for his grit, that he learned in the Texas heat at the age of five where he and his brother Tom were put to work digging wells and making bricks. At ten, he began his career as an accomplished cowboy at the Sanford Ranch Company in the panhandle. George’s wandering kicked off when his family relocated to Great Falls. It was there that he got his first of many jobs for Pepsi Cola, pushing a small cart and selling soda. Despite severe dyslexia, he got his degree from Rocky Mountain College and rose from packing bottles to being a top executive. He lived all over the country and the world, ultimately landing in Thailand with his brother, where he worked for Fabrinet as the VP of Business Development. However, his true home was always Deadwood, where he had countless friends, led the insurance business for First Western Bank, and built the Deadwood Mountain Grand.

 George had many loves. He loved to sail, he loved Deadwood, he loved riding his Harley through the Black Hills. He loved the sun on his face, saltwater in the air, and to sit and enjoy life. But what he loved most was his family. He is preceded in death by his first wife Diana and daughter Carey. He is survived by his brother Tom, his daughters Tiffany, Tracy, and Christen (the girls), his sons-in-law Michael, Billy, and Aaron, his second wife Kathryn, and his six grandchildren: Leo, Mitchell, Flynn, Lula, Dakota, and Kit. He was a very proud grandpa.

 Happy trails, George.