Ervin Ernest Rivinius

Ervin was born on a wheat farm in Ridgeview, South Dakota on the Cheyenne River Reservation, to Sophia and William Rivinius on August 24, 1933. Ervin was the seventh of eight children and learned the importance of hard work and family early on from his immigrant parents. He attended grade school in Ridgeview, where his eldest sister, LillieAnn, was his seventh grade teacher. Ervin attended Campion Academy boarding school in Loveland, Colorado where he was floor monitor, sergeant at arms, a member of the Adelphian Society, and did some janitorial work.

Ervin loved music and trained his booming bass voice with lessons in high school and college; music and singing were beloved hobbies throughout his life. Erv attended South Dakota State College in Brookings where he earned a degree in pharmacy. Erv also developed a love of flying and obtained his pilot license during his college years. Erv married the love of his life, Betty Jo Amundson, on December 9th, 1955.

After graduation, Erv worked in drug store pharmacies in Aberdeen and Rapid City, South Dakota. Having grown fond of Colorado during his Campion Academy years, he moved the family there. He continued his pharmacist career in Golden and Littleton, Colorado. Erv and Jo bought a home in Littleton to raise their family.

Erv found great joy in watching his two beautiful daughters, Julie and Susan, develop into intelligent, loving young women. His daughters saw him as the strongest dad in the world.

Erv went on to manage a medical pharmacy in a New Life Center nursing home built by Calvary Temple in Denver. Later on, Erv transitioned to real estate earning a broker’s license to sell hardware stores.

Ervin and Betty Jo retired and moved to their farm north of Mobridge, South Dakota. He enjoyed taking his city grandkids to the farm, imparting a love and appreciation for the prairie. Erv and Jo worked the farm for several years as the North Shore Galloway Ranch before moving back to Colorado to live near family.

Erv loved singing in the large choirs at Calvary Temple and Riverside Church, where he was affectionately called “Mr. Bellows.” They were joyful in the addition of six great grandchildren to the family. He lived with a deep faith in the goodness and faithfulness of God and displayed gentle patience and unwavering support for his family. Erv’s family was the most important part of his life and his greatest desire was to meet them in heaven someday.

Ervin was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and four sisters. He is survived by his wife, Betty Jo; sister, Dionne; daughters, Julie (Kim) Reither and Susan (Steve) Howard; grandchildren, Ashlie Stinson, Peter Reither, and Jenny (Charles) Deichman; and great grandchildren, Sydnie (Ethan), Jayden, and Sophie Kent and Cohen, Heidi, and Margot Reither.