Dwight Hawthorne Coursey

Dwight Hawthorne Coursey Jr. was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota on January 25, 1935, to Dwight H. and Mary Elizabeth Coursey. Born into a literary family, Dwight’s grandfather O.W. Coursey was a well-known south Dakota author of twenty-nine books including Pioneering in Dakota, Where the Sod Shanty Stood, and Wild Bill (James Butler Hickok). His father, a feature writer for the Aberdeen American News. Dwight Sr. moved the family to Helena, Montana where Dwight attended the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. Moving back to Huron, South Dakota, Dwight graduated from Huron High School. After attending one semester of college, Dwight enlisted in the United States Air Force and served as part of the German Occupational Forces until being honorably discharged in 1957. He then continued his college education attending both Dakota Wesleyan University and George Washington University, graduating with a B.A. degree in Economics. Moving back to South Dakota, Dwight entered the officer’s candidate program with the South Dakota Army National Guard. Dwight being inactive Guard for several years while taking his fifth year of college at the University of Idaho, and relocating to Seattle, Washington where he was employed by several west coast banks. Retiring from Bank of America, while in Washington, Dwight re-entered the Army National Guard and retired at Camp Murray, Washington after twenty-eight years of service.

Dwight is preceded in death by his parents Dwight and Mary Coursey, his sister Mary E. Neilson and his first wife Bonnie. He leaves behind two daughters, Deletta Ann, Dana Marie, and a Stepson, Charles Kirk Gross.

A service with Military Honors will be held at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise, Idaho December 4, 2026 at 11:00am.