Royce J. Emerick, age 91, of Brookings, passed away at home on June 30, 2022.  Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. on Friday, July 8, 2022, at Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings with burial to follow at First Lutheran Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5:30-7:30 P.M. on Thursday, July 7 ^th at Eidsness Funeral Home.

To view a livestream of Royce's Funeral, please click on one of the links below:

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Royce was born on January 1, 1931, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Willie J.  And Marie Idell (Davis).  Royce was raised on a diversified livestock farm near Oologah in Northeastern Oklahoma.  Following high school graduation, he earned his B.S. degree in Animal Husbandry from Oklahoma State University in 1952, and his M.S. degree in 1954, and Ph. D. in 1957 in Biochemistry and Animal Science from the University of Wisconsin.  Royce met Ruth R. Kaun at a dance while attending school in Wisconsin, swept her off her feet, and they were married September 2, 1953.

Royce devoted his entire professional career (1957-1995) to biochemistry research at South Dakota State University, where he held the title of Professor of Biochemistry with a joint appointment in Animal and Range Sciences.  During this period, he was successful in defining the causes and methods for preventing a variety of nutritional and metabolic diseases in livestock.  In addition, he provided support to other researchers and producers through collaborative research and analyses of feedstuffs and biological materials for essential minerals and trace elements.  He authored numerous research articles and was the 1987 recipient of the F.O. Butler award for outstanding achievement in research, the 1989 Regents Mentor Professorship, and the 1991 Gamma Sigma delta research award.

Royce was a member of various professional organizations, most notably the American Institute of Nutrition and the American Society of Animal Science.  He was a charter member of Ascension Lutheran Church, where he served in the formative years on various boards and as congregational Vice President and President.

Royce remained a farm boy at heart and continued active involvement in livestock and crop agriculture throughout his lifetime.  His lasting legacy is the imprint that he left on his children and grandchildren.  By example he showed them the value of hard work and a good education.  He took on a father role again later in life when his grandkids lost their dad.  In retirement he became an accomplished baker, wine maker, gardener and volunteered at the Tax Aid office yearly in addition to his lifelong wood-working skills.   He never backed down from a challenge and could figure out how to fix just about anything.  He was as good at working with his hands as he was his mind.

Survivors include his daughters, Linda (Joseph) Moser of Brookings, SD and Laurie Bushlack of Shakopee, Minnesota; three grandchildren, Sean, Brevin, and Brie; and his sister, Doris (Ray) Hahn of Dewey, Oklahoma.  He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth in 2010; his son, Richard in 1991; his son-in-law, Mike in 2013; and his sister Billie.