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‘Legendary’ SD historian dies at 92

Gilbert Fite devoted a great deal of his life to uncovering and preserving South Dakota history.

In doing so, he became a part of it. Fite, 92, a history professor and acclaimed author, died July 13 in Fort Meyers, Fla.

“He’s kind of legendary in South Dakota history,” said Nancy Tystad Koupal, the director of the South Dakota State Historical Society Press. “He was very interested in the history of, and the preservation of the history of, South Dakota.”

Fite was perhaps best known for his 1948 book “Peter Norbeck: Prairie Statesman,” which was republished in 2003. It’s considered the definitive book on Norbeck, an enormously popular and accomplished South Dakota governor and senator....
Read entire article at Mitchell Republic (SD)