VA National Cemeteries
Hot Springs National Cemetery burial schedule and eligibility
Hot Springs, South Dakota · VA national cemetery
Address, hours, directions and contact details: Hot Springs National Cemetery.
You can look up burials at Hot Springs National Cemetery on VA's daily burial schedule, which lists the committal services families have agreed to publish. Veterans who were not dishonorably discharged can be buried here, and so can their spouses and some dependent children. To schedule a burial, you or the funeral director call VA's National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117. VA lists Hot Springs National Cemetery as closed to new burials, so ask the scheduling office whether an existing family gravesite can be used.
History of Hot Springs National Cemetery
Hot Springs National Cemetery is located in Fall River County, SD, on the northeast edge of Hot Springs, SD.
In 1902, a National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers was approved for the Hot Springs area and construction was completed in 1907. The home was originally named the Battle Mountain Sanitarium after a nearby mountain peak. The cemetery was established for the interment of veterans who died while residing at the home. In 1930, the home became part of the Veterans Administration and, in 1973, the cemetery was one of 21 cemeteries transferred to what was then known as the National Cemetery System.
Hot Springs National Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Monuments and Memorials The Battle Mountain Monument is a 32-foot tall obelisk tower situated on the cemetery's highest point. The monument was dedicated in 1914 in memory of the men who gave their lives in defense of the country.
Notable veterans buried at Hot Springs National Cemetery
The National Cemetery Administration lists these people of note at Hot Springs National Cemetery, with section and site where it has them.
- Medal of Honor
- The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Recipients receive the Medal of Honor from the President on behalf of Congress. It was first awarded during the Civil War and the eligibility criteria, medal design, and recognition on a recipients' grave marker have all evolved over time. There are 434 Medal of Honor recipients interred at VA national cemeteries including 6 double recipients.
- Medal of Honor recipients interred or memorialized here:
- Lieutenant Charles L. Russell (Civil War). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company H, 93rd New York Infantry, for actions at Spotsylvania, VA, May 12, 1864. Russell died in 1910 and is buried in Section 3, Row 1, Site 12.
Visiting hours at Hot Springs National Cemetery
Visitation Hours: Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Office Hours: Contact Black Hills National Cemetery Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays.
Who can be buried at Hot Springs National Cemetery?
VA national cemeteries accept a veteran who didn't receive a dishonorable discharge, a service member who died on active duty or in training, the veteran's spouse or surviving spouse (even if they remarried), and minor or, in some cases, unmarried adult dependent children. National Guard and Reserve members qualify under narrower rules. You can ask VA for a pre-need eligibility decision in advance; it does not reserve a gravesite.
What does burial here include at no cost?
- A gravesite in any VA national cemetery with available space
- Opening and closing of the grave
- A government-provided burial liner
- A government-provided headstone or marker
- Perpetual care of the gravesite
Veterans also receive a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate (presented to the next of kin at the burial) and military funeral honors, which include the playing of Taps and two uniformed service members who present the flag. The committal service is held at a committal shelter, not at the grave, and lasts about 20 minutes. National cemeteries have no viewing facilities, so the funeral itself is held elsewhere.
How do you schedule a burial at Hot Springs National Cemetery?
- Gather the veteran's DD214 or other discharge papers, and the deceased's details (Social Security number, dates of birth and death, relationship to the veteran).
- Fax the discharge papers to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 866-900-6417, or email them to [email protected] with the deceased's name in the subject line.
- You or the funeral director call 800-535-1117 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET) to request Hot Springs National Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.
VA lists Hot Springs National Cemetery as closed. Ask the scheduling office what, if anything, can still be arranged here, and about open national cemeteries nearby.
Where is the Hot Springs National Cemetery burial schedule?
VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Hot Springs National Cemetery to see the committal services planned there. It only lists burials whose families agreed to publish them. To change or cancel a burial that's already scheduled, contact Hot Springs National Cemetery directly at 605-347-3830.
Headstone, flag and burial allowance
- Government headstone or marker: tell the scheduling office which headstone, marker, niche cover or medallion you want when you schedule the burial.
- Burial flag: VA Form 27-2008.
- Burial allowance: For a non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026, VA pays up to $1,032 toward burial and funeral costs and $1,032 for a plot; for a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001, the burial allowance is up to $2,000. Claim it with VA Form 21P-530EZ. All benefits
After the funeral: survivor benefits and the estate
A surviving spouse, child or parent may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a tax-free monthly VA benefit, for example when the death was service connected (VA Form 21P-534EZ). The veteran's estate is settled under South Dakota law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in South Dakota and lists each county's probate court. For the rest of the paperwork, from Social Security to bank accounts, DeathUS has a step-by-step checklist of what to do when someone dies.
Funeral homes near Hot Springs National Cemetery
A funeral director usually arranges the burial with the cemetery. These are the closest funeral homes by straight-line distance. Each one links to its full listing on FuneralUS, our funeral home directory.
- Chamberlain McColley Funeral Homes, Inc.Custer, SD1.0 mi from the cemetery
- Chamberlain McColley Funeral HomeHot Springs, SD5.1 mi from the cemetery
- Chamberlain McColley's Funeral HomeCuster, SD20.8 mi from the cemetery
- Kirk Funeral HomeRapid City, SD43.7 mi from the cemetery
- Osheim & Schmidt Funeral HomeRapid City, SD44.4 mi from the cemetery
- Behrens-Wilson Funeral HomeRapid City, SD44.7 mi from the cemetery
FAQ
Questions about burial at Hot Springs National Cemetery
Is burial at Hot Springs National Cemetery free?
Yes, for eligible veterans, spouses and dependent children. VA provides the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a burial liner, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care at no cost. The funeral home's services, such as transport and any service before the burial, are arranged and paid for separately.
Can I reserve a gravesite at Hot Springs National Cemetery in advance?
No. You can ask VA for a pre-need eligibility decision before a death, but VA says the decision letter doesn't name a cemetery or gravesite, because neither can be reserved in advance.
How do I schedule a burial at Hot Springs National Cemetery?
Fax the veteran's discharge papers to 866-900-6417 or email them to [email protected]. Then you or the funeral director call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET). National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.
Where can I see the burial schedule for Hot Springs National Cemetery?
On VA's daily burial schedule at https://www.cem.va.gov/cem/dailyburialschedule/. It covers every national cemetery, but it only lists burials whose families agreed to publish them.
Are military funeral honors provided at Hot Springs National Cemetery?
Yes, if you ask for them. Your funeral director, a Veterans Service Organization or the cemetery staff can arrange them. At minimum, two uniformed service members fold and present the burial flag at the committal shelter, and Taps is played.
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