Joe Kanarick wants to make one thing perfectly clear. He is not retired. The 69-year-old Rapid City resident says he's semi-retired.

"If you're going to do your job like I did for 40 years, you just don't quit," he said.

Kanarick, an insurance and estate planner, doesn't intend to ever fully retire.

While he's not technically a baby boomer - one of the 78 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964 - he shares a similar attitude about work and the magical "65" benchmark. For a growing number of older South Dakotans, retirement does not equal a rocking chair. They intend to stay active and continue working in some capacity well into their senior years.

With the percentage of people here older than 65 expected to nearly double in the next 20 years, and with the Black Hills an increasingly popular destination for retirees, Rapid City service providers and professionals from government to health care are taking steps to cater to an aging population.

Demographics to watch

Rapid City's parks and recreation department doesn't gear programs specifically to retired people. But director Jerry Cole said people older than age 50 are likely the biggest users of the swim center's water aerobics and other classes during daytime hours over the winter, and future building and programming plans will cater to that age group.

Kanarick, for one, starts most days with exercise, and then the rest of the day is open.

"I get up every morning at 7 o'clock - not that I have to, but I get up to the sound of the news in Rapid City and then plan my day. I usually try to get to the swim center at least twice or three times a week, regardless of the weather," he said.

For a number of years, Cole said, the city has talked about building a recreation center in the open space between the Roosevelt swim center and the ice facility. If built, the center would offer programming for all people, from very young to the more mature.

"When we look at a new building in the future, we have to keep that in mind and think of what will help entice those baby boomers out and into the facility," Cole said. "Because people in this retirement age group do not go sit in their rockers. They want to be out and be active."

Marcia Elkins, Rapid City's growth management director, said the aging population trend is considered when city planners talk about future land use, types of housing and the proximity of developments like assisted living to health-care facilities.

"We used to talk a lot about entry-level homes, and still do, but now, we talk about where people are coming from for Rapid City's growth," she said.

Based on anecdotal comments from Realtors and builders, more empty-nesters appear to be moving to the area, she said, people who are not quite ready to retire but are moving here to take advantage of quality-of-life and lifestyle choices.

Health-care access is also important to retirees. Rapid City Regional Hospital regularly monitors community health-care needs and ways to meet future needs, according to Rita Haxton, vice president of patient-care services.

"You always look at what population you're going to be serving," she said.

Haxton said various patient surveys and community forums have identified that cardiology, cancer care, endocrinology and end-of-life services as needed.

As a result, the hospital has built new facilities such as the 2007 Hospice House and is recruiting additional physicians. For example, the hospital has added a new endocrinologist, plans to hire a second and is helping support a third who is finishing a residency in endocrinology.

"We look at it from the physical-plant things we need and what are the areas of expertise we need on the physician side as well," Haxton said.

People will keep working

Jim and Elda Hohenthaner hope to retire in about six or seven years. Elda, 53, works for Black Hills Federal Credit Union, and Jim, 55, works for Pennington County buildings and grounds.

Neither of the Hohenthaners plan to completely stop working when they retire from their current jobs. For Elda, work provides a place to socialize with others.

"If I didn't work, I would get to be pretty much a couch potato pretty quick. We're just both looking forward to doing a job that is maybe more fun, hobby-related, versus what we're doing now," she said. "Not that I don't love my job right now, but I don't want to do it until I fall over."

She pictures herself running a cash register at a convenience store or being a receptionist at a health-food store or health club. Jim may do something related to his hunting and woodworking hobbies. He also may want to travel a little bit and see places such as Alaska and the Southwest.

"I don't have any huge expectations. I just want to go some place where I could do some hunting and fishing, not have to travel so far," he said.

"I also may want to raise some golden retrievers, so we got a couple acres of land where we could probably raise a couple dogs."

Bernie Boland, 65, retired from Rapid City Regional Hospital in December. She has been a nurse for 45 years, and still works part-time, as needed, for the hospital's home care and hospice departments under a flexible scheduling arrangement.

Boland said she's not sure if she will ever "fully" retire. She enjoys what she does so much she doesn't consider it work.

"I don't know what you mean by working, because everything I do is fun. I'm retired enough, and I enjoy life immensely," she said. "I love my work. I really enjoy it, and I would miss my patients and being involved."

Being able to work as needed allows Boland more free time to do the things she enjoys. She joined an athletic club, hired a personal trainer and has trips planned to Alaska, New York, New Orleans and Hawaii this year.

"I didn't intend to slow down. I have time to do more fun things."

Boland said just because she's retired, she isn't going to sit around or "retire to the bed."

"I've been to lunch more in the last two months than I have in the last three years - and I love it," she said.

Like Boland, Kanarick said the decision to semi-retire came down to a desire to do more things he enjoys, such as spending time with family. He and his wife, Fran, have four adult children, all married with families of their own.

Kanarick will continue fishing, golfing, working out and swimming. At 69, he doesn't consider himself old.

"When I get old, I think I'll be like 110. That's what I consider old. It's just a number," he said.

He said if people stay in shape, watch their diets and stay active, "You'll live happy up until the time you take a dirt nap. This is where I'll end up. This is where I will take my final dirt nap," he said with a laugh.

By 2030, 72 million in U.S. will be over 65

- According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States is "on the threshold of a boom" as the baby boom generation retires over the next 20 years. The first baby boomer turns 62 this year, which is the earliest age retirees can collect Social Security benefits.

- According to a 2005 census study, the number of people over age 65 is expected to nearly double by 2030; up from about 35 million today to 72 million then.

- Seniors make up 12 percent of the country's total population. By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be over 65.

- Nancy Nelson with the University of South Dakota Business Resource Bureau said projections for South Dakota mirror the federal numbers.

Currently, South Dakotans over 65 make up about 14 percent of the total population of 781,919. By 2025, the state projects the population will grow to almost 853,000 and seniors will make up about 25 percent of that number, Nelson said.

- People over 65 now constitute 12.8 percent of Pennington County's current population of 94,338. Nelson said the bureau's projections indicate seniors will make up about a quarter of the county's estimated 2025 population of 104,000.

- Nelson said the expected influx of baby boomers affects trend projections. Nelson said in 1960 the median age of South Dakotans was 27.7. In 2006, the median age was 36.9.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com.