Tripp – Karl Dean Kuper, 70, went to be with our Lord and Savior Sunday, November 5 at Avera St. Benedict Hospital in Parkston.  Memorial service will be Saturday, November 11 at 1:00 pm, with visitation beginning at 12:00 pm, at Friedens Reformed Church in Tripp.  Arrangments by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Parkston.

Karl was born June 14, 1953 in Pierre, SD to Clarence and Lorraine (Kruse) Kuper.  He attended country school south of Highmore and graduated from Highmore High School in 1972.  In June of 1972, he joined the United States Navy and was based in San Diego, CA.  He proudly served for 3 years on the USS Ranger and for 3 years in the National Guard.  In the fall of 1976, he attended the University of South Dakota for auto body and diesel mechanics.  He was united in marriage to Diana Schultz on June 30, 1979.  To this union, a son, Ryan, was born.  1983, they moved to Tripp, SD where Karl worked for the Hutchinson County Highway Department for 36 years.  He was a member of Friedens Reformed Church.  He loved his grandchildren dearly and would look forward to vacation time with them every year.  He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and riding the side by side in the hills with his family.  He always looked forward to ice fishing with Ryan in the Mobridge tournament.  He was a member of the Tripp American Legion and also enjoyed gardening and playing with his dogs.  He loved Nascar and went to many races.  He really enjoyed his last trip to Hawaii with his brother and sister-in-law and seeing the Pearl Harbor Memorial.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 44 year, Diana, of Tripp; a son, Ryan (Jamie) Kuper of Grant, NE; 3 grandchildren, Koltyn, Karsyn, and Kyanna; a brother, Marvin (Elaine) Kuper of Sturgis, SD; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mavis; brother-in-law, Larry Schultz; in-laws, Nathanael and Delores Schultz; and 2 nieces, Heidi and Jill.

Memorials would be preferred in lieu of flowers.