Chris Edward Caugherty passed away Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, at Sanford Hospital after a brief battle with cancer. He was 74.  Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings is helping the Caugherty family with arrangements.
Chris was born on April 16, 1949 in Pittsburg, California and spent his childhood in the Los Angeles area. His childhood was full of music. Chris played numerous instruments and was involved in several marching and youth bands. Prior to his senior year of high school, Chris moved to Hendricks, Minnesota to live with his aunt and uncle, Sonja and Roger Trooien. He graduated from Hendricks High School in 1967 and then joined the  Army in October 1969. He was in the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam where he was a wheel and track mechanic.
After serving in Vietnam he married his wife of 52 years, Joyce Maronde in Marshall, Minnesota. After being wed in 1971, Chris was stationed in Hanau, Germany where Chris and Joyce welcomed their first child. After returning to the states they lived in Lake Benton, Cottonwood, and the Hendricks and Astoria area and had two more children. In 1984, Chris and his family returned to the farm he moved to his senior year of high school. Chris lived on that farm for the rest of his life.
Chris worked a variety of different mechanic jobs over the years. He also worked at Coast to Coast Warehouse in Brookings, South Dakota. Meanwhile he also farmed, raised livestock and ran his own shop on the farm.
Chris loved the Lord. He taught Sunday school at Singsaas Lutheran Church, Hendricks and served on various of church committees. After becoming born again he had a hunger to study the Bible and grow in his relationship with his Heavenly Father. He was active and served in various capacities at Bible Faith Fellowship Church in Brookings and Faith Family Christian Church in Marshall. Chris dedicated nineteen years to Kids At The Point youth camp, 15 of those years the camp was hosted on the Caugherty farm. He and his wife were pastors at Faith Family Christian Center of Hendricks since 2002. Through his journey he became licensed and then ordained in 2006 with the Association of Faith Churches and Ministries.
Chris served on the Lake Hendricks School Board and served on numerous international ministry boards. Chris was a jack of all trades and it showed in all his favorite things including tinkering around on his farm, repairing equipment, building, reading, watching movies both at home and at the Red Barn Theater, and being part of Bible studies. He was an avid supporter of his children and grandchildren and believed anytime was a good time for ice cream, especially at Zestos.
He will be dearly missed by his wife Joyce of Hendricks; son James (Janean) of Brookings and grandchildren Sarah (Levi) Jayom, John, Jeffrey, Samuel and Benjamin; daughter Lisa (Robert) Cavalieri and grandsons Nathaniel and Joseph Tobin of New Port Richey, Florida; daughter Amy (Michael) Coyle of Waukon, Iowa, and grandson Joshua (Kylie) Coyle and great-grandchildren Kollins and Maverick; brother Curt (Leslie) Caugherty of Bryan, Texas; step-brother Paxton (Connie) Reinecker of Banning, California; uncle Roger Trooien of Balaton; aunt Ardis Bengtson of Marshall; and cousins.
Chris is proceeded in death by his parents Calvin Caugherty and Naomi (Bengtson) Caugherty, stepmother Priscilla (Copp) Caugherty; stepbrother Stephen Reinecker; grandparents John and Ruth Caugherty and Ed and Genevieve Bengtson; great-granddaughter Aubrey Coyle; uncle Neil Bengtson and aunt Sonja Trooien.
A service to celebrate his life will be held at a later date.