Warren Arthur Casper, age 87 of Lake Preston, SD went to meet his Lord and Savior on Monday, August 26, 2024, surrounded by family, at the Neighborhoods in Brookings. Funeral Services will be at 10:30 am, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, at the Lake Preston Lutheran Church in Lake Preston. Pastor Brian Ricke will officiate. Music will be provided by Lynne Brown as pianist. The funeral service will be live streamed via Crawford Osthus website. Visitation will be at the Lake Preston Lutheran Church in Lake Preston on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, from 5-7 pm.
The burial will be at the Lake Preston Cemetery following the service. Active pallbearers will be Warren’s grandchildren: Drew Casper, Jess Casper, Jaryn Huth, Khrysta Casper, Monte Casper, Chantelle McCoy, Chase Casper and Cole Casper. Honorary pallbearers will be the great-grandchildren: Madi Casper, Veda Casper, Tayrek McCoy, Tyce McCoy, Khaleesi McCoy, and Kalen Casper.
Warren was born on Oct. 8, 1936, in rural Lake Preston, SD, to Arthur E. Casper and Agnes P. (Petersen) Casper. He joined siblings: Wallace, Lila and Lavonne. He attended Brennon No. 7 country school and graduated from Lake Preston High School in 1954. After graduation he continued his farming career with his parents. On June 3, 1956, he married Carolyn Smith of Badger at the Badger Lutheran Church. To this union three sons were born, Paul, Todd and Tim. When Arthur died in 1962, Warren and Carolyn took over the farming operation and over the years the boys worked on the farm in the fields. Warren retired by combining his last field of beans in the red Case IH in 2020.
Enjoying life to the fullest, Warren took time to make memories with his family. He and Carolyn found that camping and riding horse was something the whole family could enjoy. Many hours were spent on trail rides, the horse arena in Lake Preston, arenas around the state, and his favorite place: Nemo in the Black Hills. Many stories could be told about those rides and excursions. He was a member and President of the Bit and Spur Saddle Club, bowling league, Lake Preston elevator board, and member of the Lake Preston Lutheran church and served as President of the church council. As a member of the church council, he served on the building committee for the new church completed in 1970 and carried the large statue of Jesus from the old building to the new one himself. In his younger years, he loved pheasant hunting and would even stop combining on opening day to get his limit. Warren taught his sons to handle, shoot and aim a gun; among many other things related to farming and life. Later in life, he and Carolyn enjoyed riding side by side out in the Black Hills or around the farm checking on the crops. They also enjoyed getting together with friends or family at the Oldham Saloon, the New Horizon or Don’s Bakery.
Always friendly to everyone, he could strike up a conversation with anyone. He loved to tease waitresses, the grandkids, daughters-in-law and anyone who would fall for a joke. Warren had a great sense of humor. He loved watching his boys compete in sports and all school activities.
Later he would cheer on his grandchildren in their events, and he was proud to say they were all graduates of Lake Preston High School. The grandkids learned early that grandpa had Werther’s Original in his pocket or there was always a stash of candy in the office. Warren had a larger-than-life personality and could often be heard saying one of his famous lines, like: “Was you really? How was you already? What in the Sam heck? Or Adolf, Rudolf, and Sluff off.” Undoubtedly, there were many more. He was a man of faith, family and farming. Warren was generous and genuine, someone who saw the good in everyone.
To celebrate his life and share many memories are Warren’s wife of 68 years, Carolyn, of Lake Preston; three sons, Paul and Korlyn of Lake Preston; Todd and Kathy of Lake Preston; Tim and Treva of Lake Preston; eight grandchildren: Drew and Amanda Casper of Lake Preston; Jess Casper of Minnetonka MN; Jaryn and Zach Huth of Lake Preston; Khrysta Casper and Jeff Hancock of Hopkins MN; Monte Casper and Jamie Keller of Dell Rapids; Chantelle and Tyler McCoy of Hartford; Chase and Kelsey Casper of Faulkton; and Cole Casper of Sioux Falls. Great-grandchildren: Madi and Veda Casper, Tayrek, Tyce and Khaleesi McCoy, Kalen Casper and Jayda and Kutler Kerns. Warren’s legacy will live on in his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Warren was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Agnes Casper; two sisters, Lila (Frank) Sullivan, LaVonne (Robert) Holland; one brother, Wallace “Bud” and (Ruth) Casper. He is survived by a host of friends, nieces, nephews, sister-in-law Marilyn and Darrel Modica of Wilmar MN; brother-in-law Eldon and Jamie Smith of Arlington, SD; sister-in-law Verlyn DeVries of Watertown.
Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant, Arlington, Lake Preston, Oldham.
