Dennis Kraus

Dennis J. Kraus, age 87, Rosholt, passed away Sunday, July 16, 2023, at the Countryside Inn in Rosholt.

Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, July 19, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Rosholt with Fr. Gregg Frankman and Fr. Frank Miller officiating.  Music will be provided by organist Lana Sand.

Burial will be in the St. Nicholas Cemetery, rural Rosholt.  Military honors will be provided by the Read Veflin American Legion Post 180 of New Effington.  Honorary pallbearers will be the Countryside Inn Assisted Living staff. Active pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Ryan, Corey, Betsy, Keri, Kate, Lindsey, and Alex.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at the Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt.  Visitation will continue Wednesday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.

Dennis Joseph Kraus was born January 6, 1936, the youngest child of William and Elizabeth (Braun) Kraus, at home in White Rock Township, SD.  He went to country school through the eighth grade at White Rock West.  He attended one semester at Our Lady of the Ozarks in Carthage, MO, and returned home at Christmas.

Dennis farmed with his father as well as working at the International dealership in Rosholt during the winter months.  He tore the engines apart, and his mentor Ralph Stelton would put them back together.  Dennis also worked at the Chevrolet dealership as a mechanic and taught himself to weld.

Dennis joined the South Dakota National Guard in May 1954.  While in the Guard, he saw many areas of the Midwest during summer camps. In 1972, he was awarded the SD National Guard Artillery Man of the Year.  Dennis also spent six weeks in Korea in 1989 for a military exercise.  Dennis retired from the Guard in 1993 with the rank of Sergeant Major.  He earned many marksmanship awards throughout his 40-year military career.

Dennis met Ardith Didlo at a dance in Browns Valley.  On May 22, 1957, they were married at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Dumont, MN.  Dennis farmed, raised cattle, and did mechanic work in his farm shop.  He drove semi on occasion for Helgie Larsen and LeRoy Jastram.  He also did custom corn chopping for many years in the Rosholt and New Effington areas.

In 1986 Dennis started working for his nephews Steve and Dan Miller at Demson Farms.  He had a larger shop to work in and especially enjoyed running the combine in the fall.

Dennis was a lifetime member of St. John's Catholic Church and served on the council as well as multiple other roles.  He also was on the White Rock Township board.

Dennis and Ardie were members of the Hills & Valley Riding Club in Sisseton for many years.  Many Sunday afternoons were spent at the club's arena with the family in addition to going on trail rides.  In the winter, Dennis and Ardie enjoyed snowmobiling in the Rosholt area, as well as Northern Minnesota and the Black Hills.

Dennis and Ardie enjoyed traveling.  They took several Rustad bus tours and were able to visit many areas of the United States.  They also traveled to Europe in 1996.

Dennis especially enjoyed all the visits and fun he and Ardie had with the kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.  Ardie passed away December 23, 2022.  After living on the same farm site his entire life, Dennis made his home in the Countryside Inn in April 2023.

Survivors include his four children:  Lisa (Dick) Braun of Rosholt, Patti Thomas of Parker, SD, Teresa (Dan) Forbrook of Alexandria, MN, and Gene (Sarah) Kraus of Tea, SD; grandchildren and great-grandchildren:  Ryan (Emily) Braun; Keri (Tony) Satrang, Nora and Crue; Betsy (Tyler) Vetter, Treyton, Jaelynn, Tayden, Westin and Evelyn; Kate (Dan) Bunjer; Corey (Dez) Foltz, Edison, Everett, and Riggs; Lindsey (Daniel) Aberle, Luka and Deklan; and Alex Kraus (John Thelen).

Dennis was preceded in death by his wife, Ardie; an infant son, Bernard Kraus; son-in-law, Terry Thomas; parents, William and Elizabeth Kraus; sisters, Lorraine (Ray) Wieser, Florine (Andy) Wellman, and Valeria Miller Schuler (Dave Miller and Robert Schuler); and brothers, Vern (Anna), and Stanley (Audrey).