William "Billy" Kutter, Jr.

William “Billy” Kutter Jr., of New Effington, died June 11, 2026, at the age of 96.

Funeral Service will be Tuesday, June 16, at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in rural Claire City with Rev. Jonathan Varns officiating. Music will be provided by organist Edwin Arndt, Jr.

Burial will be in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Read Veflin American Legion Post 180 of New Effington and the Leo American Legion Post 48 of Rosholt. Pallbearers will be Randy Kutter, Royce Kutter, Donny Dahlman, Todd Dahlman, Paul Bostrom, and Loran Heesch.

Visitation will be Tuesday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.

William was born October 28, 1929, in Lien Township, Roberts County, SD, to William and Tecla (Broz) Kutter. Billy entered the U.S. Army September 26, 1951, and served during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged June 4, 1953, earning the Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.

On October 22, 1955, Billy married Marlene Henke at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Claire City. They bought the farm southwest of New Effington in 1957. To this marriage they were blessed with two girls, Naomi and Nadine. He farmed and raised cattle there until 2008 when he rented out the last quarter of land. He enjoyed fishing and gardening into his nineties.

Billy is survived by his wife, Marlene; daughters, Naomi (Keith) Underberg of Barnard, SD, and Nadine (David) Worner of Breckenridge, MN; a sister, Arlys “Toddy” Dahlman of Rosholt; 5 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Earl and Junette Bostrom and Roy and Rose Kutter; a sister and brother-in-law, Carrie and Arnie Sjodin; and a brother-in-law, Ray Dahlman.