David "Dave" Hepper

Dave Hepper, age 67, of Big Stone City, SD, a long-time resident of Milbank, SD, passed away on February 18, 2026, at his residence on Big Stone Lake surrounded by his wife and children after a courageous two-year battle with stage IV pancreatic cancer.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Living Word Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD. Pastor Melanie Reiners will officiate. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday, February 26, from 4:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church on Friday, one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Milbank City Cemetery.

The service will be live streamed, recorded, and viewable below this obituary.

David Kevin Hepper was born on November 17, 1958, at Holy Infant Hospital in Hoven, SD, to James Harold and Edith Joyce (Keller) Hepper. He grew up on a farm south of Tolstoy, SD. Dave was baptized and confirmed at the United Methodist Church in Tolstoy. He attended elementary school in Tolstoy. At Hoven High School, he played the tenor saxophone in marching and concert band, sang in chorus, participated in declam, was an FFA officer, and lettered in football, basketball, and track. Dave was Homecoming King for the Class of 1977, and graduated with honors in May 1977. Growing up on a farm taught him to be hardworking as he helped with field work, cattle, and hogs. Every morning, he milked a cow by hand before going to school.

Dave continued his strong work ethic while in college, working two summers for Sweetman Construction of Sioux Falls, SD, a summer at the SDSU Plant Science Department, and a summer at Sexauer Elevator in Brookings, SD. He additionally was an RA in Hansen Hall at SDSU and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Alpha Zeta fraternities. Dave completed his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural education in December 1981 at South Dakota State University in Brookings.

Dave taught at Miller High School in Miller, SD, from January 1982 until July 1985. He was the vocational agriculture teacher, FFA advisor, and an assistant coach for the Miller Rustlers boys’ basketball team.

Dave met Mary Lou Parmely in her hometown of Miller in May 1982, and they were married one year later on May 21, 1983, at the First Presbyterian Church in Miller. They were blessed with three children: Nicole Marie in 1985, Jeremy David in 1988, and Ryan James in 1995; and two grandsons: Caleb Gean Plaga and Gavin David Hepper.

He transitioned to a career in ag and business banking in July 1985 with Norwest Bank in Brookings. Dave moved to various communities for his banking career: to Sioux Falls in 1987 as a credit analyst in the newly formed credit department, to Aberdeen, SD, in 1988 as an ag banking officer, and to Milbank in 1993 as an ag and commercial banking officer. He retired from Norwest/Wells Fargo in Milbank in November 2013 and began working as the senior vice president of lending for First Bank & Trust in Milbank until June 2022 when he retired from his banking career. Dave sold crop insurance in Milbank from 1996 until after his cancer diagnosis in December 2023.

Dave was heavily involved in the communities he lived in. Dave was a member of Jaycees in Brookings, Aberdeen, and Milbank. He received Outstanding First Year Jaycee in Brookings, and the family was named the Jaycee Family of the Year in Aberdeen. Dave and Mary judged Snow Queen contests and were on the SD Snow Queen Planning Committee in Aberdeen.

He was a member of and served in various officer capacities for the Milbank Lions Club, Milbank Kiwanis Club, and Milbank Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee. Dave was a charter member of Living Word Lutheran Church in Milbank and served as president, treasurer, and chairman of finance and call committees. He taught Junior Achievement classes to 500 Milbank High School seniors for 10 years. Dave served as a volunteer coach for his sons’ basketball teams from their early elementary years through middle school. He was named the 2025 Honorary Chairperson for “It Only Takes a Spark” Cancer Walk in Milbank. Dave also served as a member of the Grant County Development Corporation for 23 years which included 14 years on the executive board of directors and 12 years as treasurer. In 2024, the Grant County Development Corporation honored and memorialized him for his dedication by naming the main street in the new industrial park development “Hepper Street” in recognition of his service to the organization and the Milbank community.

Always active, Dave’s hobbies included camping, fishing, hunting, supporting his children’s sporting events and other school activities, and watching/listening to the Twins, Vikings, and SDSU Jacks. Dave and Mary enjoyed being together, watching sunsets, their family, boating, and spending time at their home on Big Stone Lake with family and friends. He found great happiness playing, laughing, and spending time with his grandsons.

As a faithful Christian, Dave lived the Golden Rule, was selfless, and had a servant’s heart. He had a sense of humor and was friendly, humble, handy, outgoing, kind, calm, and always the last to leave.

Dave is survived by his wife of over 42 years, Mary Hepper; his daughter, Nicole (Brad) Plaga and their son, Caleb of Sioux Falls, SD; his son, Jeremy Hepper of Sioux Falls, SD; and his son, Ryan (Rachel) Hepper and their son, Gavin of Sioux Falls, SD; his mother, Edith Hepper of Aberdeen, SD; his brothers and their children: Greg (Donna) Hepper of Huron, SD, Brad and Jennifer; Mike Hepper (Sharon Koch) of Plankinton, SD, Jessica, Megan, and Amanda; John (Deborah) Hepper of Sioux Falls, Caitlin and Eric; Dan (Debbie) Hepper of Aberdeen, SD, Lance and Maggie; his sisters and their children: Peggy (Tom) Squires of Redfield, SD, Matt, Chelle, and Tom; and Trish DeVaney of Madison, SD, Candice and Sean; his uncles: Don (Sandra) Hepper of Onida, SD, and Woody Moore of Sioux Falls, SD; his aunts: Agnes Schott of Bozeman, MT, and Janice Keller of Tolstoy; his brother-in-law and children: Jerry Olson of Clark, SD, David, Mike, and Natalie; as well as 18 great-nieces and 15 great-nephews, and 26 first cousins.

Grateful to have shared in his life, but passed on before him, were his father: James Hepper; his infant grandson, Landon David Plaga (Aug 2025); grandparents: Jacob and Magdalena (Bieber) Hepper, Arthur and Gyda (Buflod) Keller; uncles: Herbert “Arnold” (Thelma) Hepper, Clyde Hepper, Art Hepper, Lloyd Keller, and Reuben Schott; aunts: Esther (Hank) Knecht, Ruth (Walt) Nagel, Hazel (Erwin) Nagel, Patricia Moore, and Joyce (Paul) Scheller; two infant nephews: Tyler Hepper and Adam Hepper; great-nephew, Alex Hepper; mother-in-law and father-in-law: Mary (Manning) and F. LaVerne Parmely; sisters-in-law: Dianne (Parmely) Olson and Melody Hepper; infant brother-in-law: Gary LaVerne Parmely; and first cousin: Mark Hepper.

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