Harry Guthmiller

Harry Guthmiller, age 79, passed away in his home in Tripp, SD on Friday, February 23, 2024.  Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, February 29, 2024 with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Friedens Reformed Church. Funeral services begin at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 1, at Friedens Reformed Church. Inurnment will be held at a later date, in Friedens Reformed Cemetery.

Harry was born on June 19, 1944 in Shattuck, Oklahoma, to Emanuel Guthmiller and Magdalena Renner. He grew up in Tripp, South Dakota and graduated in 1963. After high school he went to work for Wally Frederich Trucking and then later the cement plant in Wagner. In the fall of 1966 he started working for the South Dakota State Highway Department. He retired from the department in 2002 after 36 years. 

On June 23, 1979 he married Susan Triebwasser and became father to Terry, Debbie, Julie and Dean. While the kids were growing up, Harry loved taking them pheasant and rabbit hunting. He also enjoyed spending time fishing and camping with his friends and family. Harry was a huge supporter of his children’s, and later grandchildren’s, sporting events and extracurricular activities. He loved a good game of Pitch, up at the Lazy H or spending a Sunday watching football. You could often find him uptown in the early morning sharing a cup of coffee with his friends, catching up on life. 

In Harry’s later years, he took up collecting license plates from the State of South Dakota. He collected a full set of every license plate from the State of South Dakota. He would travel to shows throughout the state and display his collection. Harry took so much pride in sharing his collection with others. He was a co-founder and the current president of the Dakotaland License Plate Collectors Club. Additionally, he was a past board member of the Menno Power Show where he would often display his collection and also a member of the Twin Rivers Old Iron Association. In addition to collecting license plates, he frequented sales and auctions, collecting many antiques and treasures. Gifting his family items he bought at those auctions brought him much joy and his family will forever cherish all the treasures he brought home for them.  

He is survived by his 4 children: Terry Triebwasser (Kitsy), Debbie Rasmussen (Jason), Julie Moderegger (Derek) and Dean Triebwasser (Tonya). He was also survived by 16 grandchildren:  Blaine Triebwasser (Jamie), Dylan Kratochvil (Katie), Taylor Triebwasser, Dana Triebwasser, Kevin Hedeen, Tucker Triebwasser, Chestiney Triebwasser, Noah Rasmussen (Audrey), Sierra Slater (RJ), Hezekiah Rasmussen, Isaiah Rasmussen, Emma Rasmussen, Cassie Juba (Adam), Cole Moderegger (Kamile), Faith Triebwasser and Madison Triebwasser.  Harry has 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Mark Guthmiller and sister Rosalie Brankel.  

Harry was preceded in death by his parents, Emanuel and Magdalena Guthmiller; stepmother, Helena Guthmiller; brothers, Charles and Calvin Guthmiller; sister, Emma Liebert; 2 nephews and his great-grandson, Hons Kratochvil.