Herman Kruse

Herman A. Kruse, age 82, of De Smet, SD, passed away at his residence on Sunday, January 28, 2024, in De Smet, SD.
A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at De Smet Community Church. Pastor Jim Millman will officiate with music provided by Helen Mogen as organist and vocalist. Honorary pallbearers will be Hank Albrecht, Bill Albrecht, Stephan Albrecht, Derek Lee, and Bob Johnson. The service will be livestreamed via the Crawford-Osthus website. This funeral service will be livestreamed via our website.
Visitation will be held from 12:00-2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at De Smet Community Church.
A private committal service will be held at a later date at De Smet Cemetery.
On June 22, 1941, Herman Albert Kruse was the fourth of eleven children born to Jake and Louise (Johnson) Kruse in a farmhouse northeast of De Smet. He married Lynn Marie Jacob on May 25, 1967. Herm and Lynn had two children, Chad and Brad. Together the couple shared 56 years and the joy of watching their boys grow to become young men. Herm cherished the great memories he made with his grandchildren: Joseph, Ted, and Matthew.
Herman was put to work at an early age. At the age of fourteen, he helped his father who owned a combine crew. In his twenties, he also helped his father work the 400 acres of Kruse family land and spent years farming as well as hauling the fruits of his labor into town. Herm was a hard worker, and working with his father here began his lifetime career of trucking. Later in life, he started a trucking company with two of his brothers, Leroy and Dennis.
Herm's father also owned the first Chevy and John Deere Dealership in De Smet, which sat where the Oxbow sits today. This is where Herman developed his love for cars, but not just any cars. His first car was a 1957 hard top Pontiac which he later sold to pay for his pride and joy, a 1962 powder blue Starfire convertible.
Fast forwarding into his sixties, Herman joined the drivers of the De Smet School District's bus route. His favorite trips were hauling those Bulldogs and Coach Marv McCune to their away games. He was a true Bulldog fan all the way to his death. During these same years, he was driving truck for Jack Albrecht Farms and then later for Hank Albrecht Farms. When Fox Fast Farms heard of this and would intermittently enlist his help as well.
Herman also took over the mechanics of the buses where he would fix everything until it came to include electronics. He could fix anything with wheels- as long as it wasn't too new of a model. If there was a building or carpentry project, Herm could figure that out too. Maybe it would take him a few days, but he always figured it out.
Herman is survived by his wife, Lynn; children, Chad and Brad (Anne) Kruse; three grandchildren: Joseph, Theodore, and Matthew Kruse; nine brothers and sisters, Marlon, Leroy, Joan, Karen, Jeanne, Mary, Dennis, Linda, Patty; and dozens of nieces and nephews.
Herman is preceded in death by his parents, Jake and Louise Kruse; and one brother Roger.
Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant
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