Jim Eugene Kaiser

James "Jim" Kaiser, 75, of Millboro SD passed away on Saturday, January 6th, 2024. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 10th, 2024 at 10:30AM at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 from 6-7PM with a 7PM prayer service at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, SD. Funeral Services will be live streamed through the Mason Funeral Home Facebook page. Click the link to watch the services: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063938806463
Jim was born June 6, 1948, in Winner SD to Herman and Ida (Intorn) Kaiser and baptized at the St Paul Lutheran Church south of Colome. He and his brothers, Roger and Dennis, attended Progressive rural school and played baseball for the Wewela team. He graduated Winner High School, Class of 1966. On May 22, 1971, he married Karen Huggins, and they shared their lives devoted to the family ranch south of Winner near Millboro SD. There they raised their three children Troy, Clay, and Kody.
Jim instilled in his children the values of hard work and faith. He spent his entire life on the family ranch except for his time at basic training for the 730th National Guard Unit and the first year after his wedding. In the 70s and 80s, he hauled grain and cattle for Kaiser Trucking when extra help was needed. While he was proud of his children's accomplishments, he was most satisfied watching his grandchildren work hard and grow into productive young people. He never missed the 4-H cattle and horse shows, he thoroughly enjoyed trips to Rapid City for the Western Junior Livestock Show, rodeos, and the grandkids wrestling, volleyball, basketball, and football events. Jim took great pride in raising good cattle, working in the field, and making hay. His most recent joy came from being called Great Grandpa.
Jim was very proud to serve St Paul Lutheran Church in several ways, especially as Treasurer. Favorite memories included going out to the Niobrara River hills to bring back the perfect Christmas tree for the church. While he never really retired from ranching, he did take time to make trips with his kids to Las Vegas for the National Rodeo Finals and the Indian National Rodeo Finals, to the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo with his grandsons, to Florida for a NASCAR race, to Phoenix to try out the snowbird thing for one winter, and to Branson celebrating with Bailey before going to college.
When he was diagnosed with lung cancer in February 2020, he set to kicking its butt just like he would any chore. Even through his chemo treatments, he was still rounding up cattle horseback and branding in the Spring. By November 2023, he had beaten the cancer, but the effects of the recent radiation treatments caused neurological deficits that were just too much.
Jim was preceded in death by Karen, his parents, and many aunts and uncles. He is survived by his children: Troy Kaiser, St. Joseph MO; Clay (Renae) Kaiser, Millboro SD; and Kody (Gordon) Assman, Mission SD; his grandchildren: Bailey (Austin) Koch, Hartington NE, Arista (Landon) Debus Winner SD, Abe and Ash Kaiser, Millboro SD, Coy and Ryann Assman, Mission SD; and two great-grandchildren: Linden Koch and Avander Debus. Jim is also survived by his brothers Roger (Marian) and Dennis Kaiser, Winner SD, his nephews and nieces: Brian and Christopher Kaiser, Omaha NE, Dr Robyn (Greg Sparber) Kaiser, Glen (Julie) Huggins, Sioux Falls SD; Kelly Huggins, Sioux Falls SD; Brandi (Doug) Jensen, Sioux Falls SD; Bruce (Corinna) Huggins, Harrisburg SD; several great nephews and great nieces, and a host of friends and neighbors.