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Otto F. Prokopof Kadoka, South Dakota, died on Wednesday, September 23, 1992
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Otto F. Prokop, also known as "Trapper", was born December 28, 1907, at Pleasant Hill, Nebraska, to John and Anna (Horky-Charamza) Prokop.
In 1908, at the age of one year, he moved with his parents to a homestead north of Winner, South Dakota. In 1917 they moved to a homestead south of the Big White River, south of Vivian, South Dakota. There he grew to manhood. He attneded various country schools in that community, including the Bad Nation Indian School where he learned to speak the Lakota language from the Indian friends and neighbors.
He worked on ranches in that area, saved his money and bought heifer calves, thus building up a nice herd of cattle which he sold after being hired as a trapper-warden for the U.S. Government. After his job was terminated, he went on a 10, 000 mile trip in the western states looking for a place to ranch - returning to South Dakota where he filed a homestead six miles south of Kadoka in 1930, the last homesteader in Jackson County.
Otto was united in marriage to Lois J. Hampton on November 5, 1932, at Kadoka, South Dakota. They lived on the homestead ranch and devoted their life to raising Paint horses and Hereford cattle.
Otto was a long time member of the South Dakota Stockgrowers, the National Cattlemens Association, the South Dakota Fur Trappers, and the Tri-State Old Time Cowboys. He was a life member of the South Dakota State Historical Society and Old Stanley County Historical Society. He served 17 years on the Kadoka Board of Education and served as a county and state committeeman for the Farmers Home Administration. Among some of the many awards he received were: in 1987, the South Dakota Golden Anniversary Farmer/Rancher Award for devoting over 50 years to agriculture; in 1988 he received a plaque for being the oldest active farmer and rancher in Jackson County; also in 1988 he received a pin and certificate dedicated to the breadwinners of the '30s and W.P.A., awarded at the South Dakota State Fair in Huron.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Lois J. Prokop of Kadoka; a daughter, Bonita and her husband, Clair Harris, of Custer, South Dakota; a son, Veryl Prokop and his wife, Marilyn, of Kadoka; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: Sheri Webster and her husband, Ray, and their two sons, Tony and Andy Webster; Jane Harris and her two children, Joe and Jenna Harris, all of Custer, South Dakota; Tammy and Charlie Prokop of Kadoka; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Otto was preceded in death by his parents and several half brothers and sisters.
Services
Saturday, September 26, 1992
10:30 a.m.
Concordia Lutheran Church
Kadoka, South Dakota
Officiating
Reverend Keith Smith
Music
Randy Oyan - Organist
Theodore Kjerstad
& Chuck Carstensen - Special Music
Ushers
Lyle Stevens - Roy Horst
Dale Pettyjohn - Merle Stilwell
Active Pallbearers
Neal Cronk - Danny Stout
Lloyd Olson - Darral Brooks
Cliff Parke - Connie Seidler
Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance
Interment
Kadoka Cemetery
Kadoka, South Dakota
Services
Saturday, September 26, 1992
10:30 a.m.
Concordia Lutheran Church in Kadoka