Ronald Koch

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Obituary

Ronald Koch, 84, of Stickney, SD, passed away Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Avera Bormann Manor in Parkston, SD, surrounded by his family. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 AM Thursday, November 12, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5-7:00 PM at the Church, with a 6:30 PM Scripture Service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Ronald Mathew Koch was born on May 6th, 1942, to Matt and Stella (Rebensdorf) Koch in Silverton, Oregon. Ronald was the 4th of 7 children. In 1948, the Koch family returned to South Dakota and lived on the family farm southwest of Stickney. Ronald attended Stickney school and graduated in 1960. After high school, Ronald worked briefly as a truck driver hauling gravel to what is now called Interstate I-90. It was at a dance in Dimock that he met his future bride, Aletha Weber, daughter of Ed and Hilda Weber of Dimock. He charmed her, and they were married on December 28th, 1964, at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Dimock, SD. This past December they celebrated their 61st Wedding Anniversary.

Following the honeymoon, Ronald joined his father, Matt, in the family farming operation. Ronald was proud to work the land his grandparents had homesteaded in the 1890s. Side by side, Ronald and Aletha’s love, sweat, and tears were poured into the farm where they tilled the soil for various crops, cared for the livestock (pigs and cattle), and spent an enormous amount of time “picking rocks." The family farm has been owned and operated for 4 generations and has been designated as a South Dakota Century Farm. The family farm continues to thrive today. Involvement in the community was important to Ronald, he served on the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Council, Stickney School Board,  Aurora Co-op Board, and as an Aurora County Commissioner. He was a member of the Moose Lodge and the Jaycees.

In 2008, Ronald and Aletha retired from farming and moved to Mitchell. Ronald was always known for his love of John Deere Green tractors and so began working for Ellefson Implement (C & B Operations) in Mitchell, where he enjoyed the opportunity to deliver parts and equipment to the fields of many area farmers. Throughout retirement, Ronald and Aletha enjoyed traveling, spending winters in Arizona, attending their grandchildren’s events, and sharing cherished memories with family and friends.

Ronald is survived by his wife, Aletha; their five children, Darla (Ronnie) Prien of Stickney, Judy (Paul) Merriman of Pierre, Joe (Michelle) Koch of Stickney, Doug (Mary Lynn) Koch of Kearney, NE, and Rhonda (Ryan) Baker of Mt. Vernon; 15 grandchildren: Angela (Jordan) Feenstra, Traci (Craig) Namken, Kara (Evan) Konrad, Morgan (Connor) Archer, Michael (Kaycee) Merriman, Matthew (Ciara) Koch, Lane (April) Koch, Dayna Koch, Jenna (Ted) Hamilton, Kassidy Koch, Hannah Koch, Cameryn Koch, Thomas (Brooklyn) Baker, Maria (Reed-fiancée) Baker, and Tanner Baker; 13 great-grandchildren: Ashtyn & Gage Feenstra, Carter, Connor, and Kenzie Namken, Weston, Wranger, and Riggs Konrad, Miles Archer, Axel and Royce Koch, Ella Koch, and Ruby Hamilton; four siblings, Joan Markley, Maxine Schroeder, Shirley Flick, and Janet Everson; in-laws: Monica Horstman, Tom & Jeanne Weber, Rosie Jarding, Eldon & Tina Hohn, Pat Mogck, Marge Lang, Tim & Millie Wermers, and Jan Weber; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ronald was preceded in death by his parents, Matt & Stella Koch; brothers, Dale Koch and Bernie Koch; and in-laws, William & Marie Kummer, Wilburt & Bertha Thuringer, Ivan & Eldora Weber, Agnes Weber, Frank Horstman, Jerry & Nellie Hohn, Art Jarding, Myron Mogck, Myron Lang, and Ed Weber.

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