Funeral services for Edwin L. Stiefvater, 84, of Kennebec, SD will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 15, 2025 at the Kennebec Gymnasium in Kennebec, SD with visitation beginning one hour prior to the funeral.

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Edwin Lee Stiefvater was born April 6, 1940 at Plankinton, SD the third child of Arthur and Velma (Hopkins) Stiefvater.  They raised dairy cattle, so at a very young age Ed learned the business.  They delivered milk and cream to customers in town and because they were delivered in glass bottles there was a lot of work involved. The deliveries were made early in the morning before he went to school.  Ed attended school in Plankinton, SD and during high school Ed was an avid football player.  He graduated in 1958 from Plankinton High School then went to work for a race horse owner and trained and exercised the horses.

Ed came to Kennebec in February 1961 and worked at Harris Hardware where he met Grace Whitney at Kennebec and the two were married in the United Methodist Church on December 10, 1961.  After Harris Hardware closed Ed worked at the elevator for a short time.  He decided he needed a full time job so the family headed to Mitchell, SD in March 1962.  He was hired by Sheesley Plumbing and Heating.  He worked at Stephan Indian Mission so they remained in Kennebec where Grace was employed at Saunders Market.

A son Edwin Jr. was born in Mitchell, SD May 13, 1963.  They bought a mobile home and their travels began.  They moved to Winner, SD then to Mitchell, SD.  They moved on to Faulkton, SD where a daughter Brenda Kay was born September 16, 1964.  The family then moved to Brookings, SD where a son Daniel James was born August 22, 1965.  They moved many more places before making their home in McLaughlin, SD from 1977 until their children graduated from high school.

In 1989, Dale Sheesley, son Shane Sheesley, and Ed started Action Mechanical Plumbing and Heating in Rapid City, SD.  Ed worked a lot of different places where Grace was unable to go so they bought a home in Rapid City.  Ed retired in 2003 and they made their home in Kennebec where he did many plumbing jobs.  Ed guided pheasant hunting for Steve Halverson at Halverson Hunts until last year.

Ed was an avid hunter and fisherman.  Grace and his boys did a lot of hunting and fishing with him.

On Sunday evening, March 2, 2025, Ed fell at home.  He fell on the cement where he received a severe head injury.  He was taken by ambulance to Sanford Medical Center in Chamberlain and transported to Sioux Falls by air.  He was transferred over to Ava's Hospice where he passed away on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Gratefully sharing his life are his wife Grace; son Edwin Jr. (Kela); grandsons Justin and Jeremy Stiefvater; great grandsons Xhavier Douglas McGreger, Blazen Stiefvater, Zyon Joe Turner; great granddaughter Violette Stiefvater; brothers Larry (Virginia Ayers) Stiefvater and Robert (Rose-Maria) Stiefvater and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents, a daughter Brenda Kay, son Daniel, sister Norma Jean Moreland, nephews Ricky Stiefvater, Jay Alder, and Luke Acuff, and many other relatives.