Raymond Kurtz, 93, of Brookings, SD (Currently residing in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa) passed away on November 23, 2023 at the Pioneer Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at Eidsness Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m.  A time of fellowship will be held at the funeral home following the service.  Burial will follow the time of fellowship at Greenwood Cemetery.  Visitation will precede the service, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Raymond Sam Kurtz was born on December 3, 1929, to Gust and Iva (Kretsinger) Kurtz in Brookings, SD.

Raymond grew up in the Richland Township north of Elkton, SD, and received his primary education in a one-room schoolhouse of District #48 in Richland Township.  In 1949, Raymond graduated from Brookings High School and went on to continue his education at South Dakota State University.  Following his education, he began farming in Brookings County.  On July 7, 1963, Raymond was united in marriage to Virginia Ellis in Elkton, South Dakota.  To this union, they were blessed with two children.  The couple continued farming until their retirement in 1995 when they moved to an apartment in Brookings. They considered Brookings their lifelong home until they both moved into a nursing care facility closer to their son, where they spent every day sitting next to each other.

Raymond was a member of the United Parish of Elkton, the Brookings Carving Club, the Brookings Lions Club and served as a charter board member of the Brookings Deuel Rural Water System.  In his retirement, Raymond enjoyed wood carving, reading (mostly westerns), and spending time with family.

Raymond is survived by his wife, Virginia Kurtz, of Sergeant Bluff, IA; his children: Nancy (Ross) Bower, of Vivian, SD and Micheal (Kristine) Kurtz, of Dakota Dunes, SD; 6 grandchildren; Austin (Emily) Bower, Vivian, SD, Jeff Kurtz, Sioux Falls, SD, Morgan Bower, Spearfish, SD, Megan Kurtz, Brookings, SD, Benjamin Kurtz, Sioux City, IA and Emily Kurtz, Vermillion, SD. 2 great-grandchildren and a third on the way. One brother, Harold (Susan) Kurtz, St. Paul, MN, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Norris, Ervin, Kenneth, and Lawrence Kurtz, and two sisters, Mildred Sutton and Irene Baugh.