Kevin D. VanSlooten, 67, of Lodgepole, SD passed away in his home on Wednesday evening, December 30, 2020 due to complications from pneumonia and COPD.

The Graveside Service will be held at 11:00am on May 22, 2021 at the Holland Center Cemetery south of Lodgepole, SD with full military honors by the Johnson-Melary American Legion Post 115 of Hettinger, ND.

He grew up on his parent's sheep ranch near Lodgepole, SD and graduated from Hettinger High School in 1971 . Kevin continued his education in Business Administration at the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND before enlisting in the US Army in April 1972. He served in active duty until April 1974 in the 82nd Airborne Division. He always did enjoy flying, with or without a plane! After Kevin was honorably discharged from the US Army, he completed his Business Administration education at Northwest Community College in Powell, WY and completed 4 years in the Army Reserve.

His next adventures took him to the boom town of Gillette, WY in the late 1970's where he found work in construction and as a derrick hand on various oil rigs. He also pursued his love of flying and obtained his pilot's license in Gillette. By the early 1980's he moved back to Hettinger, ND and worked on the family's ranch, assisting his parents. He also had his own sheep shearing business for several years. Kevin made several major improvements and updates to the place over the years, improving production and decreasing labor. After his father's death and mother moving to Belle Fourche, SD in 1997, Kevin moved back into the family home and continued to operate the family ranch until his death. In addition to raising sheep and cattle, he also farmed the area, planting alfalfa, wheat, sunflowers, and various other crops.

Kevin was involved with his community and actively participated in Predator and Noxious Weed control. He was an enthusiastic hunter and enjoyed hosting various groups of deer and pheasant hunters. Kevin was known to track coyotes using his motorized paraglider. He looked forward to days he could go out fishing, boating, camping, and driving his motorcycle down the road. One could always count on a good debate in conversation with Kevin as he was never shy about stating what he believed. He was a good neighbor and cherished the land on which he worked.

He is survived by his brother Ronald (Sue) VanSlooten of Federal Way, WA: his sister Lois (Jim) Steiner of Belle Fourche, SD; and nephews Stoney Kilmer of Black Hawk, SD; and Chet (Kristen) Kilmer of Spearfish, SD; as well as his aunts Myna (VanSlooten) Tescher of Belle Fourche, SD; and Irene (Eggebo) Abelseth of Sturgis, SD; along with many grand nieces and cousins.

Kevin was preceded in death by his father, Ted, and mother Lila.

Cremation has taken place and a graveside service will be held in the Spring of 2021 at the Holland Center Cemetery, Lodgepole, SD with full military honors.  The date is yet to be determined.