John "Jack" Trautman

John "Jack" Trautman, 77, of Rockham, passed away Sunday, June 13, 2021, at the Huron Regional Medical Center in Huron, SD.

Funeral service with military honors will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 19, 2021, at Reck Funeral Home, Miller, with Rev. Teresa Whetsel officiating.  Visitation will begin one hour prior to the funeral.  Burial will be held in the Black Hills at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

John (Jack) Lee Trautman was born May 24, 1944, in Fairfax South Dakota to John & Ruth Trautman. As a baby and young teen, Jack lived in Fairfax, Trautman Island, Herman Table. In that area, Jack attended school till the 7th grade, Jack was placed in foster care in Canistota, SD where he finished 8th grade & later moved to Wessington, SD.

Jack enlisted into the Marine Corps.  After his discharge, Jack came back to Wessington and met Betty Lou Brotherton, they later married, and Jack became the step dad to Jon & Wyatt Brotherton.  After their divorce, Jack moved out to Lead, SD, where he worked at the Homestake Mine and met Cathy Peters. They got married and Jack became the step dad to Steve Peters.  Jack moved his family to Hot Springs, SD, and they had Jackie Trautman.  While there, Jack worked for Tom Landers as a ranch hand.  Jack then moved his family back to Wessington where he worked for Dryers Implement and he then moved his family back to Hot Springs, where he held many jobs over the years. Those jobs included: the Fall River Feedlot, Edwards Oil Trucking, & road construction.  After their divorce, Jack continued to work road construction where he met Vivian White in Nebraska.  They later married and Jack became the step dad to Genny and Chris White.  Jack moved his family to Miller, SD and later to St. Lawrence, SD. He held a couple jobs at Jim Novacek Trucking & Hand County Implement until he had to quit due to medical reasons.  After their divorce, Jack continued to live in St Lawrence & helped build Christmas ornaments that would hang on many streets throughout South Dakota.  Jack also had his own little gun repair business.  He also bought the St Lawrence school house where he helped open the Recess Bar.  Jack later moved to Rockham, SD, where he helped local farmers with combining, rock picking and at the Rockham elevator.

Jack enjoyed horseback riding, rodeos, camping, hunting, fishing, and tinkering on most anything that he could.  He also enjoyed working with his boats and watching westerns.  Jack’s biggest enjoyment was watching his grandchildren and great grandchild grow. Jack also learned a while ago that he had a son, Alan Moeding.

Grateful for having shared his life is his daughter, Jackie Trautman; grandchildren: Jonathon (Kiley) Tebbe, Amber Tebbe, Milly Anne (DeSean) Tebbe, Coyt Ray Tebbe; great granddaughter, Aspyn Cannon, all of Sioux Falls; step children: Steve (Becky) Peters; granddaughters: Ashley (Dennis) Margallo, Clinton, UT, Erica (Dusty) Dillion, Bismark, ND, Jon Brotherton, Pierre, SD, Wyatt Brotherton, Huron, SD, Genny White, Kearney, NE, Chris White, Holdrege, NE; granddaughter (daughter of Alan), Tatum Moeding, Chamberlain, SD; brothers: Edmond (Sandy) Trautmann, Madison, SD, Richard Trautman, Wolsey, SD, Dale Trautman, Oregon, David Trautman, Parker, SD; sisters: Vera (John) Ferderer, Huron, SD, Goldie (Dennis) Sterk, Brandon, SD, Darlene Barber, Rapid City, SD; brother in-law, Roger Sass, Huron, SD and countless cousins nephews & nieces.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents: John & Ruth Trautman; son, Alan Moeding, brother, Bill Trautman, sisters: Martha Macauley, Betty Sass, Jean Anderson; brother-in-law, Don Anderson; sisters-in-law, Connie Trautman, Terri Trautman; wives: Betty Lou Brotherton and Cathy Trautman; nephews: Mark Trautman, Bryan Macauley, Gary Lee McKown, and Chad Anderson; nieces: Jennifer and Angela Anderson, and Laura McKown.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Jack's arrangements.