Ronald Traver

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Ronald Traver, 84, of Lantry, passed away Friday, August 22, 2025, at Faulkton Senior Living. 

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 29, 2025, at the United Church of Faulkton with Pastor Bennett Clough presiding. Burial will follow in the Faulkton Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  The family requested causal dress. 

Ronald David Traver was born May 5, 1941, in Seneca, South Dakota, to Cecil “Tete” and Leona (Vopat) Traver. He grew up on the family farm two miles east of Burkmere and attended Bryant Township School before graduating from Faulkton High School in 1959. He went on to study at Northern State University in Aberdeen for a year, later continuing his education at Oklahoma A & M in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

In 1963, Ronald returned to South Dakota and moved to the Eagle Butte area, beginning his career as a newly licensed spray pilot under the supervision of Rollin Eulberg. For the next four decades, from 1963 until 2003, he worked as an agricultural pilot, first with Crop Care by Air until 2001 and later with D&K Ag Service, Inc. until his retirement. He was deeply involved in the aviation community, serving as President of the South Dakota Aviation Association in the late 1980s, and he made several memorable trips to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for the world’s largest airshow.

In addition to aviation, Ronald lived a life of service and community involvement. From 1993 to 2016, he drove school bus for the Faith Longhorns, traveling 10–12,000 miles each year. He was dedicated not only to getting the students safely where they needed to go, but also to maintaining the bus himself.

Ronald was known for his many hobbies and talents. He ran a welding business for several years and had a reputation for being able to fix almost anything. He was proud of his rhubarb patch, which was well-known in the community, and even in recent years people continued to ask him if he had rhubarb to share. He enjoyed his morning coffee sessions, often driving to Dupree or Eagle Butte just to catch up on the local news. He loved attending auctions, always on the lookout for a rare find.

Hunting was one of Ronald’s lifelong passions. He looked forward to pheasant and grouse hunting each fall and especially cherished deer camp in the Black Hills. Even after he was no longer able to keep up with the younger hunters, he continued to attend deer camp just to be with family and friends.

Those left to cherish his life are his brothers: Larry Traver, Sturgis and Gene Traver, Faulkton; nephew, Jay (Sallie) Traver; nieces: Deb (Bill) Clement, Donna (Ed) Bellack, Jennifer Traver, Vicki Flanders, Denise Traver, and Natalie (Steve) Faber; along with special friends, the Don and Kim McDaniel Family; and many great nieces, great nephews, and cousins. 

He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Royal; nephew, Lee Traver; and nieces, Debbie M. Taylor and Nancy Traver.

Ronald’s life will be remembered for his flights in the skies, his dedication to those he served, his humor over coffee, and his love of family, friends, and the land he called home.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Ronald’s arrangements.