Royal Traver

Click to View Royal's Funeral Service Live

Royal L. Traver, 84, of Faulkton, passed away Sunday, November 08, 2020 at Faulkton Area Medical Center.

Funeral services was held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, November 12, 2020 at the United Church of Faulkton with Pastor Thomas Sumer presiding. Burial followed with military honors in the Faulkton Cemetery. Visitation was held one hour prior to the service.

Royal Leon Traver was born March 31, 1936 at his grandparents’ home, Joseph and Mary Vopat’s farm in Union Township, Hyde County, SD. He was the first of four sons born to Cecil “Tete” and Leona (Vopat) Traver. Royal grew up on the family farm two miles east of Burkmere and attended school in Bryant Township and later Faulkton High School.

On October 23, 1953 at the age of 17, Royal enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. He attended training at Camp Pendleton, CA and went on to serve as a tank driver in both Japan and Korea until his honorable discharge in October of 1956.

Following his military service, Royal returned to Faulkton where he went to work for Wilhelm Construction. On October 17, 1958 Royal married Irmgard “Pip” Zupp in Faulkton, SD. To this union four children were born. He joined his father on the family farm in 1964 before purchasing it in 1973. Royal raised his family and continued to work the cattle and farm the land he was raised on until 2016 when he moved to town.

Community and family was a large part of Royal’s life. He was a life time member of the VFW, served many years on the Bryant Township Board and belonged to the American Ag Movement. He was a fan of baseball, both as a player in his younger years and later as a coach. Royal also loved aviation and obtained his private pilot’s license in 1960. He enjoyed flying his plane and worked as a crop sprayer for a number of years. But above all, family was everything to Royal. He was a large supporter of his children and grandchildren’s activities, and you could usually see him in the stands with a camera in his hand. He always enjoyed time and conversation with family, whether home to celebrate an occasion, or on a phone call or a Facetime chat.   In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, pheasant hunting or having a cup of coffee with friends.

Royal will be remembered for his contagious smile, positive attitude and his true love of his family and friends.

Those left to cherish his life will be his children: Deb (Bill) Clement, Faulkton, Donna (Ed) Bellack, North Vernon, IN, Lee Traver, Sioux Falls, and Jay (Sallie) Traver, Box Elder; his grandchildren: Dustin (Michelle) Clement, Kelli (Sam) Schaefers, Kayla (Todd) Hanson, and Beau (Megan) Bellack; great-grandchildren: Dominic, Isaac, Gabrielle, Patrick, and Trinity Clement, Olivia and Noah Schaefers, Eleanor and Chase Hanson, and Rosalie Bellack; brothers: Larry Traver, Sturgis, Gene Traver, Faulkton, and Ronald Traver, Lantry; special friend, Rosene Royce, Faulkton; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Royal will be welcomed into heaven by his parents.

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