Orrin C. Korth

Orrin C. Korth, age 101, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Thursday, March 8, 2023, at Avantara Watertown.  Private family funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 13, 2023.  Rev. Michael Enderle will officiate.  The funeral service will be live streamed via our website.

Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be Kay Woods, Tanya Bjerke, and Jill Moes. Active pallbearers will be Kyle Lagodinski, Corey Korth, Jeremy Korth, Paul Kranz, Mark Kranz, Jason Woods, Jason Bjerke, Dan Feltch, David Feltch III and Mark Smith.

Orrin was born on September 2, 1921, on a farm north of Watertown, SD to Otto and Bertha (Beskow) Korth. He would later purchase the farm from his parents and continue to live there for most of his first 100 years.  He was later joined on the farm by brothers Rollo and Otto and sisters Eleanor and Ramona. Orrin grew up on the farm and learned to love the farm life. Even at 100 years of age he checked in daily on how the planting and harvest was going.  He enjoyed rides around to check on the crops.  Faith, family and farming were three important things in his life. Orrin was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. In his younger years he was active in his church as a former member of St. Martins Lutheran church.  He was currently a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, SD.  Orrin attended Mayflower 23 in Codington County. In 1938 he enrolled in Aggie School at SDSU graduating in 1942.  Orrin was involved in livestock production and was a leader in the area raising registered Angus cattle.  He raised purebred Corriedale sheep and sold breeding stock.  He showed livestock at events around the state.  Orrin was a charter member of Sioux Valley Co-op and served on the board for several years.  He served on the board of directors for Farmers Union Central Exchange ( now known as Cenex) for 13 years.

Orrin married the love of his life Lorraine J. Kettenbeil on January 9, 1950. They were married for 58 years when she passed away in October of 2008. Together they raised five children.  His two sons remain on the farm today.  Education was very important to Orrin and it was understood that high school graduation was not the end of education for his children.  In his younger years Orrin enjoyed flying his plane and hunting trips to the Black Hills and Canada. On the farm sits the iconic orange barn. It was built in 1934 and was refurbished by Orrin and his sons. The family has hosted community barn dances yearly since 2013. Orrin was happy to share this history of his orange barn with anyone willing to listen. In his later years he enjoyed coin collecting and freely gave his quarter and coin collections to family and friend.

Orrin is survived by three daughters; Kathryn (David) Feltch Jr.,Watertown, SD, Karla (Joe) Moes, Watertown, SD, Kristie (Bret) Lagodinski, Summit, SD, two sons; Kelvin Korth, Watertown, SD, Kim (Brenda) Korth, Watertown, SD, ten grandchildren; Kay (Jason) Woods, Paul (Siera) Kranz, Mark (Sally) Kranz, David (Lisa) Feltch, Daniel (Katie Moes) Feltch, Tanya (Jason) Bjerke, Jill Moes (Mark Smith), Corey Korth, Jeremy Korth, Kyle Lagodinski (Kayla Preston), fifteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; one brother, Otto Harlon (Nancy) Korth, La Grange, GA, one sister; Ramona Krista, Denver, CO.

Orrin was preceded in death by his wife Lorraine and parents Otto and Bertha, sister Eleanor and her husband Hartney Andrisen, and brother Rollo and his wife Elizabeth Korth; brother-in-law, Richard Krista and nephews: Dan Korth and Steve Andrisen.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel  www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant

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