David Loup

David Eugene Loup entered the presence of Jesus Christ on June 19, 2023, at the age of 80 years. He passed away in Milbank, SD, after a 7-year battle with prostate cancer.  He left his earthly body holding hands with his wife, Edith.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 26, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial, with military honors, will be held on Wednesday, June 28, at 9:30 a.m. (mountain time) at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD.

Dave was born on December 12, 1942. The second child of Harrison and Evelyn (Canfield) Loup was born in Sturgis, SD.  He grew up with his parents and six siblings: Charlie, Mary, Patricia, Connie, Bill, and Rodney, on the famous Loup Dairy Ranch.  In his early years, he went to school at the Big Bottom School, The Loup School, Nisland School, and then went to Belle Fourche High School.  He played football in high school and sang in the choir.  After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy on May 26, 1960.  He was sent to basic training in San Diego, CA,, and he was sent to New London, Connecticut for Submarine School. He was deployed to the Pacific Fleet upon completion of basic training.  He served on the USS Sterlet, the USS Greenlet, and USS Tang, where he was an electrician.  He was discharged from the Navy on September 11, 1963.  He also served in the Navy Reserves. 

He met his future wife, while on leave from the Navy, at a dancehall in Vale, SD.  Upon discharge from the Navy, he came home and he eloped with Edith Ann Kelley on September 21, 1963.  They were married at the Nisland Community Church.  They lived on the family ranch for the first year of their marriage, and then to Belle Fourche for the next three years. They then moved to Denver, CO, heading to Automotive School & Diesel College.  Upon graduation, they moved back to Sturgis, SD, and he worked at John Deere.  They then moved seven miles outside of Sturgis to The Black Hill Steam & Gas Threshing Bee grounds, where they were the caretakers of the grounds for 14 years. He opened a shop with some friends for a few years and then struck out on his own, fixing many different kinds of engines.  Dave loved working on all kinds of engines, but he took off several years to work with a Christian ministry in Eureka, MT, and then went to Trails End Bible Ranch in Ekalaka, MT, for three years.  At the Bible camp, he and Edith were the camp cooks.  Although he did not give up on engines during these years.  After the camp time, they lived in Union Center, SD, for a few years and then ended up in Milbank, SD, for his remaining years.  He worked for John Deere for eight years, before striking out on his own again in a shop that Jim and Ken built for him.  Dave and Edith were members of Zion Community Church in Wilmot, SD.  He enjoyed singing with The Miltones and spent many Sunday afternoons in the local jail; sharing conversations and Jesus with the people in jail.

David was preceded in death by his parents: Harrison and Evelyn Loup; Edith’s parents: Robert & Eva Kelley; his brothers: Frank Charles, and Rodney; brother-in-law: Carroll Hurd and Ron Berger; and three grandbabies: Phillip, Elizabeth, and Mark. 

He is survived by his wife, Edith of Milbank, SD; four children: Faye Loup of Milbank, SD; Kelley (David) Scales of St. Francis, MN; James (Molly) Loup of Wilmot, SD; and Kenneth (Gina) Loup of Sidney, MT;  He has several grandchildren: Emily Loup, Rachel Scales, Cody Loup, Rebecca Scales, Zack Borchert, Shawn Borchert, Ken (Brianna) Loup Jr, and John Loup; two great-grandchildren: Waylon and Kensley; brother, Bill (Marlen) Loup; sisters: Mary Berger, Connie (Gary) Zimbelman, Pat Hurd; sisters-in-law: Janet (Dick) Wiesz, Dianna Loup, and Bobbi Kelley; honorary family members: Kevin Pies of Milbank, SD; and Daniel Gotte of Sisseton, SD; and lots of nieces, nephews, and other extended family.