HITCHCOCK — Timothy Traver, age 68, of Hitchcock, passed away Friday, July 19, 2024, at the Avera St. Lukes Hospital in Aberdeen.

His memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, July 27, at the Bonilla Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in the Bonilla Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Timothy “Tim” Traver was born on December 12, 1955, to Wayne and Dorothy (Palmer) Traver in Huron, South Dakota. Tim grew up on the farm west of Bonilla, South Dakota. He attended the Bonilla School and when it closed, he went to the Wolsey School, where he graduated in 1975. Tim was the tag-behind baby of the family. His brothers and sister were 8, 10, 12 years older than him. So being the baby of the family he was a pretty spoiled kid, but I think he could get the older kids in trouble.

Tim was a born farmer. At 6 years old he started driving a tractor to help with the farm work. From then on, he would help with all the farm chores plus milking cows. After he graduated, he worked a few years at Huron Dressed Beef in Huron, but ended up full time working on the farm where he worked for the rest of his life. He enjoyed and loved farm life. He loved the quietness of county living. And as sick as he was, he loved driving his side-by-side out on his land, with his last ride in the field being just a week ago checking on the unwanted trees and Canadian Thistle growing where they shouldn’t be. He loved helping his neighbor work and move cows and tagging pairs. A couple of weeks ago when they were working calves, he went over and watched, but told me, “him and Scott always had a system that worked much better.”

Tim was married briefly to Brenda Kambel and they had a daughter, Leah. Tim raised his daughter. He joined a Singles Group in Huron and this is where he met the love of his life, Linda Pevestorf Paulson. They started dating on Valentine’s Day in 1994 and were married on Feb. 11, 1995. Linda had two children and so started our blended family.

Tim enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, and car racing. Hunting with his buddies was an annual ritual in the fall and then in the summer they would go fishing together. From the time he was a young boy, his father, brothers, and him would go to the local car races pretty much every weekend. When his daughter got older, she would go with too. He was an avid television watcher. He loved watching NASCAR races, westerns and action movies, Wicked Tuna, Gold Rush, Bar Rescue and the local high school sports when they started live-streaming the games. Tim loved to follow local high school football, basketball, wrestling, volleyball, cheer and dance, and cheerleading, especially when it involved his daughters, grandchildren and the neighbor kids. Watching his grandson win a State Wrestling Championship was a highlight.

Tim was a member of the Bonilla Presbyterian Church.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Linda, of 29 1/2 years; his daughters, Leah (Jordan) Kienow of Miller and Wendy (Matt) Risetter of Redfield; and his son, Tim (Tammy) Paulson of Gillette, Wyo. His memory will be cherished by his grandchildren, Carlie and Nolan Songer, Nova, Jocelyn and Jaxon Kienow, all of Miller, Jazilynn Risetter (Braiden Nelson) of Aberdeen, Kylie (Branden Roe), MattyJo, Brady and Savannah Risetter, all of Redfield, Kayla (Matt) Crook, Chantel McQuin, Colton Acuna and Devan Paulson, all of Gillette; and his great-grandchildren, Bentley Roe, Braylen Nelson, MaShia, Baedden and Jaelah McQuin, Brielle Crook and two more expected in late fall.

Tim is also survived by his sister, Dinah (Richard) Jefferis of Parker; his brother, Ted Traver of Texas; his sisters-in-law, Marla (Terry) Bawdon and Nancy (Kenny) Shoultz, all of Huron; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Dorothy; one brother, Wayne Traver; one nephew, Jake Traver; his grandparents, Harold and Oaklie Traver and Orion and Artie Palmer; and his parents-in-law, Floyd and Carol Pevestorf.

Tim passed away after an 11-month battle with pancreas, lung and liver cancer.

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