Michial Brodkorb and Tiffany Knipfer identified as victims of last week’s tragic house fire
The Wessington Springs area continues to grieve, as the sudden loss of two community members shifts from shock to reality. On Monday, March 31, 2025, the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office announced that Michial Brodkorb and Tiffany Knipfer were identified as the victims of last week’s structure fire.
The Wessington Springs Volunteer Fire Department (WSVFD) was dispatched to a structure fire at approximately 11:20 p.m. Thursday, March 27, 2025 on 2nd St NW.
“Firefighters quickly learned that it was the house of one of our own, our Assistant Fire Chief Michial Brodkorb,” said WSVFD Chief Eric Schroeder. “He and his partner Tiffany Knipfer were inseparable. On Friday morning, both Michial and Tiffany’s bodies were recovered from the fire. The pain and sorrow that our department sustains is immeasurable.”
Knipfer’s memorial service will be held Friday, April 4, 11 a.m. at Foothills Bible Fellowship Church in Wessington Springs. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Brodkorb’s memorial services with firefighter honors will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 5 at the Wessington Springs School Gymnasium. A meal and time of fellowship will immediately follow at the Wessington Springs American Legion. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, also at the gymnasium.
Brodkorb “left his mark” at the fire department and community at large
A contractor by trade and a volunteer firefighter when he wasn’t working, Brodkorb is remembered by many as having left his mark on the community.
“He left his mark on the community in a big way. He gave 110% to the fire department. Any of the new guys coming on, he’d take them under his wing and always wanted everyone to excel and be great firefighters,” Schroeder said. “We’ve got some big shoes to fill. It didn’t matter if he was on a fire scene or it was meeting night or on truck checks. He was all-in for everything and never complained, a very humble guy.”
Brodkorb’s daughters Sheyanne Brodkorb-Johnson and Sierra Brodkorb remember their dad’s dedication to the fire department through the many trainings and classes he attended.
“He’s been on the fire department 15 years and did every class he possibly could. He loved it. He wanted to be able to do everything at a fire so he made sure he was trained and able to do it. He adored being a firefighter and serving his community that way,” said Brodkorb-Johnson, adding that the only time he wouldn’t respond to a fire call was when he was out of town with his daughters.
“When those big wildfires hit a couple weeks ago, dad was mad that he was at our house and not able to go to the fire. He was, of course, helping my husband and I, tiling our bathroom. For all the years he has on the fire department, I can honestly say if he ever missed a fire, it was because he was on vacation with Sierra and I.”
Schroeder recalls last week when Fire Marshall Mike Jones was on scene at the fire investigation and said he recalled hearing Brodkorb’s name in firefighter circles.
“He did a lot, Mike recognized Michial from training classes and started talking about how much he did above and beyond, all his extra training. It was neat to see him get state recognition and find out that a lot of people knew him,” Schroeder added.
In addition to fire fighting, Brodkorb was known for craftsmanship and a willingness to take on any project in his contracting business, Brodkorb Construction.
His longtime business partner and friend, Chuck Brandenburg said he took on every project as if it were his own.
“I had the privilege to be Michial’s friend for 17 years. He took great pride in all the work he accomplished,” Brandenburg shared. “I watched him and his family grow and become the best people around. My heart goes out to his family and friends. A piece of my heart will always belong to him.”
Schroeder points to the current state of the fire hall as another side of Brodkorb not many knew.
“We were in the middle of reflooring the meeting room and kitchen. All the baseboards are off, we were planning on picking up the flooring last Friday. He and Tiffany would get done with work and come here to work on the floor project. And it’s not just that, it’s everywhere I look around here,” Schroeder explained. “Friday I was walking through the firehall and thought, ‘I remember helping Michial work on that,’ then looking upstairs and saying, ‘Michial worked on that too,’ then go outside and his dump truck is sitting there. It’s a big loss on so many levels.”
Schroeder said that the loss of Knipfer will also be felt deeply.
“Tiffany committed a lot of her time to the fire department throughout the years. She was an active fire department auxiliary volunteer and would step up to help in any situation.”
Knipfer’s loss felt by coworkers, friends, family
For the past 10 years, Knipfer worked at Weskota Manor Avera, the nursing home in Wessington Springs. The dedication to her job in multiple roles, added to her love of the residents, are felt across the health care facility.
“Tiffany was fun and bubbly, with a contagious laugh and smile. She was also an exemplary employee. Tiffany worked at the Manor for the past 10 years, starting out in housekeeping and then serving as a cook for the past five years. She was a great cook,” said Nikki VonEye, Administrator at Weskota Manor Avera.
“Tiffany was dedicated to our long-term care community, always on time, never missing a day of work and working whenever she was needed. She knew her job and how things were done. Her love of our community and her generous spirit were a warm light, and residents and staff loved her.”
Knipfer’s close friends, Duke and Karen Wenzel aren’t quite certain how to navigate without their daily texts, calls and visits from their friend. The Wenzels say their friendship blossomed several years ago at the Prairie Lounge, when Knipfer began sitting next to them to talk, which led to endless laughter during happy hour.
“I just loved her infectious laugh. I would do anything to make her laugh,” Duke shared. “She liked to tease me incessantly — it was all in fun. We are going to miss everything about her.”
When Karen was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer, Knipfer was quick to provide meals, visits and support around the house and at the couple’s hunting lodge.
“One day when I was having six hours of chemo, she painted my kitchen while we were in Mitchell,” she said. “She was just like family. It was something we had planned on doing and she did it when we were gone. She always helped me clean the lodge.”
The Wenzels are still struggling to grasp the fact that she is gone, but they cling to the memories of their cherished time with her.
“She and her daughter Tierney would come over with meals and we’d visit and visit, laugh and laugh. Tierney became like a grandkid,” Duke said. “When it would snow, Tiffany scooped out the walk. She was a little thing but she was very strong.”
The Wenzels recall the moment that Knipfer’s life shifted in an exceedingly positive way — when she and Brodkorb began spending time together.
“She’d tell me she was the happiest she had ever been in her life. When Michial started coming over with her, we enjoyed his company too. She was a delight to listen to and Michial joined right in. It was one big happy family,” Karen shared.
The Wenzels said they wanted for nothing, noting that suddenly a leaky faucet or a bathroom vent would suddenly be repaired.
“They were there for you and Michial is so handy, he just jumped in, always ready to pitch in,” said Duke. “They were a perfect couple. I never saw any flaws in that relationship. It was beautiful to watch, they were both so happy.”
The Wenzels said Knipfer was always going above and beyond, with meals, help around the house, visits and her daily texts to Karen. She clings to the final text she received from Knipfer — adding that checking her phone for a new message will be a difficult-to-break daily habit.
“Her last text said, ‘I love you and you guys are my world.’ We will carry those sentiments with us the rest of our lives. We latched on to her and she latched on to us. It was an amazing relationship. Maybe the best friend we ever had,” Duke shared through tears. “I know she would want us to keep on having fun, but boy, does this leave a big hole in our lives.”
Full obituaries for both Knipfer and Brodkorb can be found in this week's print and e-edition on PAGE FIVE