Norman Tapken, 91, of Wessington Springs passed away Wednesday evening March 15, 2023 at Avera Weskota Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Wessington Springs. Burial will be in the Black Hills National Cemetery at Sturgis, SD with military rites by the Ellswoth Air Force Base Honor Group. Visitation was Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. at the church with a prayer service at 7 p.m.
Norm was born on July 21, 1931 to John and Emma Tapken at his parent’s home In Viola Township, Jerauld County.
He was united in marriage to Betty Krammer in 1957 and she brought two small children into the marriage. Later he married Wanda Holeton on March 17, 1978.
Norm served in the US Navy from July 1949—to 1950 and was stationed aboard the USS Thomas Jefferson. While in the US Air Force from February 1953 to October 1974, he was stationed in Texas, Wyoming, Georgia, French Morocco, Iceland, Washington, Alaska, Florida, Thailand, Oregon, and Alaska again. He retired out of Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City in 1974, as a Master Sergeant.
Norm attended grade and high school in Lane, SD. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Wessington Springs.
The organizations that Norm belonged to were Life member of VFW Post #548, Life member of American Legion Post #14, both in Wessington Springs, and the offices he held in the American Legion were Post Commander for three years, Dist. 6 Vice Commander for two years, Dist. 6 Commander for two years, State Area Vice Commander for one year and State Commander from 1999 – 2000.
Norm is survived by his wife Wanda of 45 years; three daughters Norma Tapken of Texas, Linda (Terry) Lentz of Parkston; Vicki (Randall) Eggert of Brandon; one stepdaughter Marian (Glen) Perkins of Alabama; six grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, one step grandchild, three step great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, one sister Thelma Hansen of Rapid City. Norm is also survived by two sisters-inlaw Bonnie Will of Las Vegas and Wessington Springs, and Liz (Dave) Gaikowski of Mitchell, two brothers-inlaw Michael (Jane) Holeton of Rapid City, John (Jan) Holeton of Sioux Falls and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Betty in 1973, three brothers Vernon, Wendell and George, one sister Gertrude Schramn, stepson Allen Krammer, step grandson Brad Chambers, parents John and Emma Tapken, mother and fatherin- law, four brothers-in-law and four sisters-in-law.
