PIERRE, SD – Kirby Welch, 63, of Pierre died at his home of natural causes on Sunday, January 12, 2025. A celebration of Kirby’s life will be held Wednesday, January 15th at 11:00am at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Pierre with the family greeting visitors for one hour prior to the service.

Kirby was born February 14, 1961, the only child of Lois (Osterkamp) and Darrell Welch. Kirby attended elementary and junior high school in the Pierre school system and graduated from T.F. Riggs High School in 1979. Kirby was a standout wrestler for the Pierre Governors following his graduation, he attended Northern State College in Aberdeen before returning to Pierre where he was employed by the SD Department of Transportation for many years. Later he worked for the City Parks Department and eventually became the city’s building inspector. Kirby also served as building inspector for the cities of Ft. Pierre and Blunt where he was currently employed at the time of his death.

He married Amy Jo Varilek in 1994 and was a proud and devoted dad to his son, Willie, of Waxahachie, TX, and daughter, Tobie Jo, of Avon, SD. In addition to his kids, Kirby especially loved baseball and celebrated his beloved Los Angeles Dodgers’ world series victory over the Yankees last fall. Kirby was a gifted master-level carpenter, a skill he learned in his youth from his uncle, Vincent Welch. He had an incredible work ethic; there wasn’t much he couldn’t do. When he wasn’t coaching his kids, he was on the road to a baseball or softball game. A friend to many, Kirby packed a lot of living into a lifetime cut short. He loved to fish and was a respected fishing guide on the Missouri River for many years. He knew the Missouri River like the back of his hand. After he ‘came off the river’ he took up the game golf and spent a lot of good times with a legion of his friends at The Dunes. Kirby loved to spend time with his children whether it was on the golf course, attending their sporting events or just hanging out they were his life. He also loved to chase rattle snakes, hunting and his hunting dogs.

He is survived by his children, Willie and Tobie Jo, their mother, Amy Jo Davids, aunts Fran Welch and Charmaine Welch Gardner. He is also survived by his cousins, Godmother, De Welch Knudson, Dianna Knox, Ed Welch, Paula Welch, Pam Wenbourne, Joni Welch Lingle, Kelly Gardner, Kim Gardner Smith, Mike Ogan, Steve Ogan, Neil Ogan, Ken Ogan and special friend Audra Evans.

Kirby was preceded in death by his parents, Darrell and Lois Welch, and his grandparents.

Kirby never met a stranger To know Kirby is to love Kirby.

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