Funeral service for Nila Chloe Kraft, 78, of McLaughlin will be held at 10:00 AM (MT), Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at the United Church of Christ in McLaughlin. Visitation will be held at the Kesling Funeral Home Chapel in Mobridge from 6:00 PM-7:00PM (MT), Tuesday, June 4, 2024, with a prayer service to begin at 7:00 PM (MT). Burial will be at the UCC Cemetery in McLaughlin under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Nila passed away, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at Monument Healthcare in Rapid City.

Nila Chloe Kraft was born on July 13, 1945, to Rueben and Viola (Eberhart) Brockel.

Nila attended and graduated from McLaughlin Public School in 1962. She then went to Rapid City to the National School of Business and graduated in 1963.

In January 1965, Nila started working at Concrete Elevator/Farmer’s Coop Association in McLaughlin.

Nila married Casper S. Kraft on March 28, 1967. She joked that the time she was married to her job was longer than Casper. In 1973, they welcomed their first daughter, Carmen, and in 1979 a second daughter, Kim, was born.

In 1993, Nila transferred jobs and started working for Farmer’s Union Oil for about 6-8 months and then made a career change and to work for the McLaughlin Public School as a helper in the kitchen and a janitor for seventeen and a half years. Nila then worked for four years at the Little Eagle Grant School. She then retired to take care of Casper as his health was failing.

Nila was also the treasurer for Lincoln Township until it was dissolved. Growing up she was involved in 4-H where she showed horses and enjoyed reining and cutting.

Work was always a first for Nila, but when time allowed, she enjoyed fishing, shooting prairie dogs, car races and attended rodeos, basketball, volleyball and football games with her family. She also enjoyed watching her parents’ horses race on the track.

2004 was a year that changed her status from mom to a proud grandma as she welcomed her first granddaughter and six months later, her first grandson. In 2007, she was blessed with another grandson along with another granddaughter in 2015. Nila enjoyed spending time with her family, but most of all, her grandkids.

Those she leaves behind are her daughters, Carmen (Karson) Kostelecky of Sidney, Montana, Kim (Cody) Eaton of Dupree, South Dakota, grandkids; Sierra, Roper and Cedar Eaton and Gunner Kostelecky, sister-in-law, Betty Miller, Kathy (Claude) Kissack, Bev (Al) Prom, Annette (Harvey) Hogan, Gloria (Tracy) West, brothers-in-law, Ken (Becky ) Kraft, Donny (Emmy) Kraft, Danny Kraft and Kevin Kraft and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Nila is preceded in death by her husband, Casper S. Kraft, parents, Rueben and Viola Brockel, in laws, Florian and Rose Kraft, sister Betty Opp, sister-in-law, Mary Luger, Brother-in-law Roger Opp and nephew Stuart Opp.

The family would like to extend a thank you to Lorrin Lafferty, Jim and Jody Miller, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Police Department and Ambulance, Corson County Sheriff’s Office and Ambulance, Eagle Butte IHS Emergency Room Staff, Life Flight Crew and Monument Health Staff.

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