Royal L. Traver, 84, of Faulkton, passed away Sunday, November 8, 2020 at Faulkton Area Medical Center.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, November 12, 2020 at the United Church of Faulkton with Pastor
Thomas Sumer presiding. Burial will follow with military honors in the Faulkton Cemetery. Visitation will be
one hour prior to the service.

Royal Leon Traver was born March 31, 1936 at his grandparents’ home, Joseph and Mary Vopat’s farm in
Union Township, Hyde County, SD. He was the first of four sons born to Cecil “Tete” and Leona (Vopat)
Traver. Royal grew up on the family farm two miles east of Burkmere and attended school in Bryant Township
and later Faulkton High School.

On October 23, 1953 at the age of 17, Royal enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. He attended training at
Camp Pendleton, CA and went on to serve as a tank driver in both Japan and Korea until his honorable
discharge in October of 1956.

Following his military service, Royal returned to Faulkton where he went to work for Wilhelm Construction.
On October 17, 1958 Royal married Irmgard “Pip” Zupp in Faulkton, SD. To this union four children were
born. He joined his father on the family farm in 1964 before purchasing it in 1973. Royal raised his family and
continued to work the cattle and farm the land he was raised on until 2016 when he moved to town.
Community and family were a large part of Royal’s life. He was a lifetime member of the VFW, served many
years on the Bryant Township Board and belonged to the American Ag Movement. He was a fan of baseball,
both as a player in his younger years and later as a coach. Royal also loved aviation and obtained his private
pilot’s license in 1960. He enjoyed flying his plane and worked as a crop sprayer for a number of years. But
above all, family was everything to Royal. He was a large supporter of his children and grandchildren’s
activities, and you could usually see him in the stands with a camera in his hand. He always enjoyed time and
conversation with family, whether home to celebrate an occasion, or on a phone call or a Facetime chat. In his
spare time he enjoyed fishing, pheasant hunting or having a cup of coffee with friends.
Royal will be remembered for his contagious smile, positive attitude and his true love of his family and friends.
Those left to cherish his life will be his children: Deb (Bill) Clement, Faulkton, Donna (Ed) Bellack, North
Vernon, IN, Lee Traver, Sioux Falls, and Jay (Sallie) Traver, Box Elder; his grandchildren: Dustin (Michelle)
Clement, Kelli (Sam) Schaefers, Kayla (Todd) Hanson, and Beau (Megan) Bellack; great-grandchildren:
Dominic, Isaac, Gabrielle, Patrick, and Trinity Clement, Olivia and Noah Schaefers, Eleanor and Chase
Hanson, and Rosalie Bellack; brothers: Larry Traver, Sturgis, Gene Traver, Faulkton, and Ronald Traver,
Lantry; special friend, Rosene Royce, Faulkton; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Royal will be welcomed into heaven by his parents.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Royal’s arrangements. (www.familyfuneralhome.net)

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