Rev. Howard Kjos

Rev. Howard Kjos, 93 of Roslyn, SD passed away on Friday, December 11, 2020 at Strand-Kjorsvig Nursing Home in Roslyn. Public Funeral Service will be 2:00 P.M. Thursday, December 17, 2020 at Fron Lutheran Church near Roslyn, SD and will be livestreamed on Fiksdal Funeral Service Facebook page. The family respectfully requests that all in attendance wear masks and honor social distancing guidelines. Public walk-through visitation will be Wednesday, December 16, 2020 from 5-7 P.M. at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster. Howard Marvin Kjos was born on October 23, 1927 to John and Dagny (Peterson) Kjos on the Kjos family farm near Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Pelican Rapids. He attended country school district #18 and graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1945. After graduation, Howard worked various local jobs until 1950, when he was drafted to the United States Army. He faithfully served on the frontlines during the Korean War and was wounded in action. He received numerous medals and awards including The Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars for his dedicated and heroic military service. He was honorably discharged in 1952, due to the injuries he sustained. He returned to Pelican Rapids and began working at Great Northern Nursery. This is where his passion for gardening flourished. On December 27, 1960, he was united in marriage to Delores Erickson at Minneapolis, Minnesota. The couple made their home in Minneapolis. Howard worked for the railroad until 1961 when he enrolled at the University of Minnesota and earned a degree in Horticulture. In 1964, he began seminary school alongside his brother Edwin at the Association of Free Lutheran Congregation in Minneapolis. They were members of the first graduating class of this seminary. In 1965, the couple adopted their son Daniel and in 1966 they adopted a daughter Linnae. In 1967 the family moved to Hampden, North Dakota where he served three churches. In 1972, the family relocated to Roslyn, South Dakota where Howard served the Lake Region Parish for eight years. His next call was to Grace Lutheran in Aberdeen, South Dakota. In 1989, he was called to a church in Sacred Heart, Minnesota where he served until his retirement in 1993. Upon his retirement, he and Delores returned to Roslyn and Howard felt the desire to continue preaching which led him to his final call at Skudesnes Lutheran Church near Pierpont, South Dakota where he served for nearly ten years. Howard and Delores continued to live in Roslyn and enjoyed a simple life. They often took their granddaughters on fun excursions and enjoyed weekly suppers with the entire family. Howard was a member of the Roslyn American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and Sons of Norway. His faith was unshakeable and his love for Jesus Christ was unconditional in every way imaginable. He and Delores instilled the importance of faith to their children and grandchildren. Howard had an immense love for gardening. It was very common for their kitchen table to be adorned with fresh cut flowers during the spring and summer months. Howard also was an avid hunter, big game being his favorite. He continued this sport well into his 80’s landing a bull elk at the age of 86 and his second bull at age 87! His love of hunting was taught and shared with his children. Above all else, he cherished time spent with his family. Each and every time we had to part ways, he hugged and kissed each of us and expressed how much he loved us, ending with a “God Bless You”. He will be forever missed by his children, Danny (Roxie) Kjos of Roslyn, SD and Linnae (Paul) Spiering of Sioux Falls, SD, six granddaughters, Shauna (Jamie) Miotke, Codi (Nick) Lesnar, Stephanie (Vinson) Dargatz, Brianna (Dax) Jorgenson all of Webster, SD, Emily Spiering and Amanda Spiering both of Sioux Falls, SD. He is also survived by ten great-grandchildren, Gage and Bentley Miotke, Ace, Tak, and Micki Lesnar, Drake, Jagger, and Aunicka Dargatz, Haeden Jorgenson and Marlee Dornbusch. He also leaves behind two sisters-in-law Helen and Yvonne, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Delores whom he missed dearly since her passing in 2009, three brothers Edwin, John, and Leroy Kjos, one brother-in-law Kenneth Erickson, one nephew Mark Kjos, one niece Michelle Kjos, and beloved dog, Molly.