Roman "Pete" August Okroi

Roman "Pete" August Okroi, 73, of Grenville, SD, passed away on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, February 17, 2023, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grenville, SD.  Burial will be in the church cemetery. Mass will be livestreamed on Fiksdal Funeral Service Facebook page. Military interment will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery 10:00 A.M. Friday, May 26, 2023.

Visitation will be 5-7 P.M. on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster, SD. Closing with a prayer service at 7 P.M.

Roman “Pete” August Okroi was born on September 23, 1949, on the family farm in Kosciusko Township. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grenville. Roman attended parochial school in Grenville and later graduated from Roslyn High School in 1967. After his education he joined the United States National Guard and served for two years before enlisting in the United States Navy on September 10, 1968. Pete was honorably discharged on August 27, 1970.  On July 3, 1971, he met the love of his life, Donna Gaikowski at a dance in Grenville. The couple married January 13, 1973, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Waubay. They made their home in Waubay and then Roslyn for a short time before settling on the Okroi family farm near Pickerel Lake. The couple had a dairy operation, raised stock cattle, and were also engaged in grain farming. Pete served on the Kosciusko Township board for many years. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Pete was also a member of the Henning-Shemanski American Legion Post 267 for 50 years. Pete and Donna enjoyed traveling to the southwest in winter months. Donna passed away in November 2021 and Pete continued living on the farm. Pete passed away on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at the age of 73 years, 4 months, and 15 days.

Pete will be forever loved and greatly missed by his four children: Jeannie Huber of Sisseton, SD, Roman “Jon” Okroi of Halstad, MN, Kristi (Troy) Zoellner of Groton, SD, and Steven (Elizabeth Schulz) Okroi of Pierre, SD, 18 grandchildren, and one great-grandson. He also leaves behind siblings, Deloris Lardy of Webster, SD, Deb (Terry) Morrill of Roslyn, SD, and Diana (Mike) Jones of Belle Fourche, SD.  He is also survived by three brothers-in-law: Dean Gaikowski, Duane Gaikowski, Robert Kriech, all of Waubay, SD; and three sisters-in-law: Janet (Wayne) Bartelt of Waubay, SD, Ramona (Gary) Youell of Webster, SD, Pat Okroi of Sioux Falls. He will also be missed dearly by his canine companion, Sophie. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Donna; one brother, Julian Okroi; and one sister, Donna Huggett-Schmidt.