Blaine Keppen, age 100, of Sioux Falls, passed away Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Good Samaritan Society, Sioux Falls Village.
Memorial mass is at 10:30 AM on Monday, August 17th at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church with Father Desmond Murtala as the Celebrant. Visitation will be 2-4 PM on Sunday at Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel with a prayer service at 4 PM and Knights of Columbus Rosary to follow. Visitation will continue on Monday at the funeral chapel starting at 9:30 AM followed by procession to the church for mass. Inurnment will be in St. Thomas Cemetery with military honors provided by the Madison Legion & Madison VFW, along with active US Army personnel. In lieu of flowers, direct memorials to St. Thomas Catholic Church, 415 N. Van Eps Ave., Madison, SD 57042 or Madison VFW, 510 S. Washington Ave., Madison, SD 57042.
Blaine Joseph Keppen was born June 28, 1926, the son of William “Billy” & Anna (Eschenbaum) Keppen on a farm south of Zell, SD. He attended St. Mary Convent School in Zell until the family moved to Madison, SD in 1936. He went to St. Thomas Aquinas School while his family ran the Virginian Cafe. In 1938, his family resumed farming in Orland township. Blaine graduated from Orland at age 16 and farmed with his father, while his brother Clare, was in the United States Navy Aviation in the South Pacific in World War II. Upon his brother’s return in 1946, Blaine enlisted in the Army and served in the Allied Occupational forces in Trieste, Italy.
Blaine met Bonnie McAllister on a double date and became engaged in 1949, but he was called up as a reservist in 1950 during the Korean War. He was wounded during the Battle of Wonju in February 1951. After recovering, he finished his duties in the 8th Army Honor Guard. Blaine and Bonnie were married December 20, 1951 in Madison, SD and celebrated a 65th anniversary shortly before her death in January 2017. Blaine and Bonnie farmed in Orland until 1988. A tornado destroyed the farm in 1993 prompting a move into Madison.
Blaine was active in the American Legion and was a life member of the VFW. He was an usher for years at St Thomas. Many Sunday mornings were spent milking the cows in the wee hours of the morning before early mass. He was a clerk and later a full member of the Orland School Board. In retirement, Blaine and Bonnie spent winters in Southern California, Arizona and especially the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. He fished year-round including through the ice. Blaine maintained a lush garden every summer and enjoyed camping with his seven grandchildren. In the following years after Bonnie’s death, you could find him entertaining his extended family while sipping on a Wild Turkey. He spent his last five years at Good Samaritan Assisted Living and Nursing Facility in Sioux Falls.
He is survived by sons-Mike (Alla) Keppen and Bruce (Nancy) Keppen both of Sioux Falls; grandchildren-David (Tina) Keppen, Lennon Keppen, Renae (Justin) Schmidt, Thomas Keppen, Joseph (Emma) Keppen, Katie (Zack) Dressman and Dan (Lily) Keppen; great-grandchildren-Blair, Krista & Garrett Schmidt and two more on the way; sister-Gloria Giese of Arizona; several nieces and nephews in the Keppen and Giese families.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife-Bonnie; brother-Clare Keppen and his wife, Mary; brother-in-law-Ron Giese; niece-Donna Oines and nephews-Steve and Jim Keppen.
