Lowell Clark Dubro, 89, Brandon, South Dakota, formerly of Iroquois, South Dakota, died Saturday, April 6, 2019, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
A funeral service was Saturday, April 13, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Iroquois with burial at the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.
Lowell Dubro was born on Dec. 29, 1929, to Herman and Mary (Lorenz) Dubro on the Dubro farmstead in Belle Prairie Township in rural Iroquois. Lowell attended grade school in Belle Prairie Township and then began farming with his father at a young age.
Lowell served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951-1955. He was trained as an Air Force jet mechanic at Lackland Air Base in Texas. He then attended the Aeronautical School of Flight and Engineering in Tillamook, Oregon. Lowell graduated with honors from the school and was then assigned to a combat zone during the Korean War for 13 months. After his tour Lowell was sent to Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. He was honorably discharged in 1955. During his service Lowell was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the United Nations Service Award, the National Defense Medal, the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Medal and the Korean Service Medal.
While on leave from the Air Force, Lowell married LaVaye Tibbetts on Dec. 27, 1951, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bancroft, South Dakota. They lived in Washington, D.C., for two years. When Lowell was discharged from the Air Force in 1955, the couple returned to the family farm where Lowell farmed. He and LaVaye enjoyed raising their daughters as country girls. Lowell had to retire early from farming because of health reasons.
Lowell was a longtime member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Iroquois where he was baptized and confirmed. He served on the church council, was president of the congregation and was a faithful worshipper.
Lowell enjoyed working in his shop. He also enjoyed his antique tractors and drove them in many parades. He also did a lot of custom work such as combining, planting and silage cutting.
Lowell is survived by his daughters, Lonna (Mike) Wilson of Tea, South Dakota, and Leah (Mark) Gath of Luverne; five grandsons, Darrin (Darcie) TeBeest of Sioux Falls, Jason (Shelley) TeBeest of Brandon, Adam Wilson of Sioux Falls, Dalton Gath and Stetson Gath of Luverne; one granddaughter, Ashley Wilson of Tea; four great-grandchildren, Rebecca Eidenshink-TeBeest, Briley TeBeest, Dakota TeBeest, and Gunnar Wilson; two great-great-grandchildren; special family member Rosario Torres of Managua, Nicaragua; a sister, Phyllis Engel of Montana; three sisters-in-law, Charlene Danilko, Twila Tibbetts and Brenda Tibbetts; a brother-in-law, LaVerne Tibbetts; several nieces and nephews; and special friend of the family Dwayne LaFave of De Smet, South Dakota.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, LaVaye, in 2017; a daughter, Laurie; in-laws Ruth and Donald Tibbetts; a sister-in-law, Marge Tibbetts; and four brothers-in-law, Harvey Hoffer, Ed Danilko, Donald Tibbetts and Kenny Engel.
Arrangements were provided by Welter Funeral Home of Brandon, www.welterfuneralhome.com.
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