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Walter E. Covey
September 22, 1933 - June 19, 2023
Service Date June 29, 2023
Church Genesis Lutheran Church
Memorial services will be held on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 10:00 a.m., at Genesis Lutheran Church in Piedmont, SD. followed by burial with full military honors by Ellsworth Air Force Base Honor Guard at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
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Walter Elijah Covey passed away on June 19, 2023, in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Walt was born to Rex and Katherine (Roberts) Covey on September 22, 1933, at home in Fay, Oklahoma. He was always proud that he was born in the same bed and same room as his mother. The bed was brought to Oklahoma in the rush for land by his grandparents. This bed hangs on the wall of our garage.
Walt lived with his Uncle Mike Roberts on a dairy farm for a few years in Fay before he joined the Air Force. He met his wife, Cleo (Smith) while stationed in Rapid City. They were married 9 weeks later. To this union they had three sons, Sam, Greg, and David. He spent 22 ½ years in the Air Force and retired in 1974 in New Mexico. They then moved to Aurora, Colorado where Walt went to work for the Denver Rio Grande Railroad for over 10 years before retiring and moving to South Dakota. On November 6, 1996, Walt lost Cleo, his wife of 42 years, suddenly in her sleep.
Walter joined the Masonic Lodge in 1957. After decades of serving in the Lodge he achieved the 33rd degree within the Scottish Rite. He was a Masonic Lodge member for 65 years.
In 1997, Walt met and married Ruth Briggs. They had an extremely happy life until his passing.
Walt was preceded in death by his mother and father, five sisters, Susie, Eloyl, Marthelma, Neva, and Dean; and three brothers, Dwe, Allan, and Earl.
Walt is survived by his brothers, Milo, JB, and Wayne; and sister, Donna; sons, Sam, Greg, and David; stepson, Jerry; and stepdaughter, Brenda; grandchild, Elijah by Sam; and great grandchild, Isaak by Elijah; grandchildren, Daniel, Ricky, Tyler, and Brooke by Greg; great grandchild, Elizabeth and step great grandchild, Isaiah by Daniel; great grandchildren, Eden, Peter, and Kara by Brooke; step grandchild, Chad by Brenda; step great grandchild, McKenzie by Chad; step great great grandchild, Theo by McKenzie; step grandchildren, Reed, Rachael, Laura and Emma by Jerry; step great grandchildren, Easton, Axel, Jude and Noah by Laura.
Walter was a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, great great grandfather, and friend to many, who will be deeply missed by his family. He loved and worshipped God throughout his life. He is now in the loving arms of Jesus Christ, his Savior and Lord.