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Faulkton
 

                                                          Lewis Edward Kuper
                    ( 17 Feb.,  1913 - 1 Jan., 1966)

               
                                                    Joe Kuper, Lewis, child and mother Anna ( Hansen) Kuper

   Lewis Edward, the first child of Joe and Anna Kuper was b. 17 Feb.1913 on the farm near Faulkton, Faulk County, SD. He grew (to be 6' tall) to his teens in the Faulkton-Highmore area. 
    On 22 Nov. 1942, he married Bernice Angeline Newling Banghart, b. 19 Oct 1917, at Jamestown, ND  (Bernice's mother died giving her birth and at eight months, Bernice was taken in to be raised by Joseph and Anna Banghart and given the Banghart name.) Bernice had two brothers, Kenneth and Gene.
    Lewis and Bernice worked on farms until moving onto his parent's  farm north of Highmore in August of 1943. They are the parents of four children:  Donna, Rolland, Karen, Delores. 
 

                                                          
                                                  Lewis & Bernice 22 Nov.,1942: their wedding day

                                     
         Lewis, Pastor Mrs. Zolla Stoutmaster and Bernice  1942  Wedding was at Joe and Anna's Kuper's farm south of                             Harold SD.  Mrs. Stoutmaster was the pastor at the Methodist Church,  Harold.

                                                                        Lewis & Bernice's wedding day
                                        L to R:  Joe & Anna Kuper, Lewis, Bernice, Anna & Joe Banghart

                                  
                                                        Lewis & Bernice Kuper Family   1958

                               L to R.  Rolland, Donna ( in back) Delores & Karen ( in front ) Lewis & Bernice

    
                   Lewis on farm                                                                                Bernice strolling circa 1950's

                             
                          (Group photo of Lewis, his family and other family members.  circa 1958)
                     From the previous photo above, you can pick out Rolland, Donna in back of Rolland,
                          Delores, Bernice holding baby and Lewis is back right holding a baby. 

Lewis was known as "Louie" or "Slim."  In his early years he farmed north of Highmore.  It was a struggle for many farmers as his land dried up and he soon ventured to other work.  But, during those times as his son 'Sonny' remembers he was a tinker and inventor.  He improved on different farm machinery.  He worked on a 3 point hay-mower, power take-off system for International Harvester.  They heard about it and he showed them what he had done.  Not thinking much of it, but then they took the ideas and developed it without giving Lewis any credit.  Lewis also worked on a "swing swathe" that he used. 

Lewis worked on the Oahu damn project for 4 years outside of Pierre, South Dakota as a machine operator.  After that gig he and family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska working on the Omaha Missile Base doing dry wall.  Bernice "Tiny" worked at the State Hospital at Lincoln in the kitchen. 

Lewis passed away at the age of 53 years with lung cancer 1 Jan 1966, in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Neb. and is buried  at Highmore,  S.D.  
Bernice's second marriage was to  Irvin  Pedersen. She has always enjoyed writing poetry and songs and those of us who have read them have certainly enjoyed her humorously happy words. She makes her home in Oakley, KS. (2006)  Bernice is in the Hall of Fame for poetry.       

Bernice was only 49 years old when Lewis died.   She continued on living, married again now seeing her family grow and grow.
I have made a separate webpage for her.  Bernice Kuper Pederson, click for her page.    

   Bernice  celebrated her 90th birthday the 13th of October, 2007