William "Bill" C. Braa, 83, of Sioux Falls, SD passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 am Tuesday, November 26, at Peace Lutheran Church 5509 W. 41st Street, Sioux Falls, SD with burial a later date at Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne, MN.

Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 5:00 – 7:00 pm Monday, November 25, at Miller Funeral Home Westside Chapel, 6200 W. 41st Street, Sioux Falls, SD.

Bill was born on December 26, 1940, in Sherman, South Dakota, William "Bill" Charles Braa brought warmth and spirit into the world just in time for the holiday season. Raised in Luverne, Minnesota, Bill loved sharing stories of his childhood adventures—many of which revolved around his time spent at his Aunt Alice and Uncle Harold's home near Brandon. It was there he discovered a lifelong love for horses, rodeos, and the great outdoors.

Bill loved reminiscing about riding horses, competing in rodeos, and cooling off in the Split Rock River.

A proud graduate of Luverne High School in 1958, Bill first caught the eye of Carol at a school event. Carol admitted she'd been watching him for a while, and Bill—whether through his sports involvement or his charm—made a lasting impression. His Studebaker was mentioned fondly during their early dates.

Bill tried his hand at several jobs in the Luverne area, including building Quonset buildings in Iowa.  After a lot of grueling work & much time away from Carol, he headed back home despite his mom's disapproval, and found a new opportunity thanks to Carol's connections where she was a secretary at AR Woods in Luverne. Early days proved that together, Bill & Carol were the ultimate duo.

In September 1959, Bill and Carol tied the knot at Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick, MN beginning a beautiful life together filled with love, family, and hard work. By 1961, Bill found a new calling with Northern States Power (NSP), which prompted a move to Sioux Falls. They welcomed their daughter Debra in 1962, followed by their son Jeffrey in 1964.

The family made their home in Lennox for several decades, where Bill became a beloved part of the community. He helped start the Lennox Volunteer Ambulance Squad, became very involved with the local Boy Scouts program, served on the Lennox school board, and even lent his carpentry talents to friends and neighbors for things like constructing kitchen cabinets

After decades with NSP—spanning 37 years and a variety of roles— such as line man out in the field & eventually getting his own office as Construction Designer.  Bill retired but kept busy with his carpentry skills and passion for outdoor projects. He was always thinking of some clever project where he could put his tools to use or most recently revamping a utility trailer, Bill's creativity and craftsmanship shone through.

Although Bill missed Carol dearly after her passing, he lived the next year to the fullest. He cherished trips to the Black Hills with his son Jeff, often setting out with no return date in mind.  As well as spending a week in June with his daughter Debra & granddaughter Ashley at their beloved place next to Terry Peak.  Grandson Jerick treated him to a day long cruise in the side by side where they not only raced around Hill City, Custer, & Wildlife Loop, Needles Highway - even climbed quite the mountain together.

Highlight of the day was always sweets & desserts after his coffee & he was always up for a margarita with Debra and Ashley.  He enjoyed phone calls with his grandsons (especially when they included photos of his great-grandsons), and took great pride in watching his great-granddaughter play volleyball. Bill was almost always game for a last-minute trip—like visiting Target Field twice this summer—and he rarely turned down a good time, especially if it meant he could drive his new Bronco. Occasionally, he indulged in a bit of nostalgia by tossing a few dollars into the slot machines, a pastime he and Carol had shared.

Bill is survived by his daughter, Debra Carter, of Sioux Falls; his son, Jeff (Rhonda) Braa, of Champlin, Minnesota; and his three grandchildren, Jerick Braa of Ramsey MN, Ashley (Cory) Metzger of Hills MN and Robert (Carolyn) Braa of Custer SD.  He was also a proud great-grandfather to several great-grandchildren - Chloe, Daniel, & Kendrick. As well as beloved dogs - Leo, Chico, Watson, Luna, Boomer

He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol; his parents, Iona and George; and his sisters, Darlene Spease and Shirley McQuoid