Miss you Grandpa

 My grandpa Kouba passed away early Monday, February 28th.  This was the last picture taken with grandpa.  It was also one of the most heart wrenching moments of my life.  As we left the room Caden and his great-grandpa exchanged many I love you's.  Grandpa would say it then Caden, then grandpa, then Caden.  As the tears filled the room, I realized that this would probably be the last time Caden saw his great-grandpa.  Late Sunday afternoon we recieved word that grandpa probably wouldn't make it through the night.  At 12:30 Monday morning he took his last breath in a room filled with so many people that loved him.  He is now in Heaven and a guardian angel to us all.  Love and miss you grandpa.

Here are some of my favorite pictures...

After holiday meals you could always find grandpa on his chair catching a snooze.  It was also common to find a bow on his head!!  He brought so many great memories and laughs to his family and friends.  At rosary we got to share stories and remember the great times and he was one funny guy!!

Charles H. Kouba


Charles H. Kouba Jr. was born Sept. 16, 1924 in the family home in Black Butte Township near Regent. He was the sixth of 10 children born to Charles and Mary (Tupa) Kouba. He attended grade school in Horswill Country schools in Black Butte Township.

On Sept. 13, 1948, he was united in marriage to Helen Jesch in Regent. They lived on the family farm for 40 years, moving into Regent in 1989. He enjoyed music and played in a band with his uncles and cousins for several years. He loved trees and planted thousands of evergreens on the farm. He was a member of St. Henry’s Catholic Church, Regent, all his life. He helped start Knights of Columbus at Regent, was the first Grand Knight in 1989 and was president of the Men’s Club at St. Henry’s. He served on the Regent School Board for many years in the 1950s and also was county committee member for ASCS for many years. He really loved working in his shop and invented many helpful things.

The previous were written by Charlie himself, as he believed strongly that he needed to be prepared for his death. Because of that, countless discussions were held over the last 20 years with family members regarding his last wishes. He granted permission to add to his obituary any good things we could think of, such as Charlie was a good dad. He was a man of strong faith and had a deep love for his wife and family.

He was especially proud to be a Bohemian and his face lit up if he was ever able to locate another Bohemian. He was a man who was not afraid to speak what was on his mind and no one could predict what would come out when he opened his mouth to speak. Charlie was recently described as the highlight of any gathering. He loved being the center of attention and had a gift for making people laugh. He had a passion for the old time polka and waltz music.

The majority of his life was spent on the land he loved by Black Butte as a steward of the land and the trees. Without a doubt, he lived as long as he did, because of the way his wife, Helen, cared for him and took care of his every wish. She was assisted in this by his family and friends and neighbors and an army of caretakers in his community of Regent and at Park Avenue Villa and St. Luke’s Nursing Home, Dickinson. Charlie Kouba will be greatly missed by those who knew him and loved him.


Charlie passed from this world on Monday, Feb. 28 surrounded by his family at St. Luke’s Nursing Home.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Helen, Dickinson; five sons and two daughters, Chuck and Debbie Kouba, Rapid City, S.D. Brother Llewellyn Kouba, Assumption Abbey, Richardton, Bruce Kouba and Janice Wandler, Dickinson; Ken and Linda Kouba, Regent; Brian Kouba, Regent, Paulette (Gary) Peters, Dickinson, Lunette (Reed) Dobitz, Regent; 18 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mary Osowski, Minto, Agnes Osowski, Drayton, and Mildred Jesch, Dickinson; sister-in- law, Marlene Kouba, Regent, and brother-in-law, John Krug, Mott.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Mary (Tupa) Kouba; two brothers, Willie Kouba and Richard Kouba; four sisters; Rose Murphy, Nora Honeyman, Florence Krug, Clara Jesch and one great-grandson, Jaxon Wiederholt.

Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home, Mott.

A memorial has been established.  Condolences to Charles’s family can be sent through our website at http://www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com/.