Kim Francis Krull

He was born on August 5, 1951, in Pierre, SD, to Louis and Betty (Endres) Krull, and grew up on a ranch south of Harrold, SD, in a time when one still rode a horse to a one-room school house.

He was a member of the Order of DeMolay, and he was on the basketball, football, and wrestling teams during high school. He graduated from Riggs High School in Pierre in 1969, and then moved to Vermillion to attend the University of South Dakota, graduating with a degree in Criminal Justice. He then moved to the Black Hills and lived in Rapid City for many years before opening a store in Hill City. He then eventually found another place to put down roots when he moved to North Dakota.

He was a father, a friend, an outdoor man, a traveling man, and sometimes an example of how you didn’t want to behave.

He was always happiest in the open…the open prairie, the open sky, the open road with an open truck-stop café. He loved dirt-track racing, and spent a lot of time at Black Hills Speedway. Whenever you would call, he would answer from a different part of the Western United States, whether he was following Nascar, Outlaw sprints, or his own whim and fancy to visit someone.

He found friends in every corner of the country, with a gruff exterior that quickly faded away with one quirky look and a raised eyebrow that showed his extremely good sense of humor.

He loved the Badlands of North Dakota, and he spent a large portion of his later life in Medora and Beach, and had many friends he called family. He roamed and lived in Western North Dakota working as a professional Landman and Realtor, a culmination of all his years and life story wrapped into one career.

His church was on a horse in a thunderstorm, so a Cowboy Service will be held in the Spring, on a prairie near the ranch somewhere, hopefully in a thunderstorm with a celebration of Prime Rib and potatoes following. A Rapid City celebration and a Pierre celebration of life will be held in a few weeks, where people can get together to share stories and, of course, prime rib and potatoes. And Black Velvet. And red beers with olives.

Kim is preceded in death by his father, Louis Folkert Krull of Harrold, SD, his grandmother, Esther Krull Hoard of Pierre, SD, his aunt and uncle, Marian and Florin Hemminger of Pierre, SD, his uncle Francis Endres of Chamberlain, SD, his uncle Vince Endres of Arizona, and his dogs, Daisy and Dolly, that were his constant companions.

He is survived by his mother, Betty (Endres) Krull of Harrold, SD, Michigan, and Arizona; his two brothers Kip (Deb) Krull and Keith (Linda) Krull of Harrold; his four children, Shawn, Troy, Trisha, and Brandon Krull, all of Rapid City, SD; and his grand-daughter Morgan Krull of Rapid City. He is also survived by two ex-wives, multiple extended family, many co-workers, bookkeepers, bartenders, and waitresses throughout the Western half of the United States. He was friends with all of them, and all of us will miss our time spent with him.

Arrangements under the direction of Olinger Highland Mortuary & Cemetery, Thornton, CO.