Staff
Our dedicated staff are here to provide support, compassion, and information to help you through your journey of grief and the celebration of your loved one’s life.
Funeral Director, Lori Kober has worked at Iverson-Siecke Funeral Home in Vermillion, SD since 1996 and has made this community her home. She also worked at Anderson-Siecke Funeral Home in Elk Point since 2002 before purchased both funeral homes last February of 2008.
She is originally from the state of Wisconsin where she grew up with her family on a dairy farm in Elkhart Lake. She began her education at the early age of three at St. John's School for the Deaf and graduated from the Wisconsin School for the Deaf in 1985. She then attended Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. and obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1990. Lori's love and passion in the field of mortuary science inspired her to further her education and career by attending the University of District of Columbia where she successfully acquired an Associates of Applied Science Degree and graduated 3rd in her class in 1994. While studying at the University of District of Columbia, she was also employed full-time at Rapp Funeral Services in Silver Spring, MD and completed her apprenticeship there, which provided her with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the funeral business.
Lori's life was off to a great start, both professionally and personally. She married her childhood sweetheart, Thomas, in 1989 and in 1995 followed her husband's career to Sioux Falls, SD. In 1996 they moved to their current residence in Vermillion, SD.
Lori's unique skills, abilities, and love for people have truly helped her to excel in this most rewarding, yet challenging profession. She takes care of family's loved ones with great pride and dignity.
Lori and Thomas are members of St. Agnes Catholic Church, and an avid PACKER fans. She also is a member of National Funeral Director Association and South Dakota Funeral Director Association.
After many years of hard work and anticipation, it is with great pride that Lori announces the starting of her new business "Kober's Funeral Home".
I’m Jánet Grate from Sioux Falls, SD and I’m very excited to be working with Lori and Tom Kober as their Administrative Assistant. I’m the one who will be answering the phone when you call Kober Funeral Home. I’m also a certified American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter so when the need arises, I’ll be interpreting for them at various settings.
I’ve had the sincere pleasure of knowing Lori and Tom from the 1st day they moved to SD and it’s been a special relationship, both personally as well as professionally. They have taught me a lot about this unique profession and I’m sure I’ll continue learning even more from them as their Assistant.
My husband Lyle and I reside in Sioux Falls; we have 4 children, 5 grandchildren, and our 4-legged boxer boy, Chance. I work for my daughter LeAnn, who owns “Grate Interpreting,” which is an agency that provides ASL Interpreters in SD, as well as the surrounding states.
My oldest daughter Linnea lives with her family in Connecticut and she works as a manager at the Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich. My son Jonathan is my ‘computer wizard’ and works for a company in Boston. Jeremy is our Doctor in anesthesiology and works in Wisconsin.
Lyle and I have been actively involved as fosters parents to Boxer Dogs and I’m currently the secretary of 605 Boxer Rescue here in SD. Yes, we do keep extremely busy with our family, work, and fostering our boxers, but we love it and wouldn’t change a thing.
I look forward to an exciting future with my family, 605 Boxer Rescue, and Kober Funeral Home! 😊
Karen Brock is a funeral Pre-Planning Consultant working for Kober Funeral Homes in Vermillion and Elk Point since the fall of 2014. She was a native of Plainview, Nebraska and is currently living in Elk Point with her husband, Bob. They have six grown children. She realized how difficult it was to plan her first husband’s funeral.
She sees the real need for the funeral insurance/or pre-plan the funeral to cease the burdens on the families. She used to work in Omaha, Nebraska on Medicare Fraud & Claims and moved to South Dakota in 1995. Brock helps to record those wishes, removing a burden from families at a time when they don’t often have the resources to deal with such decisions.
She is a compassionate person who loves helping people with their funeral decisions. She is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Elk Point.
Hi, This is Karlis Baisden and I am truly honored to be able to work with Kober Funeral Homes and
families who are looking to create a tribute video for their loved ones.
I have been designing websites and editing videos from an early age. I created my first tribute video
in 2009 and I am humbled every time I am given the opportunity to share someone's legacy with the
world.
I put 110% effort into making sure the end result will be something families can be proud to watch and
cherish for years to come.
I graduated from Western Iowa Tech and am frequently honing my skills via online courses and
workshops. Besides creating and editing videos or building websites, I enjoy camping with friends and
family, listening to audiobooks, and even getting some exercise!
Richard Steenholdt is a lifelong resident in Vermillion, SD. He graduated from Vermillion High School and was employed at University of South Dakota for 31 years. Rick served with the Vermillion Volunteer Fire Department for 19 years.
Richard has assisted Alton Siecke and Lori Kober in various ways over the past years and still assists Lori Kober at the funeral home.
Richard has a wife, Susanne, and two sons, Ryan and Brandon. Richard enjoys sports, and collecting. He is an avid supporter of Coyote Athletics and Tanager Athletics.
He and his family are members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Vermillion.
