James Kor

James Roger Kor was born Nov. 9, 1945, in Pierre, S.D. Nine months later his adoptive parents Thomas Jake and Louise (Visker) Kor took him home to their farm north of White, S.D., where he grew up.
After graduating from high school and attending college for several semesters he entered the U.S. Army serving as an artillery surveyor from 1966-68.
Following military service he attended South Dakota State University studying civil engineering and earning a bachelor’s degree. While there he met Rose Mary Coughlin and they married Aug. 28, 1970, in Brookings, S.D.
Jim began his career with S.D. Department of Transportation but soon moved to the U.S. Department of the Interior working for the agency for 30 years, first for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and then for the Bureau of Land Management. He retired in 2003 after serving as the state engineer for the Wyoming Bureau of Land Management in Cheyenne, Wyo.
In 2009 he moved to Custer to build his dream house. In retirement Jim worked part time as a septic inspector for the Custer County Planning Department. He was a member of Our Redeemer Luther Church in Custer and both the Wyoming and South Dakota Engineering Societies.
Jim enjoyed woodworking, reading history and gardening. He also enjoyed hunting and repairing cars over the years. He was also active in his local church congregation and the Lutheran Layman’s League.
 Jim died Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, at home with his family. He was 77.
He was proceeded in death by his parents; and younger brother, Richard Kor.
Jim is survived by his wife, Rose Mary; three sons, Nathan (Jannette Kor De Leon) and sons Ezra, Ethan and Elijah Kor de Leon of Lima, Peru, Bruin Kor and his son, Oliver, of Flower Mound, Texas, and Aaron (Katey O’Neil) Kor and children, Matthew Kor of Round Rock, Texas, Meighan McMillan of Cheyenne, Kyle McMillan and his daughter, Lily, of Cheyenne, and Abbey (DJ) Farley and children, Jackson, Weston and Octavia, of Midland Texas, and son, David Kor, of Custer, S.D.
He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Shirley Kor, six nephews, and two nieces.
Funeral service will be Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Custer.
Gifts in Jim’s memory may be made to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Custer or the Custer County Historical Society.