Royce G. Quamen

Royce G. Quamen, age 72, of Garretson, passed away on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at his home. Funeral service will begin at 10:30 AM Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Garretson. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7:00 PM Monday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson. Memorials may be directed to any Garretson non-profit organization.

Royce was born on October 25th, 1951, to his parents, Raymond and Lucille. He moved several times throughout his elementary years, but spent his middle school years in Garske, ND, where he was the drummer in a band called the “Pink Panthers” and began his journey of becoming an athlete.

Royce graduated from Garretson High School in 1970. While there, he was competitive in football, wrestling, and track, excelled in choir, and created many lifelong friendships. Following graduation, he attended Sioux Falls College on scholarships for football and wrestling. Despite his success in athletics, Royce was anxious to get on with life and marry his high school sweetheart. In 1973, Royce married Peg Vandersnick, and together, they raised their 4 children in and around Garretson. He took the family camping at least once every summer to Lewis & Clark and other South Dakota State Parks.

In 1972, his motivation to begin a career brought him to Raven Industries, where he remained for 20 years, concluding his career as a production manager having developed many new manufacturing strategies. Royce and three co-workers left Raven Industries and started Integra Plastics in Madison, SD in 1991. Royce served as Vice President until 2014, when the company they built was then, ironically, sold to Raven.

Royce could fix nearly anything. He was skilled at many trades, including electrical, mechanical, and plumbing. If he didn’t know how to fix it, he would figure it out. Things that we will forever remember about him include his strong work ethic, humming, changing words to songs, dancing the jitterbug, dad jokes, and just having fun. Throughout his life, Royce loved cars, hunting, fishing, and cowboy TV shows and movies. Royce and Peg enjoyed long road trips in retirement, and most recently got to travel in their new Camaro to many new places – always with the top down!

As a young child, Royce treasured his time at Roy Lake. In 2009, fulfilling their dream, he and Peg purchased a cabin on Lake Poinsett. It is here he generously provided a place where many fun memories are and will continue to be made with family and friends.

Royce was preceded in death by his father, Ray Quamen; mother, Lucille Albers; stepfather, Erville Albers; and brothers-in-law, Paul, Jerry, Bob, and Wayne.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Peg Quamen, his older sister Shirley Stangeland, younger brother David (Janet) Quamen, younger sisters Karen (Joe) Vandersnick and Ona (John) Reker, and many brothers- and sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Royce will be sorely and forever missed by his daughter Shawn (Shannon) Frewaldt, sons Frank, Jeremy (Lana), and Brady (Shayna) Quamen, four granddaughters: Kelbi, Hannah, Lucie, and Stella; two grandsons: Koy and Kade; and two great-grandsons: Levi and Mason.