Neoma "Sis" Karban

Neoma "Sis" Rae Karban, age 98, of Lake Preston, SD, passed away on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society in De Smet, SD.

Memorial Services will be held at 2:30 PM on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at the United Church of Christ in Lake Preston, SD. Pastor Kris Larson will officiate. Honorary pallbearers will be Neoma’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The service will be livestreamed via the Crawford-Osthus website.

Visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 PM on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at the United Church of Christ in Lake Preston, SD.

 Burial will be at the Lake Preston Cemetery at a later date.

Sis went to be with her heavenly Father on October 24, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society in De Smet, SD.

On December 11, 1924, Neoma Rae was born to Harry and Marie (Naslund) Pirlet in Lake Preston.  After graduating from Lake Preston High School in 1943, she worked as a telephone operator until she   married Wilbur “Bob” Miller in September of that year and they moved to a farm south of Lake Preston.  While on the farm, they welcomed three children. 

To support her three children following her divorce, she worked as a waitress at the Lake Preston Cafe and Susie's Cafe.  Later she worked at the Kingsbury Memorial Hospital and Manor.  From 1971 through 1974, she took care of her grandchildren Brandon and Cherrlyn while her daughter Linda attended college.  After Linda's graduation, Sis became a live-in caregiver for her aunt, Babe Erickson.  Following her aunt's death in 1977, Sis moved to La Mirada, CA, to be closer to her siblings.  She worked at La Mirada Convalescence Home and later became a live-in caregiver for a friend.  Upon her friend's death, Sis moved into an apartment, continuing to care for people in their homes.  She felt blessed to be near her family, especially after her son Blaine and his family moved to California in 1980.  Again, she could help care for grandchildren.  She was able to walk Andrea and Joey to school and was able to spend quality time with them.  After both grandchildren graduated from high school, Sis retired and returned to Lake Preston in 1997.

She moved into what was known as the 16-plex and reconnected with friends and added new ones.  Sis enjoyed doing embroidery, playing bingo, reading, and socializing, and it was well- known that she loved to dance.  She always said that her life was a journey, and in 2017 that journey would take her to the Good Samaritan Society in De Smet.  Her life span exceeded statistics because of her faith. love, kindness, and her spirited personality.

Survivors include one daughter, Linda Iverson, and one son Blaine (Deborah) Miller, both of Lake Preston; four grandchildren, Brandon Karban of Lake Preston, Cherrlyn Pickering (Jamey) of Harrisburg; Andrea Miller of Lake Preston and Joey Miller of San Diego, CA; three great-grandchildren, Bailey Pickering and Payton Pickering of Harrisburg, and Elijah Miller of San Diego CA; one sister-in-law, Merna Pirlet of Escondido, CA; four step-grandchildren; and many extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Paul Miller; one sister, Ardelle Alfs Allen; two brothers, Donald “Bud” Pirlet and Lee Pirlet; and son-in-law, Kendell Iverson.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel                                          www.crawfordosthus.com

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.