Rodney Piper, 80, of Wood, SD passed away at his home in near Wood, on Friday, December 29, 2023.  Graveside service will be held on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 11:45AM at the Evergreen Cemetery in Wood, SD. A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 4, 2024 from 10-11:00AM at the Mason Funeral Home.

Rodney was born July 14, 1943 to Verne and Beatrice (Casey) Piper on the family ranch.  He married Nancy Dierks of Witten, South Dakota on January 21, 1962 and they made the Piper ranch their home for over 46 years.

In addition to ranching, Rodney did some carpentry work and was involved in sports activities as a basketball and football official for high school games and as a coach for elementary school sports activities.  However, at heart Rodney was always a cowboy.  He loved working with horses and cattle, and trained a bunch of great working ranch horses.  Rodney also had a mental history of almost every cow in the pasture.  Rodney also had a love for dogs, from countless greyhounds (both home raised and race track adopted) to companion rat terriers.  His enjoyment of hunting and fishing also created many immediate and extended family memories.

Rodney is survived by his sons; Jeff (Terry) of Casa Grande, Arizona, Mike (Candy) of Pierre, South Dakota, Rocky of Wood, South Dakota, grandchildren Jessica and Tyler of Austin, Texas, Rodney is also survived by his brother Harold.

Rodney was preceded in death by his wife Nancy, parents Verne & Beatrice, brothers; Edward, Roland and Donald.

He will be laid to rest alongside his wife Nancy at the Evergreen Cemetery in Wood, South Dakota on January 4, 2024.