Funeral Service for Casper Langager, 88 of Sisseton, SD was held on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. at the Cahill Funeral Chapel, SD, with Pastor Dwight Fearing officiating. Pallbearers were Casper's great nephews and nieces, Doug Langager Jr., Joey Schneider, Ryan Kallstrom, Jennifer Kaufman, Stephanie Karst, and Chad Ward. Honorary Pallbearers were All of Casper's Tekakwitha Living Center Family. Interment was in the Claire City Cemetery, Claire City, SD. Visitation was on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 from 2:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. and one hour prior to services on Wednesday at The Cahill Funeral Chapel. The Cahill funeral Chapel of Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.
Casper was born on June 14, 1920 to Hans and Jenna (Vig) Langager in rural Sisseton. He and his twin sister Stella were raised from a young age by the Edward Vasend family in the Sica Hollow area. He attended school at Bossko #3 and later worked as a farm/ ranch hand for Melvin and Fritjof Fossum from 1949 to 1956. In 1956 he moved to the Pierre area and joined his brother-in-law, John Schmitgen in the construction of the Oahe Dam Project. Following the completion of the Dam he worked for various ranchers in Onida, Harrold and Gregory, SD. He entered the Gregory Nursing home before entering the Tekakwitha Living Center, Sisseton, SD in Sept. 2001. Casper was a soft spoken and gentle man. He loved his work in the outdoors and with the animals. He is remembered from his younger years as the "cowboy uncle", always dressed in western attire and adorned with his cowboy hat and boots. Casper passed away on November 9, 2008 at the Tekakwitha Living Center, Sisseton, SD.
Casper is survived by his twin sister, Stella Schmitgen of Pierre, SD and Margaret Langager of Sisseton, SD; nephews, Doug Langager of Sisseton, Michael Schmitgen of Portland, Oregon, Melvin (Darlene) Schmitgen of Fort Pierre, SD; nieces Darlene (Irvin) Smith of Browns Valley, MN, Jane (Merlin) Moe of Vergas, MN, Helen Crosson of MN, Sharon (George) Fraser of Feinly, Nevada, Roseanne Cartney of Rapid City, SD, Delores Schmitgen of Pierre, SD, Naomi Hall of Pierre, Beverly Schneider of Sisseton, SD, Barbara Kallstrom of Sisseton, SD.
Casper was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, John, Lawrence, Ingvald, Herman and Marvin; and two sisters, Ella Iverson, and Marie Engel.