Richard E. (Dick) Kahler, 96, died August 22, 2026, in Rapid City, SD. Dick was born in Sioux Falls, SD, on March 14, 1930, to E.J. (Ernie) and Millie I. Kahler.

Dick grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from Washington High School in 1948. He earned a BA degree from the University of Missouri Journalism School in Columbia, MO, in 1952. He obtained high honors in ROTC while attending the university and entered military service in August 1952 as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Field Artillery.

In early 1953 Dick was deployed to Japan and then to Korea, as a Forward Observer with the 24th Infantry Division Artillery. It was considered one of the deadliest assignments in the military, as the duties included going behind enemy lines, gathering information, and directing artillery fire in support of the infantry. At the last minute before deploying, the commanding general of his division reassigned him as his Public Information Officer because of his journalism background. This reassignment probably made the difference in whether Dick survived the war. He held the rank of First Lieutenant at the time of his honorable discharge in 1954.

Dick married Beverly J. Murphy in Columbia, MO, on June 14, 1952. In 1954 they moved to Rapid City. Dick and Bev were blessed with three children, Rick, David, and Jan. Bev was the love of his life and they celebrated 72 years of marriage on June 14, 2024. She died 12 days later.

Dick began his employment with the Rapid City Journal in the advertising department, becoming the classified manager in 1957. In 1959 he joined R. Doc Baumann Real Estate. He became a full partner in 1962 and sole owner in 1970 of Kahler Realtors. In 1973 Dick was the recipient of South Dakota’s Realtor of the Year award. Dick retired in 1995 and sold the firm to his two sons. It operates today as Keller Williams Realty.

Throughout his career Dick was active in community organizations including Cub Scouts (Cub Master), Boy Scouts, Rapid City Multiple Listing Service (President two terms), Black Hills Board of Realtors (President), South Dakota Real Estate Commission (Chairman), Rapid City Masonic Lodge #220, NAJA Shrine, NAJA Flag Unit (President), Rapid City Elks Club Lodge #1187, the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs committee, and the Rapid City Cosmopolitan Club (Club President, Federation Governor, and International President).

He was a charter member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, an active board member of South Canyon Baptist Church, and most recently a member of Rimrock Evangelical Free Church. He served on the church’s Financial Team for several years. In 2006 he was appointed to the Rapid City Christian School Board. He served a three-year term, helping the school move into and build its new Hart Ranch campus.

If you ever attended any events at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center and Theater in the past forty-four years, you most likely met Dick. He, with his wife Bev at his side, served as the head usher and ticket taker in his very visible yellow Cosmopolitan Club jacket, greeting event goers with a hearty “Howdy” and his signature big smile. As a 67-year member of the Rapid City Cosmopolitan Club, he attended weekly service club meetings until a few years before his death. He was also a strong advocate for the new Summit Arena at The Monument, writing letters to the editor and speaking in public forums.

Advocacy ran deep with Dick. As a Realtor, he consistently put his clients’ financial wellbeing above his own, to the extent that he refused to buy investment property for himself. His view was that to do so would put him in competition with his clients.

One of Dick’s most notable achievements is something very few people ever knew or that he seldom talked about. As a boy, Dick had a severe speech stutter. While there is no cure for this condition, through determination and hard work he completely overcame his speech disability.

Dick and Bev enjoyed traveling, especially in their motor home van. They visited 49 states, including Alaska several times. They were able to visit Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and many European countries. Dick also enjoyed an annual tradition of going to the NCAA Men’s Final Four games with his son Rick. He attended 21 Men’s Final Fours between 1992 and 2016.

Raised in an alcoholic family, Dick counted 1973 the highlight of his life. That year he became a Christian, ending his life-long relationship with alcohol and beginning his deep relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Dick’s deeply held hope was that all his children and grandchildren have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Being a part of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s lives were a crowning point of his life.

In January 2023 Dick was found to have stage four lung cancer and given five or six months to live. Treatment with a new drug gave him another three and a half years cancer-free. Dick wanted to ensure his obituary conveyed his profound gratitude for the compassion and support shown by the staff at The Courtyard and Westhills Healthcare during the final years of his and Bev’s lives.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernie and Millie Kahler, his wife of 72 years, Beverly J. Kahler, who died June 26, 2024, his two brothers, Jack and Steve Kahler, and his daughter-in-law, Renaye (Dave) Kahler.

He is survived by his three children, son Rick Kahler (Marcia), and grandchildren London/Seth and Davin; son Dave Kahler (Renee), and grandchild Joshua Montgomery (Talya); and great-grandchild Lynk; grandchild Jeremy (Amanda), and great-grandchildren Lucas, Madelyn, and Gwenyth; and grandchild Brianna Satterfield (Dan), and great-grandchildren Sophia, Aidall, Olive, and Benjamin; and daughter Jan Kahler; and grandchild Tyler Blumenthal (Laura) and great-grandchildren Leah, Colby and Dane, and grandchild Nikki Davis (Kyle); and many nephews, nieces, extended family and very close friends.

His Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 pm Monday October 12, 2026 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The Memorial Service will be 11:00 am Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at South Canyon Baptist Church, 3333 West Chicago Street.

Burial Service at 3:00 pm Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with Full Military Honors. 

Memorials may be made to the Rapid City Christian High School Endowment Fund, Love, Inc., and Young Life.