Steven M. Willcuts

Steven M. Willcuts, age 66 of Yankton, SD passed away on Thursday, December 25, 2025 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD. He was surrounded by his family and passed peacefully after a long and courageous battle with esophageal cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, January 3, 2026 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, SD with Rev. Thi Pham officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton, SD with Military Graveside Rites by the Ernest-Bowyer VFW Post #791 and the SDARNGHG. Visitations will be 5 to 7 PM, Friday, January 2, 2026 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD with a Wake service at 7:00 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences may be sent at: www.okfhc.com. To view Steven’s funeral service via live stream, click this link: https://server.attend.live/static/event/W6W84. Pallbearers will be Butch Byers, Matthew Robinson, Terry Tennant, Matt Thompson, Chris Willcuts, Curtis Cap, Mike Medeck and Patrick Kollars. Honorary Pallbearers will be Randy Steffen, Terry Zahrbock, Timothy Graham, Steve Ryken, Mike Pieper, and Van Zahrbock. Steven Morris Willcuts was born on December 6, 1959, in Pierre, SD, to Robert M. Willcuts and Adeline M. Morris. The family moved to Yankton shortly after. He attended Sacred Heart Catholic School in Yankton, graduating from the eighth grade in 1975. He attended Yankton High School, graduating in May 1979. He enlisted in the South Dakota Army National Guard, BTRY C 1st BN 147th Field Artillery from 1979 to 1985. He met and married his high school sweetheart, Brenda Lee Schurman on August 2, 1980 in Yankton, SD. He worked at various places over the years, including Sunshine Food Market, Gurney’s Seed & Nursery, Robinson-Ehret Ford, Dan Wallbaum Distributing, TruXedo and Shurco. He enjoyed coaching his daughter Amberlee’s girls’ softball team from 6th grade through high school and continued coaching her women’s team. He participated in golf and bowling leagues with his daughter and son-in-law and continued to teach his grandson Trenton, both sports until his health would no longer permit him to do so. He also enjoyed woodworking and cooking with his grandson. He was a huge supporter & fan of the Yankton Bucks & Gazelles and when Amberlee went on to attend Mount Marty College he became a big fan of the Lancers as well. He was also an active member of the Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery & Aquarium Friends Group (GPNFH). Steve is survived by his wife of 45 years Brenda Lee; daughter, Amberlee (Nathan) Mueller, and grandson, Trenton of Yankton, his siblings: Donna Condell of El Dorado, KS; Linda (Arthur) Medeck of Coon Rapids, MN; Robert K Willcuts of Cresent, IA; Delia Willcuts of Ogden, UT; his in-laws: Michele (Steve) Gustad of Volin, SD; Laurie (Mike) Pieper of Yankton, SD; Lynette (Randy) Steffen of Yankton, SD; Cathy (Kevin) Cap of Houston, TX; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, his stepmother Kathleen Willcuts, his brother James Willcuts, infant brother Larry Ray, brother-in-law John Condell, and in-laws James and Joyce Schurman. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Friends of GPNFH, 31129 435th Ave., Yankton, SD 57078.