Joel Koster

Joel Gene Koster was born on March 13, 1945, in Hendricks, Minnesota, to Leo and Esther (Trautman) Koster.   Joel was baptized and later confirmed at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Verdi Township.  He attended school in Lake Benton, Minnesota, participated in football, basketball, baseball, and track, and graduated in 1963.  He then attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota for two years to study pharmacy before being beckoned home to help his father on the family farm.  On April 7, 1968, he was united in marriage to his lifelong love, friend and partner, Kathy (Norgaard) Koster.  After their marriage, Joel continued to farm with his brother, Byrl, and cousin, Mark Trautman, for 50 years.  Joel passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, at his home in Brookings, South Dakota, on Thursday, January 25, 2024 at the age of 78.

Joel was a devout member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lake Benton.  Over the years, he was involved in choir, men’s club and church council, having held the offices of President, Financial Secretary and Treasurer.   Joel was a member of the Drammen Township board for 39 years and served on the Lake Benton school board for several years.

Joel enjoyed farming, feeding cattle, and watching Minnesota Vikings football and Gunsmoke on TV.  He loved the good old Trautman-recipe bologna (making sure his brothers, sisters and daughters had a taste too) and playing the card games Pepper and Schafkopf (sheep’s head).

Joel is lovingly remembered by his wife, Kathy Koster of Brookings; his children, Kelli (Dan) Radel of Arco, Minnesota, and Bonnie (Bobby) Davies of Shakopee, Minnesota; grandchildren, Mackenzie (Sam) Lau, Madison (Connor) Hennen, Morgan Radel, Brett (Margo) Koster, Brooke Davies, and Ben Davies; great-grandchildren, Preslee and Garrett Lau and Joel Koster; siblings, Dale (Sharon) Koster of Sugar Hill, Georgia, and Diann (Eugene) Moon of Burnsville, Minnesota.  He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Lester, Byrl and David; his sister, Verna Kuhn; and mother- and father-in-law, Arnold and Fern Norgaard.  

Joel loved the Lord deeply and found many opportunities to instill the knowledge of how our Father takes care of us and loves us.  This love permeated into the way he supported the church and took care of his family.   Collectively, we are grateful to have had his steady and faithful guidance in his roles as husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend.

Blessed be the memory of Joel Koster.