Lowell was born March 30, 1941, at the family farm in Wellington County, South Dakota, to Harry and Etta (Johnson) Rost. Lowell was a standout football player for Humbolt High School and went on to play football at General Beadle State College (now Dakota State University).
While at General Beadle, Lowell not only played football, but he also took up boxing and went on to be a Golden Gloves Champion. After finishing his boxing career, he continued in the sport by coaching athletes at General Beadle. Upon graduation from Beadle, Lowell earned his Master’s Degree in Psychology at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC).
During his time at General Beadle, Lowell met Carol Tastad. Lowell enrolled in an art class to meet Carol and once she agreed to a date he dropped from the class. The two were married on June 6, 1963. Upon completion of his Master’s, the couple moved to Princeton, MN, where Lowell worked as a Guidance Counselor for two years.
Lowell accepted a position at Northern State College in 1966 as a Psychology professor and the couple moved to Aberdeen, SD, where they lived for thirty years. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters and a son.
During his tenure at Northern, Lowell took a sabbatical and completed his Ph.D. program at UNC. Lowell completed his Ph.D. program in a record 12 months, taking 30 credit hours a semester. After he completed his Ph.D., he was then nicknamed “Doc” by all of his Psychology students when he returned to Northern, and that nickname stuck with him for the rest of his life.
In 1995, Lowell and Carol retired and relocated to Sturgis, SD, where they lived for 20 years. Lowell was a regular at the poker tables in Deadwood, and in 2012, the couple moved to Deadwood, SD.
Lowell Rost, God’s precious son, was welcomed home by his Savior Jesus on November 22, 2024, at the age of 83.
Lowell is survived by his daughters, Michelle Fischer (Tom) of Deadwood, SD, and Sarah Hyde (Tim) of Box Elder, SD; son, John Rost (Kerry) of Orland Park, IL; and eight grandchildren, Steve & John Fischer; Jake, Grace, Sam, Kate, and Luke Rost, and Victoria Hyde.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ronald and wife Carol.
The family will be hosting a Celebration of Life ceremony in late spring of 2025.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.
