Our Staff
Providing Care and Support
The compassionate team at Behrens Wilson Funeral Home is dedicated to providing unwavering support and comfort to families during difficult times. With extensive experience in the funeral service industry, they approach their work with empathy and attention to detail. From pre-planning to guiding families through the funeral process, the staff ensures a warm and respectful atmosphere, offering both logistical and emotional support to help families navigate their grief with care and compassion.
Our Staff
Wade Wilson
Owner/Manager
Wade was born in Hot Springs, SD and grew up in Hot Springs and Rapid City. He graduated from high school in Sioux Falls and mortuary school in Gresham, OR. He has been a licensed funeral director in South Dakota since 1989. He is also licensed in Wyoming having owned the funeral home in Gillette, WY from 1994 until buying Behrens in 2002.
Wade and his wife Carrie have a son and two daughters who have blessed them with 3 grandsons and a granddaughter. Carrie is a 6th grade math teacher at St. Thomas More Middle School. They are members of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Recently, they have enjoyed playing pickleball.
Ken Kundel
Licensed Funeral Director
Ken Kundel was born in Denver, CO and grew up in Chicago, IL and Minneapolis, MN. He has received degrees from South Dakota State University, Black Hills State University and most recently, a mortuary science degree from Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO.
Ken has previously worked as a zookeeper, was a teacher at North Middle School for 25 years and has worked at Behrens-Wilson Funeral since 2022. He is married with 4 children and 4 grandchildren
KayCee Pavao
Funeral Director’s Apprentice
KayCee was born in Rapid City, grew up in Wasta, SD, and graduated high school as a junior from Custer High School in 2013. She is currently attending Arapahoe Community College in pursuit of her Funeral Director/Embalmers license where she will be graduating with Highest Honors in the summer of 2024. KayCee was honored to join Behrens-Wilson in the Spring of 2023 when her studies brought her back to the Rapid City area from Montana. She is blessed and honored to serve the families of the Black Hills and surrounding areas. Outside of her studies and career, KayCee likes to adventure and go camping. She is a plant and cat mom to numerous plants and two cats, Simon and Luna.
Sally Kormendy
Office Manager
I am married with three children and one grandchild. We are originally from the panhandle of Nebraska. After graduating from college, we moved to Rapid City, SD. My joy in life comes from: my faith, our family, and serving the needs of others! I am quite blessed and grateful to have the opportunity to serve everyone at Behrens Wilson Funeral Home!
Our Story
Since 1879, Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home has been a leading provider of top-notch preneed, at-need, and after-care services in the region.
Our Facility
The funeral facility offered a serene space for honoring and remembering loved ones.
Our Mission
Our funeral home’s mission is to compassionately guide grieving families through the process of honoring and memorializing their loved ones.
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