Carl "Bud" Waters

Carl “Bud” Waters, age 73, of Yankton, South Dakota, died Friday, May 8, 2026, at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

A memorial service will be 2:00 PM on Monday, May 18, 2026 at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton, South Dakota, with Reverend Jerry Webber officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the memorial service at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home on Monday.

Carl “Bud” Waters was born January 2, 1953, in Yankton, South Dakota, to Edward and Violet (Knoll) Waters. He grew up in Yankton and graduated from Yankton High School in 1971. He then began working at Gurney’s Seed and Nursery in Yankton and then for Arctic Circle Restaurant in Yankton until moving to Kearney, Nebraska to become a manager at Arctic Circle. He returned to Yankton a short time later and worked as a salesman for Wholesale Supply for many years. He married Stephanie Riker on August 28, 1994 and continued to live in Yankton. He later began working for Reinhart as a salesman until his retirement.

Bud was a member of Scramblers Hill Climbers and ABATE Motorcycle Club in Yankton. He was known for his witty sense of humor and was always quick with a funny comment or comeback. As an uncle, Bud had a special talent for getting his nieces and nephew wound up and silly and then simply walking away stating, “I am done playing Uncle”. He enjoyed hunting and spending time with his friends, but especially enjoyed spending time with his wife, Stephanie. He will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his wife, Stephanie Waters; sister, Vicki Barron; brother, Bob (Loree) Waters all of Yankton, South Dakota; and his nieces and nephews: Heather Barron, Sarah (Paul) Shortbull, Bill (Andrea) Barron, Bob (Judy) Gilbaugh, John Gilbaugh and great nieces and nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Violet Waters; brother-in-law, Charlie Barron; sister-in-law, JoAnn Waters; nephew, Jodi Gilbaugh; and mother-in-law Barb Roberts.