Kay Fries, 82, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel, with Pastor Jay Rossman of Holy Cross Lutheran Church officiating.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Evangelical Lutheran Church, 108 Walnut St., Langford, SD 57454, in memory of Kay.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is honored to serve the Fries family. Friends and family may sign the online guestbook and view the recorded service following the service on Schriver’s Facebook page.

Kay Ann Korff was born on September 7, 1943, to Harold and Theda (Robinson) Korff in Detroit, Michigan.

She graduated from Edwin Denby High School in Detroit in 1961. Kay was first united in marriage to John Dienisch, and to this union two children were born, Cary and Michelle. John later passed away.

In 1969, Kay was united in marriage to Richard “Dick” Fries, and together they welcomed a son, Matthew. In 1979, Kay and Dick moved their family from Michigan to Scranton, North Dakota, where they owned and operated The Main Bar and Next Door Pizza. In 1990, Dick & Kay moved to Kulm, North Dakota, and later to New Town, North Dakota, in 1995, where Dick worked as a rural mail carrier.

Following Dick’s passing in 2006, Kay moved to Mandan, North Dakota. In 2022, she moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota, where she lived until the time of her passing. Kay and Dick shared nearly 37 years of marriage and are now reunited once again.

Kay loved her family fiercely and was immensely proud of them. She enjoyed traveling, baking, cooking, tending to her flower gardens, reading, decorating, and going for walks with her dog.

Grateful for having shared Kay’s life are her son, Matt (Brandi) Fries; son-in-law, Mike Barth; granddaughter, Kay Barth; grandsons, Matt Barth, Bo (Ashley) Fries, and Zac (Mia) Fries; and great-grandson, Kannon Fries.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Theda Korff; husband, John Dienisch; husband, of 37 years, Richard “Dick” Fries; son, Cary Fries; daughter, Michelle Barth; and brothers, Dennis Korff and David Korff.