Citation: Stat. - S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 58-12-4

58-12-4. Life and health insurance--Exemption of benefits and proceeds from execution

The proceeds of a policy of life or health insurance to the total amount of twenty thousand dollars only, in the absence of any agreement or assignment to the contrary, shall inure to the separate use of the insured, his surviving spouse, or children, as the case may be, independently of the creditors of any of them and shall not be subject to the payment of the debts of any one or all of such persons, notwithstanding that the proceeds may be payable directly to the insured or surviving spouse or children as the named beneficiary or beneficiaries or otherwise; and the proceeds of an endowment policy, payable to the insured on attaining a certain age, to the extent of twenty thousand dollars shall at all times be exempted from the debts of such spouse or children of the insured; and the avails of any life or health insurance or other sum of money not exceeding twenty thousand dollars made payable by any mutual aid or benevolent society to any member or beneficiary spouse or children or both shall likewise be exempt.