James E. Heying, 83

james heying obit

 

James Edward Joseph Heying, son of Paul and Anna (Full) Heying was born March 3, 1932 at the family farm near Hamill, SD.  Jim attended elementary school at King School and graduated from Winner High School in 1950.  He enlisted in the Army and was stationed at the Fort Leonard Wood where he married Veronica Jessie Lulf on March 14, 1953.  The couple resided in Texas until Jim was discharged from military duty in October of 1954.  The couple returned to the Heying family farm near Hamill to farm with Jim’s brother Bob.  In 1972 they moved to Mitchell where Jim was employed at Ellefson Implement and Dakota Manufacturing until taking a position with Mitchell Vocational Institute as the Welding Dept. instructor until his retirement in 1996.  Jim was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church.  His early retirement years were filled with hunting, fishing walleye on the Missouri River, woodworking, playing guitar, and drinking coffee with friends at Coborns.  Later, as his failing health kept him more inside, he spent hours reading books during his breathing treatments and watching old westerns on television.  Though unable to walk fields, Jim never missed opening pheasant season on the farm by showing up the young ones during blue rock target practice.

A very special friend, Carol Callan, was one of the motivators in Jim’s recovery from months in the hospital with pneumonia.  His concern for Carol and desire to return home brought him back to us for another four years.

Honoring Our Heroes Legacy

I’m sure we all remember our parents rousting us out of bed early on Memorial Day to decorate family graves. For many of us this was the first Monday after school got out and the last thing we wanted to do was get up before sunrise!

The process was simple — get dressed, load the tools in the car, and pick up some donuts for the trip. Once at the cemetery, we trimmed the grass, pulled weeds, washed off the headstones and placed flowers on the graves. While working on the graves, mom and dad would share the family lineage with us.

Although decorating soldiers graves with flowers and flags is an ancient custom that dates back to the Civil War, it wasn’t until later in life that I comprehended the significance of  remembering and honoring those who died while serving in the armed forces of this great country.

Our staff is honored to serve as the keepers of the South Dakota “Fallen Heroes Banners Exhibit,” and as such I can’t help but share the sentiment of a poem from Ken Carrolan that appears on the wall in the Tomb Guard quarters at Arlington National Cemetery.  It reads, “You are guarding the world’s most precious gifts, you, you alone are the symbol of 200 million people who wish to show their gratitude and you will march through the rain, the snow, and the heat to prove it.”

With pride and gratitude let us pause on this Memorial Day to remember great and brave Americans — to recognize their valor and rejoice in the blessings their bravery has secured. We know nothing of their individual thoughts and feelings as they met their fate.  But we know they died for a cause greater than self.

They paid the ultimate price for freedom, and it is our duty to keep their legacy fresh in the memories of future generations.

Oliver Wendell Holmes called this “our most sacred holiday,” and he urged that “we not ponder with sad thoughts the passing of our heroes, but to rather ponder their legacy – the life they made possible for us by their commitment and their pain.”

Please, don’t forget to honor those who served and paid the ultimate price.

Larry Zimmerman, Secretary

South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs

No Leukemia in Bone Marrow Encouraging Sign, but Not Cure

eli kortan

By Dan Merritt, Winner Advocate

No leukemia in his bone marrow is a great test result from early last week for Eli Kortan of Colome, 13.

But it’s considered a “false remission,” according to his mother Shannon Kortan.

Though it would seem it’s an indication that cancer-fighting medicine is making progress towards curing the Pre B Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) her son was diagnosed with last January.

Last week, Shannon and Eli were at “the Castle” — Sanford Children’s Hospital of Sioux Falls — which looks like a castle.

They weren’t supposed to be there as of Friday (May 8) when Shannon was contacted by phone, but it was taking longer to flush high-potency cancer medicine from Eli than expected.

He received the medicine on Monday to begin what was supposed to be a three-day treatment.

It was just one of many rounds of treatments for him that were expected to last three years from the time of his January 2015 diagnosis.

BHSU Art Program Gives Graduate the Confidence, Leadership Skills to Achieve Lifelong Dreams

EthanEngel_Print

 

Ethan Engel’s journey hasn’t always been easy.

As graduation day nears for Ethan, he looks back on his time at BHSU, and reflects on how he’s grown over the past four years.

“It was a challenge for me as a freshman. I have a learning disability, autism, which is a complex disorder that deals with verbal communication and social interaction,” Ethan said. “For me to be out of my comfort zone and away from home, my family and my friends, it was a challenge to experience the new surroundings at BHSU and make new friends.”

Through his involvement in the art department at BHSU, Ethan’s confidence and leadership skills have grown over the years, earning him the respect of his fellow students and professors. Ethan has been the president of the BHSU Art Club for two years, helping organize art displays on campus and in the community. He also has taken the reins in his classes, such as gallery management, organizing an art show in the library and the recent BHSU Art Walk on campus.

A Look at You… Frank Finney

FinneyName: Frank Finney

Birthplace: At home on the family ranch near Seneca, Neb.

Family: Wife: Jeriann; Sons: Jon, Jeff, Joel, and their families.

Currently reside where: Winner, SD

Occupation: Retired school administrator.

Some civic/religious/other board(s) on which you serve or group(s)/organization(s) you belong to: Winner city council president; chairman of the Rural Office of Economic Development (located at Lake Andes); Winner Senior Citizens board of directors member; Methodist Church board, SPR committee.

The best thing about my current life circumstances: Enjoying my retirement and having time to serve on the city council, church boards, and pheasant guiding.

My favorite childhood memory: Growing up on a small sandhill ranch with my five brothers and four sisters.

When growing up, I wanted to be: A teacher

My most prized possession: My family

Favorite sports team(s): Big Red and the Denver Broncos.

Favorite current television show: The Big Bang Theory

Favorite past television show: In the Heat of the Night

Favorite movie(s): Lonesome Dove, Broken Trail

Favorite actor: Robert Duvall

Favorite actress: Sandra Bullock

Favorite musician(s)/band(s): Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks.

Favorite book(s)/author(s): James Michener, Centennial, and The Source.

Favorite publication(s) (newspapers, magazines): Winner Advocate, The Daily Republic, South Dakota Magazine.

Favorite holiday and why:  Christmas. Time with family.

Favorite Bible verse: John 3:16

Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, woodworking, and watching sports events.

Three things that can always be found in my refrigerator: Cheese, milk, meat.

My favorite snack: Homemade cookies.

Pet peeve: People who are not honest.

Someone I most admire and why: My wife. She is the light of my life.

Three words that best describe me: Kind, caring, willing to help.

People would be surprised to know: That I’m as old as I am.

I’ve never been able to: Ski or dance.

I wish I could stop: Wasting time.

When nobody is looking, I: I eat snacks.

I’m better than most at: Putting things off that need to be done.

The best time of my life: Right now.

My most embarrassing moment was: There are too many to list.

I’d like to have a dollar for: Every book I’ve read and for every time I’ve said, “Yes, Dear.”

If I could go anywhere in the world, I’d go to: Straubing, Germany, where I was stationed in the Army. And also I’d visit Ireland.

If I won the lottery: I’d share it with my family and church.

My definition of a great evening is: Doing something with my wife and family.

A goal I have for the future: Grow old with my loved ones.

The best thing about where I live: Good friends and community.

If I’ve learned one thing in my life, it’s: Change will always happen.

Soles Receives Scholarship

Soles, Lesley

 

David Burger, a Pioneer sales representative, has donated $1,000 to the Winner School District to be used in the form of a scholarship.  This year’s scholarship recipient is Lesley Soles. Soles is a senior at Winner High School and plans to attend South Dakota State University this fall.

Burger was awarded this contribution money by DuPont Pioneer for his dedication to customer-focused activities throughout the year.  DuPont Pioneer is the world’s leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high–quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries.  Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere.

DuPont has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802.   The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, BGO’s and thought leaders, we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment.  For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.dupont.com” www.dupont.com

Schramm Wins Outstanding QB Member Award

scott schramm and award

The Winner Quarterback Club presented its outstanding member award to Scott Schramm Friday night. The honor was presented at the annual Winner QB Club athletic awards night.

Scott is the son of Jeff and Sharon Schramm of Winner and a 1990 graduate of Winner High School. He participated in football, basketball and track during his high school years.

It was also at that time, in 1987, that he started working part-time as a DJ on local radio station KWYR.

After high school graduation, he attended the University of South Dakota majoring in mass communications. After graduation, Scott pursued his career on the eastern side of the state in Sioux Falls and Vermillion and on the western end of the state in the Rapid City radio market.

In 1996 he make the major decision to commit to local radio by purchasing KWYR.

Winner and the surrounding area are fortunate to have a local connection broadcasting games, sponsoring “Coaches Corner” and posting results and schedules for various events around south central South Dakota and north central Nebraska.

Scott’s commitment to the Winner School District was evident in 2009 when he opened the phone lines of his radio station to a radiothon to help the district raise the necessary funds to keep working at its current level of competency. Over $40,000 was raised during that one day event.