Monthly Archives: May 2016

Elsie Esther (Schmidt) Sinkular was born on July 8, 1923, on the family farm south of Dallas to Jacob and Lydia (Ring) Schmidt and died May 5, 2016 at Avera Rosebud Country Care Center. She was the third of three children.

Elsie graduated from Gregory High School in 1941 after which she attended SDSU, transferred to Southern State Normal School in Springfield, SD, and graduated in 1943 with an elementary school teaching certificate. She taught in Platte, SD, from 1943-1945 and substitute taught for a short time in Dallas.

Elsie was united in marriage to Woodrow W. Sinkular on April 20, 1944 and to this union three sons were born, Ken and Kent (twins) and Barry.

Elsie was the typical farm wife raising chickens, milking cows, vegetable and flower gardening, and always providing bountiful meals for her family, friends and the farm help. She especially loved baking and took great joy in sharing her baked goods with others. She always said she what she missed the most, when she was no longer able to live at home, were baking, cooking and gardening. She and Woody also liked to get together with friends and neighbors to play pinochle.

Elsie and Woodrow did much traveling together with the highlights being two trips to Germany to reunite with friends that Woody had made while stationed there when he was in the Army. They wintered in Rio Hondo, Texas, upon retiring, and even after Woody passed away on April 25, 1989, Elsie continued being a winter Texan until 2007. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, LWML, a lifetime member of the Dallas American Legion Auxiliary and Burke VFW Auxiliary.

Elsie entered Whispering Pines Assisted Living in December 2008, moved to Silver Threads Assisted Living in July of 2010, and due to declining health, moved to Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in July of 2012 where she always looked forward to playing bingo and attending church services.

Leslie Duane Koster, 81, Piedmont, died Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Fort Meade, after a long battle with cancer.

Les was born July 29, 1934, in New Underwood, SD. He attended 8 years of school at the Hamilton #2 Country School. Les joined the US Army on May 8, 1957, and was a recovery specialist until his honorable discharge on May 7, 1959.

Les and his brothers were avid sportsmen. They loved to hunt and fish and Les enjoyed trapping. Many times, his brothers would come to the Black Hills for opening days of deer hunting season. They also enjoyed antelope hunting near Faith, SD. Les loved to fish, especially when he caught a 40 inch tiger muskee at Orman Dam.

Les moved to Piedmont, SD, where he helped take care of his aunt, Suzy Koster, after her husband died in 1964. Les was working as a butcher at the Bargain Barn Grocery when he met Ginger Benett. He and Ginger were married on May 4, 1964, and the made their home in Piedmont. He adopted Troy soon after.

Les loved his woodworking and gathering firewood. He was either building with wood, or burning it. His passion for wood led him into a career as a supervisor for Self Help Housing in Rapid Valley. Les also worked Meade County where he drove road grader for 3 years.

Jeffrey Ben Kolbe was born to Ben and Sally (Remter) Kolbe on April 6, 1961 and died on May 1, 2016 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 55.

Jeff was baptized on April 23, 1961 and was confirmed on April 13, 1975, both at Trinity Lutheran Church in Dixon, SD and was a current member of St John’s Lutheran Church in Gregory, SD. Jeff started school in August of 1967 as a 1st grader at Dixon School #57. In April of 1968 he moved with his family to Portland, Oregon and attended 2nd and 3rd grade. His family then moved back to Dixon and finished his elementary education at Dixon School. Jeff graduated from Gregory High School in 1979. In 1981 he graduated with High Honors from the University of SD at Springfield with a diesel mechanic degree.

Jeff lived in the Dixon area his entire adult life farming and custom combining for many years until his arthritis and scleroderma limited his activity. He was very gifted in the field of mechanics and worked on numerous machines. Jeff spent the last five years in a wheel chair with very limited movement. Even from his wheel chair he advised people how to repair and build machinery. Jeff’s sister, Natalie, cared for him for nearly four years with his parents caring for him for the last months of his life. He never complained about his health and had a positive attitude.

Jeff enjoyed vacationing. He visited the Dominican Republic, South Carolina, Florida, Mexico, Costa Rica, and other places with many of his friends. Jeff liked to hunt and was an avid gun enthusiast. As many people know, he could throw a heck of a party and DJ’d for many dances, weddings, and reunions. Jeff worked for many years at Frank Day’s Bar in Dallas, SD. He also enjoyed playing cards, bowling, and was a lucky poker player. He was a fun person to be around.

Jeff was married and had one daughter, Katie Kolbe. Jeff was especially proud of his daughter and grandson, Kenyon.