Monthly Archives: October 2016

Virginia Pearl (Bartlett) Snethen, 89, of Carter, SD, went home to her savior Friday, October 14, 2016, at Rapid City Regional Hospital, Rapid City, SD, with family by her side.

Virginia was born Dec. 3, 1926, to Floyd and Goldia (Audiss) Bartlett on the family farm south of Carter, SD. She was the second child of two children.

Her family homesteaded near Martin, SD and after seventh grade moved to Custer, SD. She worked in the shipyards in Seattle, WA, during WWII and moved back to Custer where she finished high school and graduated in 1947.

She graduated from Watertown Beauty Academy in Watertown, SD in 1948. She returned home to Martin where she opened up her own beauty shop.

Virginia married Keith Snethen in May of 1954 and settled down on the farm near Carter where she lived and raised her nine children.

She was active in her community. She was a life member of the VFW, American Legion of Winner, a member of the local Extension Group and she served on the Todd County Election Board. She actively participated in her local church, Carter Gospel Fellowship Church.

She enjoyed many crafts, such as sewing, painting, gardening, canning, and spending time with her family. In her later years she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Gary D. Sell 80 of Springview, Nebraska passed away October 11, 2016 at his home with family at his side, after a courageous battle with cancer. Gary was born January 20, 1936 at Winner, South Dakota to Henry and Theresa (Gehlsen) Sell. He grew up in Todd County, South Dakota, the youngest of five children, along with his sister, Delores Holmes, and brothers Gerald, Donald, and Howard. He attended school in Todd County.

Gary married Bobbie Pettit on April 24, 1958 in Winner. To this union were born nine children; Cindy, Connie, Ryan, Debra, Dave, Merrit, Brett, Kaye Lynn, and John. He ranched in South Dakota and Nebraska throughout his adult life. He was a police officer in South Dakota, and served as the Keya Paha County, Nebraska sheriff for twenty-eight years. After his retirement as Sheriff, Gary worked part time for the Brown and Rock County Sheriff departments. Gary enjoyed woodworking as evidenced by the many items he made for family and friends. He was also very proud of the casket he crafted of this final resting place her on earth.

Kevin Kyle Kidwiler was born June 26, 1961 in Winner, South Dakota to Dennis and Betty (Totton) Kidwiler. Kevin spent most of his early years in Winner, graduating from Winner High School in 1979.

He entered the United States Marines in 1989, being discharged in 1994. Following his stint in the Marines Kevin lived in North Carolina and Arizona for short periods of time. In 1995 he returned to Winner where he spent the rest of his life. He worked for several construction businesses before going to work for Gene at Winner Seed in 2011 and worked there until the cancer made him unable to continue.

Kevin loved to hunt, fish, garden, and take care of his yard. In 1996 the pride of his life was born. He enjoyed doing things with Kelly like helping him at a Scouts Pinewood Derby and especially took great pride in watching Kelly play football throughout high school and as defensive lineman for Dakota Wesleyan University.

Mike L. Kash was born March 19, 1937 at Yates Center, Kansas to Mike and Myrtle (Meyers) Kash. He and his family moved back to the southwest corner of Tripp County in 1938, where he attended Beaver Creek School up until the 8th grade. At this time he worked for area neighbors. From there he proceeded to purchase the home place and start building his ranch into what it is today. He thoroughly enjoyed being able to make his next deal whether he was buying or selling. He attended many livestock sales where he purchased many pigs and calves or just socialize with the crowd. He was always ready to make his next deal of purchasing land, rolling the dice, matching for 5 or attending the local casino. He liked to drive his John Deere tractors and preferably a “Ford” pickup!
Mike married Kathleen Kulbel on Sept. 30, 1972 in Hamill. To this union 2 daughters were born: Betty Anne and Marie Lee.

Arliss Lee Iron Heart was born Feb. 21, 1947 and passed away on Oct. 9, 2016 at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Arliss was born to Sherman Crowe Sr and Vera Calls Him at the Old Fort Thompson hospital. She spent her younger years growing up in the Fort Thompson and Bull Creek areas. She attended school at a country school, then Pierre Indian Learning Center. She attended high school at Albuquerque, NM where she learned the Lakota language.

Arliss enjoyed playing competition games like aggravation, Yahtzee, and card games and in her younger years played kick ball with her kids and their friends along with other active games. Arliss always had neighborhood kids at her house or always took in other kids.

Arliss married Calvin A. Old Lodge in 1969 in this Union they had: Duane Old Lodge, Dion Old Lodge, Vietta Old Lodge-Hardy, Arlette Red Feather, and Yvette Iron Heart. She later adopted Christopher and Janice Red Horse and her Hunka son Benjamin Iron Heart. There were numerous children who thought of her as mom, and she loved every one of them.

She later married Franklin D. Iron Heart Sr. in 1991 where she then added 10 step-children to her family: Franklin, Jr., Francine, Michael, James, Kimberly, Faron, Francis, Geraldine, Kendra, and Frieda Jane. Together they raised 4 grandsons Austin Crowe, Diedrick Old Lodge, Kaleb and Warren Iron Heart. They were also very helpful in the upbringing of their great-grandchildren Marlee Peneaux-Old Lodge and Dominic Old Lodge.

Michael Carl Diez, age 62, Henderson, Nev., formerly of Winner, passed away October 14, 2016 after battling brain cancer.

He was born March 2, 1954 to Carl and Rose Diez in Winner, SD. He attended University of South Dakota at Springfield, receiving an associates degree in construction. Mike was field foreman for Framecon Construction at the time of his death.

He is survived by the love of his life, June Diez and sons Adam and Trevor Diez who were the light of his life and his pride and joy. Mike loved coaching baseball, playing his bass guitar, riding his Harley and boating on Lake Meade. We will miss his calm, tender, sweet and thoughtful way of being. The world has lost a good man and it is a better place because he was here.