Monthly Archives: July 2017

Colleen Flynn was born on March 23, 1952, in Orange, CA, to John P. “Pat” and Frances (Gassen) Flynn. The daughter of a Marine Corps aviator, she lived in many different places and attended many different schools before her family settled in Gregory in 1966. Colleen attended Gregory High School where she excelled in music and enjoyed the companionship of her classmates. After graduating from high school in 1970, she attended Northern State College where she sharpened her saxophone skills and earned a degree in music education. After serving two years as the band director at Andes Central High School, Colleen entered Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA, where she was a member of the historic first class of women candidates who trained side-by-side with men.

Colleen was commissioned as a Marine Corps second lieutenant in 1976 and for the next 22 years served as an aviation supply officer. She rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and in the process she received numerous awards and commendations for her professionalism and expertise. Many of Colleen’s fondest memories were of the adventures she had with her daughter Megan while they were stationed at bases throughout the United States and in Okinawa.

After retiring from the Marines in 1998, Colleen moved home to Gregory where she cared for her mother and daughter and involved herself in a wide variety of church and civic activities. She served as the Gregory High School band director for one year and taught piano lessons to local youth. She contributed greatly to the spiritual life of St. Joseph Church by initiating, leading, and participating in many church ministries to the benefit of the parishioners. Colleen also did volunteer work for the Republican Party of South Dakota.

Colleen’s last professional assignment was as the reporter for the Gregory Times-Advocate, a position she held until her death. She loved working with the newspaper’s staff and with community members and took seriously her role as the chronicler of Gregory lives and Gregory events.

For all of her professional and community activities, the center of Colleen’s life remained her daughter Megan, her son-in-law Matt, and, especially, her grandchildren, Jaxson and Eva. Colleen was a wonderful mother and very active grandmother who was always seen at events involving her grandson Jaxson.

Colleen passed away suddenly on July 17, 2017, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. She was 65.

Jerry attended Kirkwood Country School north of Newport, Neb. and later graduated from Rock County High School in 1973. On a cold night in December of 1974, he met the love of his life, Peggy Cerv at a dance in Carlock, South Dakota. It took Jerry two years to get the nerve to ask Peg to marry him and she said yes. They were married on Oct. 29, 1976 at Bassett Neb. They moved south of Valentine, Neb. where Jerry and Peggy worked on the Neil Hanna Cattle Co. Ranch for 14 years. Jerry enjoyed working for Dick Hanna, a man who is credited for teaching him how to be a perfectionist and the “ins and outs” of ranching to make Jerry the fine cattleman he was. Jerry and Peggy were soon blessed with four children. Clint was born July 23, 1977 and a year and three days later on July 26, 1978, twin girls Kristy and Kasey were born. In September of 1980, Jerry and his three kids were baptized by Pastor Stan Ostergen at Thedford, Neb. Oct. 13, 1981 brought their second and final son Corey.

In September of 1990, Jerry and Peggy moved to Burton Neb. where Jerry worked for, and managed the Madeline Thiede Ranch for ten years until 2000. Jerry worked for two short years for local ranchers until July of 2002 when Jerry and Peggy had the opportunity to manage the Lazy AB Ranch for about two years. In May of 2004, Jerry and Peggy began leasing the ranch, and over the next ten years they raised and sold the finest Black Angus cattle in North Central Nebraska.

In January of 2015, Jerry and Peggy were forced to retire from the cattle industry and sell the herd. They decided to semi retire and bought a small acreage northeast of Long Pine, Neb. This left time for traveling and spending some lazy days together. Jerry was able to fulfill a lifetime dream of his, to go fishing in Canada. He and his all time favorite fishing buddy, Curt Luther made the trip to Canada in May 2015. Jerry had a hard time “not being busy,” so he and Peggy decided to go into the cedar tree removal business. He stayed busy with this during certain times of the year. He still had time for the grandkids and helping his children with jobs and tasks that required dad’s special expertise and assistance.

On October of 2016, Jerry and Peggy celebrated their 40th Anniversary with close family and friends. In January of 2017, Jerry had his final equipment sale and took a nice long vacation with Peg, Corey, and brother-in-law, Alan Williams, to California to visit family and site see. Shortly there after Jerry’s health began to change and he was diagnosed on March 17, 2017 with a Grade 4 Glioblastoma brain tumor. As usual, Jerry chose to stand strong and fight with the support of family and friends. After four short months and a well fought fight, Jerry passed away in the Brown County Hospital at Ainsworth, Nebraska on July 17 2017, surrounded by his family.

Fred Thomas Laprath was born on Dec. 14, 1933 on his parent’s farm in Tripp County, South Dakota. He was the son of Hans Thomas Laprath and Frieda Christiana Manke. Fred was baptized in the Lutheran Church.

He spent his early childhood in Idaho where his family resided during the Great Depression and World War II period. In 1945, the family returned to the Dallas, SD area where his family established their home, farm and cattle operation.

He attended Dallas High School. Fred left high school before his senior year to serve his nation in the Army as an infantryman in the 10th Mountain Division while stationed in Germany during the Cold War.

Following his military service, Fred spent the rest of his working life farming south of Dallas on his farm or helping his brothers work cattle and hay on their parent’s farm. He was independent-minded, bachelor farmer who loved his farm and his cows. His family and neighbors will long remember his farm with its great assortment of animals. Fred’s pastime enjoyment included fishing, visiting family and neighbors and telling stories.