Monthly Archives: March 2018

Dee was born on Dec. 31, 1936 to Ed and Rose (Schamber) Steinke in Colome, SD. She met the love of her life, Donald Zimbelman, and they were united in marriage on Sept. 27, 1952 in Winner, SD. They moved to Rapid City in August of 1961.

Dee worked in Food Service for the Rapid City School District for over 33 years, retiring in 2003. She was a faithful member of Bethel Assembly of God. She sang in their choir and was active with the missionetts. She also taught Sunday School and served as a greeter at the church. Dee loved to read and take walks with her friends. She always welcomed strangers and friends warmly into her home with the cookie jar always full. Dee always had room at her table for people and loved spending time with her family, especially the grandchildren (10) and great-grandchildren (12).

Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Valorie (Vern) Turner, Cindy (Gary) Zeller, Tim Zimbelman, all of Rapid City, and Diane (KC) Kopaska of Republic, Missouri; brother, Harry (Doris) Steinke of Loveland, CO; sister, Helma Goff of Denver, CO; and son-in-law, Mark Kostaneski.

Preceded in death by her husband, Donald; parents; five sisters, Esther Jacobson, Elsie Blanchette, Lorraine Donnelly, Leona Stark, and Dorothy Kahler; one brother, LaVern Steinke; one daughter, Lory Kostaneski and son, Bryan Zimbelman

Visitation will be held from 6pm – 7:30pm on Wednesday, March 7 at Kirk Funeral Home. Funeral services at 11 am on Thursday, March 8 at the funeral home. Burial at Black Hills National Cemetery.

An online guestbook may be signed at kirkfuneralhome.com

Benjamin Bradley Sherwood, Brad to his friends and family, passed away on Jan. 8, 2018 in Vermillion.

Brad was born on Sept. 27, 1955 to Benjamin James Sherwood and Adelyne Maria Jackson Sherwood in Winner, SD. He was the fifth of six children raised in Wood, SD. Brad attended the Upward Bound program at the University of South Dakota in the summer. Through this experience, he met Dr. Wayne Evans who was his mentor and became a very special friend. During this time, Brad developed a deep love and appreciation for his Lakota heritage. After graduating from Wood High School in 1976, Brad joined the US Army. Following his service duty, he returned home to spend time with his father in Wood before relocating to the Vermillion area. During his life, Brad was a trained barber, worked at a packing plant, and had various other jobs before being employed at McDonalds for several years. He enjoyed working at McDonalds until he was no longer able to work due to his health. Throughout his life, he enjoyed Sun Dances and Pow Wows where he made many friends.

Brad is survived by his father Ben Sherwood of Wood, SD and four sisters Joyce Colombe of Rapid City, SD Jayne Longcor of Valentine, NE, Mona (John) Massingale of Wood, SD and Sandra (Dave) Goad of Ralston, OK and a host of nephews and nieces, cousins and close friends.

Brad was preceded in death by his mother Adelyne Sherwood, brother Cleveland James (Jim) Sherwood, nephew Ben Joseph Almand, brother-in-law Ralph James Longcor, paternal grandparents John and Nellie Sherwood and maternal grandparents Cleveland and Phoebe Jackson.

Mona Marie McDonald Schaeffer was born Dec. 4th, 1930 in Alfalfa County in Oklahoma to Lloyd Evertt McDonald and Iona Charlottie Summers McDonald.

Mona and her sister Donnas made many moves with their family from job to job in early childhood including Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas before settling down so the girls could go to school in one place. In 1947 Mona and her family moved to Wood South Dakota where she finished high school in 1949 and met her future husband Dwight Schaeffer. Before marrying, Mona attended Sioux Valley Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in September 1952. Mona traveled to England where Staff Sargent Dwight Schaeffer was stationed in the Air Force. Mona and Dwight were married Dec. 13 1952 at Dunmoe, Essex, England.

Mona and Dwight returned home to the farm at Wood in November 1953 to take over the farm because of Dwight’s father’s failing health. Four children were born to this union, Daniel Lowell, Brian Kent, Lisa Marie and Craig Todd. During the years on the farm Mona taught Sunday School and Bible School and served as the Sunday School Superintendent for 17 years. In October 1964 Mona and Dwight started work as a Mobil fuel agent taking over for Lee McDonald who retired. In April 1969 they bought the business from Mobil to become Schaeffer Oil Co. In August 1970 they bought out a Mobil distributer in Winner, South Dakota and moved there to run the business. Mona worked as the head bookkeeper for many years until she and Dwight relocated to Tempe, Ariiz., in the 1990’s.

One of Mona’s favorite hobbies was genealogy and she made numerous trips to Salt Lake City, Rapid City, and many eastern states researching her family “roots”. Mona compiled and printed books for both the Summers and McDonald sides of her family as well as Dwight’s family.

Mona and Dwight returned to Winner in 2012 and took up residence at the Golden Prairie Manor to be closer to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mona is survived by her husband of 65 years, Dwight, children: Daniel Schaeffer, Brian (Jan) Schaeffer, Lisa (Robert) Koskan, Craig (Lori) Schaeffer, Grandchildren: Brandi Schaeffer, Logan Schaeffer, Lindsay Sletten, Lacy Schaeffer, Christopher Schaeffer, Shannon (Ronnie) Weir, Ryan Koskan, Devin (Kelsie) Koskan, Alex Schaeffer, Marlee Schaeffer and 9 great-grandchildren.

Mona was preceded in death by her sister Donnas and husband Francis Leat, her parents Lloyd and Iona McDonald, Dwight’s parents Luther Schaeffer and Astrid Schaeffer Kositzky, and step-father Bill Kositzky.

Jason “JR” Robbins, 44, of Hamill, SD passed away unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, March 1, 2018. A visitation was held on Saturday, March 3rd, 2018 from 6-7PM at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Funeral service and burial will follow in Pawnee, Oklahoma at a later date.

Jason Ray Robbins was born on December 5,1973, to Roy Lee Robbins and Francis Ann (Moss) Robbins, in Pawnee, Oklahoma. He passed away on March 1, 2018.

Jason grew up on a farm outside Pawnee, Oklahoma. He attended Pawnee Public School and graduated from there in 1991. He attended Oklahoma State University, he lacked 2 hours in getting his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture / Agronomy. He once told a friend, he didn’t need to get up in front of anyone to work on the farm, so he never took the mandatory speech class required to graduate.

Jason grew up helping his father on the farm. He loved taking care of the animals. Every summer his family would go to South Dakota and help Jason’s uncle Wayne with wheat harvest. After he stopped going to college, he decided to join the part of the Robbins family that had migrated to South Dakota. He went to work with his uncle Wayne, cousin Roger, brother David, and their families.

Jason was a shy quiet man. He kept to himself most of the time. As the saying goes, children and animals know a person’s heart, and children and animals loved being around Jason and he loved them as well. His shyness would slip away as he played games with the children.

Jason is survived by his father and mother Roy Lee, and Francis Ann Robbins, of Pawnee, OK, brother David Robbins, of Hamill, SD, and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Melvin Allen Hibbs was born Feb. 25, 1941 to Guythal and Alice (Bartels) Hibbs near Primrose, NE. Melvin was the 4th child born of a family of 7 children. The family moved from Nebraska to Tripp County, SD and lived on several farms until 1947 when the family moved into Winner. He attended the Winner Public School and graduated from the Winner High School in 1959.

Melvin liked being around animals so shortly after graduation he went to work on a ranch for Donald Dobberstien of Academy, SD. When Dobberstien moved to a ranch near Victor, Mont., Melvin went with him.

Several years later he returned to Winner and was employed for the late Earl Burtz on the farm. From there we was employed by the City of Winner for several years before starting work for the Winner School System. He drove school bus and worked doing janitorial work. He like being around the children and had their respect. Melvin retired in November 2017 due to ill health. Melvin was a member of the First Christian Church.

He is survived by his sisters, Ethel Evans of Winner, Patricia Heumiller of Winner, and Mary Wranek of Summerset, SD; brothers, Wayne Hibbs Sr. of Petaluma, Calif., Donald (Marlyeen) Hibbs of Superior, NE and Cleo (Mary) Hibbs of Yankton, SD. Melvin is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Melvin is preceded in death by his parents and maternal and paternal grandparents and 3 brothers-in-law; Dale Evans, Joseph Heumiller, James Wranek and a sister-in-law Eugenia Hibbs. He will be greatly missed.