Monthly Archives: October 2019

Margie Joan (Pearsall) Bechtold, 86 of Vermillion, SD passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 17 at the Vermillion Sanford Care Center. She joined the love of her life, Buzzy and they will be golfing and dancing together thru eternity.

Margie was born on Aug. 16, 1933 to Archie and Marjorie (Carter) Pearsall in Lynch, NE. She joined three brothers and one sister while growing up on a farm near Mosher, SD. She attended Burns grade school in Mosher, 3 years of high school at Wood and graduated from White River in 1951. After attending college at Spearfish she worked as a legal secretary in White River.

On Feb. 14, 1953 Margie married Clellan (Buzz) Bechtold at her parent’s home in Mosher. They were together for 65 years until Buzz’s passing on Oct. 30, 2018. Together they raised three children: Crystal McGuire (Vermillion), Monty Bechtold (Pierre) & Cindy Burton (Tulsa, OK).

In 1960 Buzz and Margie built and managed the Maverick Motel in Mission, SD until 1975.

Margie kept very busy with managing the motel including cleaning rooms, daily laundry, and bookkeeping while also taking care of family responsibilities.

Buzz and Margie later moved to Winner and then to Hartford where they built homes and townhomes. They retired in Sioux Falls and wintered part-time in Sun City, AZ for 15 years and returning to SD year-round in 2014 because of health reasons and to be nearer to their children.

Margie was very involved in the lives of her three children attending many events and activities including music concerts, plays, sports and church.

She was a volunteer leader and coordinator for Job’s Daughters and a member of the Eastern Star and Daughters of American Revolution (DAR). She also enjoyed playing bridge, golfing and dancing. Margie started golfing in her 30’s and had great success in winning many trophies and tournaments throughout South Dakota.

She was a marvelous cook and baker, very gifted as she sewed clothing, knitted and crocheted many items for family and others, and made holiday crafts for children and grandchildren. She loved to entertain and was always well-dressed as her past-time later in life was shopping for clothing and shoes.

Margie enjoyed having the family meet for holidays’ at their home and enjoyed spending time with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Grateful for having shared in Margie’s life: her three children: Crystal (Jim) McGuire of Vermillion, SD, Monty (Peggy) Bechtold of Pierre, SD and Cindy Burton of Tulsa, OK; 8 grandchildren, Jennifer (Terry) Hrdlicka, Kevin (Janice) McGuire, Brian (Tina) McGuire, Pamela (Dave) Moening, Kelley (Stu) Larson, Cori (Brandon) Haag, Bailey (Mic) Johnson, Jessica (Ben) Cuddy; 17 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, and close friends.

Margie was preceded in death by her husband, Clellan (Buzz) Lloyd Bechtold; a granddaughter, Brianne Lea Bechtold; her parents, Archie and Margorie Pearsall, three brothers: Russell, Robert and Jay Pearsall; and one sister, Lillian Pearsall.

A private family celebration of life and burial of ashes will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations will be distributed to Margie’s favorite charities and may be sent to the Bechtold Family at 501 Sharpe Drive, Vermillion, SD 57069.

Margie celebrated her 85th birthday in Vermillion last August (2018) with her entire family including her husband (Buzz), 3 children, 9 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, spouses, other relatives and friends and 1 granddaughter in memory.

Kevin Long, 64, of Witten, SD passed away on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019 at his home in Witten surrounded by family.

Funeral service were held on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019 at 10:30 am at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation was held on Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 6-7 pm at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, with a prayer service at 7 pm.

Kevin Duane Long of Witten, SD passed away on Oct. 20, 2019 after a long and very courageous battle with cancer. He will always be a hero to his family for his strength and his love for life during the most trying times. No matter how sick Kevin was, he never complained about how bad it was.

Kevin was born in Pierre, SD on July 20, 1955 to Robert and Gayle (Jordan) Long. Kevin attended Witten Elementary and graduated in 1973 from Wood, South Dakota.

Kevin married Susan Bender Aug. 27, 1981. Together they raised three daughters, Nikki, Lacey, and Taylor.

Although Kevin had many different jobs, his passion was the Witten Elevator where he spent a majority of his life. No matter the place or situation, Kevin would make friends and could talk for hours to complete strangers. There were not many of Kevin’s close friends that went without a comical nickname with a story behind it.

Kevin loved the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. Kevin had many hunting and fishing trips, including his Elk trip and fishing trip to Canada. He has passed his passion of hunting and fishing to his grandchildren.

He took the grandson’s out hunting for their first deer or fish. If Kevin wasn’t fishing or looking for that “big buck” you could find him at various activities of his grandchildren.

Kevin served many years on the Town of Witten council and was a volunteer fire fighter until his health began to decline. He served as treasurer of the St. John’s Lutheran church. Kevin was very involved in the activities of Witten throughout the years.

Kevin is survived by his wife Susan, daughters Nikki (Winner), Lacey (Sioux Falls), and Taylor (Sioux Falls), brothers Cary (Witten), Rob (Gillette, WY), Tim and Pam (Kennebec, SD), Brian and Catie (Gillette, WY), Kelly (Witten), Todd (Mitchell, SD) and sisters Becky and Rick (Gillette, WY) and Melanie (Gillette, WY). Grandchildren, Tyler, Austin, Kevin, Delaney, Jaxson, and Lincoln and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Kevin is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Gayle Long, grandparents Robert and Sylvia Long, Paul and Roseland Jordan, brother Jody Long.

Neal Farley, age 61, of Colome, SD passed away on Wednesday Oct. 23, 2019 at the Avera Gregory Health Care Center in Gregory.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday Oct. 30, 2019 at 10 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Winner. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services.

Neal was born to Guy and Evelyn (Larsen) Farley on June 30, 1958, joining his big sister, Jane Elaine. He attended grade school and high school in Todd County.

On June 5, 1972 Neal and David were in a 3-wheeler accident that left Neal in critical condition. He lost half of his liver and his gall bladder and required 9 units of blood. He was a fighter and was released after being hospitalized 64 days.

He graduated from high school in Mission in 1977. Then he attended and graduated Gun Smithing School in Denver, CO. There he made some long-term friends. After that, he went to work on the Ed Pajl farm and during that time he met the love of his life, Julie Ann Stevens. They married on Sept. 24 1982. He worked for Ed for several years.

Then Neal went to work at the ID Ranch north of Sinclair, Wyo. During that time, he had at least two major surgeries to remove scar tissue. He qualified for a liver transplant, which he received on April 10, 1989. This required his doctors to complete a 30+ hour surgery.

Julie worked and Neal volunteered at Needs, Inc. in Cheyenne, Wyo., in order to stay close to Denver. In 1990 they moved home to help her mom when her stepdad passed away. They moved to their place near Colome and built up that place, living there in 1992. Neal loved his cattle, his special horse Blackjack, as well as other horses, geese, dogs, cats, etc… Neal loved all animals.

Following that they worked in Presho, Custer and Sturgis Convenience Stores, then moved back to their place in about 2005. Due to his poor health, Neal did what he could while Julie worked. He spent his days with his family and friends. Neal was Denver’s longest living transplant patient.

About two years ago he had to start kidney dialysis.

Neal leaves to mourn, his wife Julie Ann, his mother Evelyn Farley of O’kreek, brothers David (Wilma) of White River and Donnie (Denise) of Mission, brothers-in- law Mike Nahnsen, Daniel Snethen, Ron (Jean) Snethen, Mike Stevens, sisters-in-law Dawn Snethen and Karen (Craig) Scheely, as well as several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father Guy Farley, his sister Jane Farley Nahnsen, grandparents George and Velma Farley and Herman and Zella Larsen, mother and father in laws Richard and Dorothy Snethen.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Neal’s family for the memorial of their choice.