FFA Workshop

Submitted photo
A few weeks ago the Winner FFA officers had their officer training. In front are Maggie DeMers and Meagan Blare. In back from left are Aaron Gilchrist, Amanda Blare and Madeline Watzel. Not pictured in Chase Boerner. They planned FFA events, goals and visions for the school year. They also participated in leadership and team building activities.

Barb Williamson, 61


A celebration of life for Barbara Williamson, 61, formerly of Winner, will be held July 18 at 11 a.m. at the Gregory City park. The family asks that persons bring a lawn chair and a memory to share and that persons practice social distancing and wear a mask. A private burial will take place at a later date.

Barbara L. Williamson was born June 21, 1958, to Ralph and Mildred (Yeigh) Williamson in Los Angeles, CA. Barbara grew up with seven siblings: Ellen, Marjorie, David, Ralph, Teresa, Ron, and Chris. She lived in California, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota.

In 1974 Barbara was blessed with a son, Kevin Scott, but times were tough and she made the hard decision to adopt him out for a better life.

In 1977 Barbara met Don Soesbe and they were married. To this union three daughters were born: Dawn, Jennifer, and Erin. In the spring of 1987 they decided to go on different life paths.

In the fall of 1987, when Don married Sandy, Barb gained another daughter Yvonne. Barb also gained in Sandy, another trusted caregiver to her children.

In the years to come Barbara took care of numerous people and was a voice and an ear for many. She loved riding the Harley, doing embroidery, crocheting and cross stitch, and working puzzles and cross words.

Barbara worked as a barmaid/bartender in Wyoming. After moving back to SD she fought and won her battle against breast cancer. During her fight she continued to work at McDonald’s in Winner.

She spent the last of her working years at the Elder Inn in Winner where she was very attached to the residents and her coworkers.

In March of 2015 she was blessed with her son Kevin reaching out to her and completing her family. And her family grew with the addition of her daughter-in-law and two more granddaughters.

Her grandchildren now numbered eleven granddaughters and four grandsons.

Barbara moved to Yankton in 2019 where she lived out the rest of her life anxiously awaiting her first great granddaughter, Emma Rose, who made her appearance on April 7.

Barbara passed away on April 5, 2020, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, SD, at the age of 61.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her children Kevin Hansen of Topeka, KS, Dawn (Bill) Atkins of Yankton, Jennifer Marks of Buxton, ND, Erin Soesbe of Gregory, and Yvonne Grewell of Rapid City; fifteen grandchildren and one great grandchild; and siblings Ellen Hoffman, Marjorie Perkins, David Williamson, Ralph Williamson, Teresa Duley, Ronald Williamson, and Chrystal Hammon.

Lester Emery, 88


Lester “Tiny” Wayne Emery, 88, of Mission, SD passed away on Saturday, June, 20, 2020 at the State Veterans Home in Hot Springs, SD.

A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2020 at the White River Cemetery in White River, SD. A memorial service will be held after the graveside service at the Catholic Hall in White River.

Lester “Tiny” Wayne Emery was born March 12, 1932 at Rosebud, SD. His parents are Clarence and Nellie (Young) Emery. Tiny was one of six children. The family lived on Ironwood Creek, near Parmelee. Clarence moved the family to Parmelee to be close to school and later to Mission for high school. Tiny left school after 8th grade to help with ranch work.

In 1951 Tiny enlisted in the Army, after basic training he was shipped to Alaska to help build Fort Richardson. After a three hitch Tiny was honorably discharged at Fort Carson, Colo.

Tiny married Laurene Markus in 1954 at Winner, SD. They have two sons Robert and Rockey, both born at Rosebud. When Tiny was building the ranch, he worked at the Rosebud boarding school’s farm/ranch. Tiny and Laurene lived in the school’s housing.

In 1958, Tiny joined the Navy. His first station was Norfolk, Virginia. Tiny rode destroyers his entire Navy career. His stations were: Newport, Rhode Island; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; back to Newport; Naval Reserve Center in Duluth, Minn., as an instructor; and Bayonne, New Jersey.

In 1970 Gunners mate Tiny Emery was selected Cruiser-Destroyer of the Atlantic Fleet- Sailor of the Year. Tiny was selected due to the performance of his duties as the Gun Boss aboard the U.S.S. Davis during their tour in Vietnam. August 1975 Tiny retired from the Navy.

Tiny and Laurene returned to the ranch and have been there ever since. Tiny passed away on June 20, 2020 at the Michael J. Fitzmaurice South Dakota Veterans Home in Hot Springs, SD.

Lester (Tiny) is survived by wife Laurene, son Bob (Paulette) Emery, son Rockey (Kathy) Emery, granddaughter Casey Emery Krogman, grandson Lance Emery, 6 great grandchildren, 2 sisters Delphine Tech of Witchta Falls, TX, Fern Benner of Williamsport, Penn.

He is preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Nellie Emery, brother Clarence Jr. Emery, sister’s Audrey Cordry, Eltine Krebs.

Nicholas Pharris, 45


Nicholas “Nick” B. Pharris, 45, of Aberdeen, passed away due to injuries received from a grand mal seizure, Wednesday, July 1, 2020, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.

A celebration of Nick’s life will be held at Wylie Park, Aberdeen, at a later date.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook and also view the service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Nicholas Bryan Pharris was born June 15, 1975, at Baptist Hospital in Winner, SD, to Bryan and Cindy (Holmquist) Pharris. The family resided in Winner, SD, running the Pharris Bakery, into Nick’s third grade year. They then moved to Black Hawk and finally the family settled in Aberdeen in 1985. Nick attended C.C. Lee Elementary, Holgate Middle School and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1994. After a brief stint in the Chicago area he moved back to Aberdeen where he remained.

You might’ve known Nick as the bookstore guy or the show-stealer on the Aberdeen Community Theatre stage in a handful of productions in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Many knew him as a trusted confidant and easy ear to bend. Nick wove many a memory with those he met in life. He had a passion for debate and a baker’s touch like his father. Summers never felt complete without a trip back to Winner and a canoe ride down the Niobrara River.

Nick married Kelda Larson on Oct. 5, 2002. They had three children together, Samuel, Quade, and Novella Pharris. They were married for 13 years. He had two more sons, Oliver and August Pharris, with Amber Schanzenbach. Nick’s favorite times were spent with his children, introducing them to music, taking them fishing, playing games, or going on a bum ride through country roads.

Nick will be dearly missed by his children; sisters, Brooke (Pharris) Meyers, of Aberdeen, and Bridget (Pharris) Schilling of Ramsey, MN; brother, Alexander Pharris of Aberdeen; parents, Bryan and Cindy Pharris of Aberdeen; grandmother, Doreen Holmquist of Aberdeen; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Walter and Eleanor Pharris and Marvin “Buzz” Holmquist, and uncles, JJ Holmquist, Michael Holmquist, and Kenton Pharris.

Pauline Hogue, 82


Funeral services for Pauline Hogue 82, Gregory, will be held July 17 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gregory. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery.

Hogue died at the nursing home in Gregory.

Pauline Hoffman was born on Dec. 8, 1937, at Valentine, NE to Fred & Margaret Hoffman.

She was raised on a ranch north of Cody, NE with five other siblings.

She attended grade school in Cody and then went to high school at St. Mary’s Academy in O’Neill, NE, graduating in 1955. She then taught at a rural school for two years.

She then went to Denver and attended Parks Business School in Denver.

While in Denver she met Charles

Hogue and they were married on June 13, 1959 in Nenzel, NE. To this union three children were born: Charles (Rick) Jr., Karen, and Angela.
She worked at various jobs in her lifetime, Gibsons and Pamida in Winner and Walmart in Yankton.

She moved to Gregory in 2004 and has resided there until her passing. She made many special friends living in the Church Street Apartments, Silver Threads, and the Rosebud Country Care Center.

Pauline is survived by two sisters, Betty Jackson and Mary Jo Ring, one brother Chuck and

Sister-in-Law Gena. Her son, Charles (Rick) and wife Sue and their children Joshua, Tyler, Chelsey, Melissa, and Matthew. Daughter Karen, husband Jeff, and daughter Nikki, Daughter Angela, husband Tim, and kids Briana and Damon.

She is also survived by 8 grand children, 13 great grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband Charles in 2001. Her parents Fred and Margaret Hoffman, in-laws Carroll and Edith Hogue, brother William Hoffman, sister Bobbi Kunert, brother-in laws Gene Kunert, Jerry Ring, Irwin Jackson, grandson Christian Ayersman, and nephew Evan Hoffman.

Winner Area dance team letter winners

Submitted photo
Winner Area dance team letter awards were presented on June 29. Pictured in front from left are Emily Sachtjen, Shelby Scott, Kiersten Durrin, Emma Jorgensen, Arnola Duffy and Joselin Kludt. In back from left are Kasie Leighton, Leah Weichelman, Dani Westendorf, Kendyl Bachmann and Amanda Blare. Not pictured are Brennan Bachmann, Arista Kaiser, Cady Senter and Kierra Bainter.

Catholic Daughters held joint installation of officers

Submitted photo
The Winner, Colome and Gregory Catholic Daughters held a joint installation of officers at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner on June 29. Pictured in front from left are Delores Novotny, Winner recording secretary; Rose Wells, Gregory vice regent; Rosemary King, Colome financial secretary. Middle row from left are Anita Messerschmidt, Gregory treasurer; Holly Pechota, Colome treasurer; Nancy McKenzie, Colome, recording secretary; Joan Grim, Gregory, regent; Joyce Heath, Winner, regent; Judy Konechne, Kimball, installing officer and Patty DeMers, Colome regent. In back from left are Pat Cerny, Gregory, recording secretary and Fr. Kevin Achbach.