Monthly Archives: September 2020

Lenda L. Schnabel was born in Orvelle, Calif., on Sept. 15, 1953, to George and Iola (Gramps) Hendrix. Lenda spent her younger years with her grandparents. After their passing she was put in foster care with her younger brother and sister. Les and Thelma Tuner took them in and they moved to a ranch near Cody, NE where she attended high school. 

On Nov. 29, 1969 Lenda married Randy Schnabel of Colome, SD, in the Lutheran church in Valentine, Neb. To this marriage two sons were born, Reginald and Dustin. Lenda & Randy lived on the farm south west of Colome, SD, where they ranched and milked cows. In 1985 they moved to Mt. Vernon, Wash. Randy managed a produce and berry farm and Lenda managed an art studio.

After five years they moved back to the farm where Lenda enjoyed feeding the dairy calves, tending her flower garden and decorating her home. As her health began to wane they moved closer to a hospital where she received kidney dialysis treatments. She also was in heart failure.     

Lenda passed away at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls on Tuesday Aug. 25,2020, at the age of 66.   

Lenda was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents. 

Lenda is survived by her husband of fifty years Randy of Dallas, her sons Reginald of Gregory, and Dustin (Amber) of Mitchell, SD; sisters-in-law Sherry Mansheim of Billings, MT, and Lucie Schnabel of Gregory, SD; brother Marion (Elizabeth) of Lake Charles, LA; sister Shirley Hendrix of O’Neill, NE; foster sisters Debbie Gallaway of Nenzel, NE, and Darcy Turner of Reno, NV; foster brother Danny Turner; and many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.   

A private celebration of life was held to remember Lenda.

Eunice Krogman, 94, of White River, SD passed away on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020 at the Winner Regional Health Care Center. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020    at the White River Rodeo Grounds in White River, SD. Burial followed in the Krogman Family Cemetery. 

 Eunice Amanda (Gunner) Krogman was born March 14, 1926 to Gustaf and Signe (Johansson) Gunner at their home northeast of White River. Mrs. Mueller, a friend and neighbor, helped deliver Eunice. Gus went to town to get the Doctor, but he arrived too late to assist with the delivery. Eunice was told, her Dad took the Doctor back to town and the Dr. STILL charged him.    Eunice was greeted at home by her brother Carl (Swede), and sisters Christine, Mabel and Vera Mae.   

When Eunice was 8years old she lost her best friend, sister, Vera Mae, to a childhood disease. Eunice went to school at White Mountain school for 1st and 2nd grade.    The school closed due to lack of students so Eunice rode the MaComber Bus to White River School. When she was in the 7th grade the Gunners moved to White River.   

Eunice was seen on numerous occasions riding her horse, Flossie, around town or out to the country to visit her sister, Mabel.  When not on a horse, she was on a bicycle…usually with a friend riding on the handle bars!    In May of 1944, Eunice graduated from White River High School. 

 After graduation she got a job at the Mellette Co. Courthouse as Deputy Treasurer.  When Eunice was 21 she lost her mother to a heart condition.   

On Aug. 24, 1949, 23 year old Eunice married Louie Krogman and moved to the ranch south of White River. She instantly became a Mom to teenagers, Ronnie and Dorothy, and nine year old Barbetta. She often gave credit to Dorothy for teaching her to cook for a bunch of men. A year later, Stanley joined the family, followed by Casey, Steve, Lorena and Neil. During these years Eunice stayed busy cooking for her family and hired men, raising chickens, milking cows and supporting Louie in his horse and cattle endeavors.

She continued her love for horses and cattle and was excited to go to the pasture to see the colts & calves every chance she got. She was inspirational in making Krogman Quarter Horses what it is today.  She cherished the “horse” friends she made during the years. Regardless, if they showed up at her doorstep to look at horses or at the Annual Krogman Horse Sale. 

Louie passed away in December of 1991. Eunice attended several ball games and rodeos that her kids and grandkids were involved in and always asked “How did they do?”, when she could not be there. Her grandkids were very important and she loved to spoil them with food. Cookies, pie, cake, pop, bread, cinnamon rolls, etc… And she always had a frozen pizza, “that would just take no time at all”! She also, LOVED horse races!!   

When she was young she told of having to quick give her horse a bath so her Dad would not know she was racing her horse.      In her later years, during her fight with dementia TVG Network Horse Racing kept her very entertained. Eunice loved to have FUN.    She had several stories about her bus trips and with her sister-in-law, Mary. She told of the many times they got in trouble on bus trips because the bus had to wait for them. Because they would get “lost” or lag behind looking at things they found interesting. S

he was always ready for a game of cards. Family would often meet at her house, usually during bad weather, for a game of “Aggravate your Neighbor”.  She subscribed to the Rapid City Journal because she liked the “funny paper”.  After all Steve was named after Steve Canyon who was her favorite comic strip at that time.   

Eunice loved her hollyhocks that usually grew so tall that she had to cut paths so her “view” of the barn was not blocked.  Her chickens, cats and dog were also very important to her, and gave her pleasure for several years.    She had “HER” way to feed all her special animals and you best not improvise!

Over the years, Eunice was a member of Riverview Club, Mellette County Cattlewomen, Rebekah Lodge, Cottonwood Ladies Aid, Historical Society and Senior Citizens.  All activities and appointments had to be scheduled around her “club meetings”.  At these meetings she was loved by all because she always gave you a reason to LAUGH!!  Dominos at Senior Citizens was always entertaining because Eunice was always thinking of some way to cheat!

Eunice had triple bypass surgery in 1998, then a broken hip in 2015 that left her using a walker. She was always considerate and kind and never, ever missed saying “Thank You” for absolutely Every Thing, even when the dementia made life so difficult.   

When she would get a Thank You in the mail her first thought was to mail a Thank You for the Thank You she received!

Blessed for being part of her life are Ronnie and family, Pierre; Dorothy and her family , Barbetta and family, Stanley and family, Casey (Ida) and family , Steve (Leigh) and family, Lorena (Gene) Hight and family, Neil (Kristi) and family all from White River.

She also leaves several grandchildren, great grandchildren, great, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends and acquaintances that will cherish her memory.

Eunice passed away peacefully on Sept. 7, 2020.    Eunice was the last of her generation to enter heaven. 

Greeting her is her husband, parents, brother and sisters; as well as many special in laws, family and friends. Her wish to be riding horses again has come true and that “Flossie” is probably in a full sweat! Thank You…!

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the White River Grandstand Committee.

Jack B. Duffy of Louisville, Colorado passed away on Sept. 14, 2020. Jack was an optimist. He saw life as full of possibilities and would never accept defeat. He treated everyone with dignity and respect. Jack was a true believer in public education, universal healthcare, love of family and country, a good political discussion, and above all else the value of a hard day’s work.   

Jack was born on Feb. 16, 1931, in Long Pine, Nebraska to G.R. and Mildred Duffy. He spent his youth in Tripp County, South Dakota on the family ranch, eventually graduating from Winner High School. He was passed out of his rural school after the 8th grade because, as the teacher wrote: “he won’t be going to town for high school anyway.” She was one of many he would prove wrong. Jack attended South Dakota State for a semester and then joined the AirForce upon the breakout of the Korean War.

While on leave, Jack took his mother’s advice and asked Maxine Sharkey to a dance. They quickly discovered that they were meant to dance through life together. They were married on December 26, 1952. He shipped out for Okinawa a few days later — they wrote to each other every day and those letters remain as a lasting testament of their life and love    together. Anyone who ever had the privilege of watching them waltz can attest that together their steps were always true and smooth. They kept on dancing for the next 68 years anytime and anywhere the music played.

Upon his honorable discharge from the military, Jack again showed his good judgment by following Maxine’s advice that he become a teacher instead of a farmer. A distinguished academic and teaching career followed which never really ended. Jack liked to say “education is a message we send to future generations we will never meet.” He was “a lifelong learner” and continued to read and take classes well into his retirement. His 33 years as Principal of Sheldon, Iowa Community Schools was the highlight of his professional career. He loved that school and the kids. He always acted in the best interest of children — it was his True North. Because he knew how it felt to be “the worst student in the class” and to later “set the curve,” he always had a special soft spot for kids who struggled with learning either because of a challenging home life or a disability. Jack won many awards and recognitions for his work as an educator, although he would not want us to mention them here.

Jack retired in 1993, and he and Maxine moved to Colorado to help with the grandchildren. Jack was a worker, even in retirement. He was active in AARP (named Volunteer of the Year for his work on the Affordable Care Act), the Catholic Church (serving on the Bishop’s Counsel, among other roles), remodeled his kids’ homes, and got more work done in a day and “in retirement” than can be imagined. He attended every school activity and was always in the front row. Truth be told, he never really retired.

Jack was a wonderful father and world class grandfather. He embraced his grandkids, took great pride in their successes, and was quick to overlook and forgive any modest failures. “That isn’t very serious, and he is a fine boy/girl” was his constant refrain. He gave and practiced unconditional love at all times.

Jack and Maxine also saw the world — they traveled everywhere — South America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, you name it. During the Arab Spring they went to Egypt because “the prices are so low and it is history.” Jack loved a bargain. After a particularly grueling “adventure trip” to Greece where they were decades older than anyone else on the tour, his children began vetting their travel plans. Of course, our intervention didn’t stop them from getting on the wrong bus in Vietnam! But Jack’s favorite trips were the six times he and Maxine loaded up their camper and followed the salmon runs through Alaska for the summer. He simply loved Alaska.

Jack remained physically and mentally healthy into his 80’s. He always ate right, exercised, and took care of himself. The last few years were hard when his mind failed him, but he never lost his joy or positive outlook on life. In the end, Father Time proved why he is undefeated when he knocked out one of the great ones.

Jack had a great ride: A life well lived. No regrets. No do-overs requested. We will miss him terribly. We imagine his only disappointment is that he and Maxine didn’t leave the dance floor at the same time. But to those who knew him, he would never really leave Maxine alone and has only stepped away for a song or two. Glenn Miller is playing in heaven tonight.

He Is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Maxine, his four children Diane (Mary), Gary (Beth), Keith (Angie), Brian (Kari); seven grandchildren: Amber (Tyler), Brennan (Caitlin), Gerritt, Ellen (Justin), Jared (Chelsea), Abby and Olivia; and, five great grandchildren, with two more on the way.

We are his garden, his legacy. Wherever we go and whatever we do, he is with us.The family will hold a private funeral Mass in Louisville, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Jack B. Duffy reading endowment at the Sheldon Community Schools, 1700 E. 4th St., Sheldon, Iowa, 51201 or a contribution to a foundation of your choice.

Funeral services for Alvina Wonnenberg age 96 of Gregory, South Dakota will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Park Performance Center at the Gregory City Park.    

The family asks that you bring a lawn chair, plan to social distance and please wear a mask. Burial will follow in the IOOF Cemetery.

Viewing will be Friday night, from6-8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m.-noon at Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home.