Elsie Ptacek, 60

Elsie Ptacek, 60, of Winner, SD passed away at her home surrounded by her familyon Friday, Oct. 30, 2020.      

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 4th, 2020 at 10 a.m. at the Winner United Methodist Church.   

Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery.   

Elsie Marie Ptacek was born Feb. 23rd, 1960 to Kenneth and Bertha Wiley of Wewela. She attended grade school in Wewela and graduated from Colome High School in1978. Not long after graduation, she met her husband, Milo. The two were married in Pierre, SD in August of 1979. The couple had three children; Melissa, Cliff, and Samantha. Elsie’s greatest passion in life was helping others.

She started her nursing career working in long term care at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center in 1992. Elsie received her Associates Degree in Nursing from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1996. Throughout her career, Elsie continued to seek out training and other opportunities to be able to provide thebest care possible to the residents.    

In 2011, Elsie moved to the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in Gregory. No matter the position she was in, patient care was always her top priority and she cared deeply for each of the residents in her care. She loved being outside during the summer. She always had a large garden and could often be found out there relaxing.

Of course, her idea of relaxing in the garden meant pulling weeds. She also loved going camping. Elsie enjoyed being right down along the river where all she needed was the radio and her fishing pole. She could always out fish all of us especially when it came to catfishing. Family time was very important to Elsie. Her time with her grandchildren was very precious. They helped her in the garden, played games together, and she always had art projects for them to do.

She also cherished being able to spend time with her kids. Whether it was during the holidays, a late-night card game or throwing darts, being surrounded by her family always brought the biggest smile to her face. Her kids always knew they could come to her for advice and she was grateful to be able to pass her knowledge along to them.   

Elsie is survived by her husband of 41 years, Milo; her children: Melissa Ptacek of Lennox, SD, Cliff (Andrea) Ptacek of Winner, SD, and Samantha Ptacek of Winner, SD; her grandchildren: Bailey and Camden; her sister, Nancy Wiley of Spearfish, SD; as well as her nephews and many other family members and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Bertha Wiley, her father-in-law, Milo Ptacek, Sr., and mother-in-law, Lillian Vavra.

Erma Tuttle, 93

Erma Tuttle, 93, of Winner, SD passed away on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020 at the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in Gregory, SD.       

Private family funeral service was held on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020 at 1 p.m. at the Witten Baptist Church in Witten, SD.   

Burial    followed in the Winner City Cemetery.   

Erma June Tuttle was born June 14, 1927 on the family farm near Lucas, South Dakota to George and Lora (Swift) Nelson.  She passed away quietly, surrounded by all her children and her oldest grandchild, Chandra, at Avera Rosebud Country Care on Oct. 11.   

Erma attended Bunell country school through 8th grade. She attended her freshman year of high school at Lucas High School before it closed, at which time she went to Burke High school, graduating in 1945. The summer after graduation she attended the University of SD at Springfield, and began teaching that fall. She taught at 3 different country schools near Lucas over the next 5 years. She spent her summers during that time traveling around South Dakota, teaching Bible School in various churches.       

In 1950, she attended Sioux Falls College (now the University of Sioux Falls) where she completed her associate teaching degree.    She then moved to Winner, SD where she taught 5th grade for another 5 years.   

It was while she was in Winner that she met Clyde Tuttle and they were married on Dec. 28, 1954 in Lucas, SD.  After finishing out the school year, they moved to a ranch near Wood, SD where they lived for 6 years.   

Erma became a housewife and excelled at the job, providing a wonderful home for Clyde and their 5 children, Janet, Randy, Brenda, Bradley and Lynne. They then bought a ranch by Mosher, SD close to where Clyde grew up.    They lived there until 2010, at which time they moved to Winner, SD.     

Erma accepted the Lord as her Savior at a young age and faithfully served him the rest of her life. Faith and family were most important to her. She was a member of Witten Baptist Church where she was involved in a number of capacities, locally and in the Baptist association.   

She was an excellent cook able to whip up a delicious meal from random items on the spur of the moment, when Clyde came home telling her he had just invited friends to stop by.    Her children enjoyed the baked bread and cookies they would find after coming home from school.   

She was also a superb seamstress, sewing beautiful clothes for the girls, as well as curtains and home décor to rival those in the stores. She helped her children with school assignments and projects, and entertained their many friends. In fact, the kid’s high school and college friends were such frequent visitors that she would check the number of shoes at the top of the basement steps to see how much breakfast to make on Saturday mornings. During the summer, she cooked, baked and cleaned non-stop as “city” cousins came to visit and stay to enjoy ranch life.   

In later years, grandchildren spent large chunks of time in the summer and at holidays with Grandma Erma. Her ginger snap cookies were their favorites, and she baked them by the dozens in anticipation of their visits. She enjoyed riding along with Clyde to check the cattle in the pasture, or go to town to pick up an implement part.   

She was a patient woman, waiting in the pick-up for hours while Clyde “stopped in quickly” to conduct business at the bank or implement shop.   

She learned to take a magazine or her Bible lesson along to keep her occupied. It was her quiet time.   

When grandchildren left half-finished pop cans around the house, she picked them up and then gently reminded them again to be more responsible. There is no way to adequately state what an incredible, loving and Godly woman she was.   You would be hard pressed to find a soul who could say a bad word about her. She was kind and extremely humble. Her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews loved her.   

Erma was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Tuttle, her parents, George and Lora Nelson, one sister and brother-in-law, Ellen and John Greer, and one brother and sister-in-law, Wesley and Lena Nelson; and her brother-in-law, Harold Johnson.

Erma is survived by her five children; Janet Thrush of Orlando, FL, Randy (Charlene) Tuttle, Brenda (Terry) Ernst and Brad (Shawn) Tuttle of Winner, and Lynne (Kevin) Rath of Brookings, SD;  her sister, Mildred Johnson of Burke, SD; her 12 grandchildren, Matthew and Treva Thrush, Jesse Tuttle, Angie (Brunmeier) LaFave, Blake Brunmeier, Brooke (Tuttle) Leader Charge, Tanea Tuttle, Ashlee (Tuttle) Dillon and Branden Tuttle, Chandra (Hall) Malsam, Sheena (Hall) Geffre and Alexis (Rath) Nivaud,    and 12    great grandchildren.

Lois Evonne (Taylor) Devish, 80

Lois Evonne (Taylor) Devish was reunited with her Lord and Savior on Oct. 29, 2020 at the age of 80.     

Lois was born in May of 1940 to Floyd and Lillian (Reinoehl) Taylor near Wood, South Dakota. They preceded her in death.     

She graduated from Winner High School in 1958. After high school, Lois had the privilege of going to Toronto, Canada as a South Dakota delegate for the Baptist Youth Fellowship. This was one of the many highlights in her life and she spoke of it often.     

Lois then attended one year of college at Sioux Falls College. In October of 1959, Lois married the love of her life, Dale Devish at Rosebud Valley Baptist Church near Wood, South Dakota.

Lois was an attentive and devoted wife and mother. In 1977, she started working at Midland National Life Insurance. She worked there until her retirement in 2003.     

Lois enjoyed embroidery and playing the piano, but one of her greatest joys in her life was serving the Lord. Lois accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior as a very young girl. Lois never waivered in her faith. She was involved in various positions with the church over the years. She was very active with the Awana Program from 1987-1998.     

She is survived by her loving, caring and dedicated husband, Dale Devish of 61 years.

She is also lovingly remembered by her family: children, Rita and Jerry Lawver, Karen Leehane and Arlin Devish; her grand and great grandchildren, Rory, Sarah and Tristen McBride, Rachel, Vincent and Gabriel Taylor, Austin, Ashley, Blake and Jordyn Jo Leehane; her step-grandchildren, Jeremy and Rhonda Anderson, Sunshine and David McDonnel; her sister Louise Rohlf and brother Freeman (Connie) Taylor; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held    Wednesday, Nov. 4,    at First Evangelical Free church, 2601 E. 69th Street, Sioux Falls.    Interment will be in Hills of Rest Cemetery in Sioux Falls.      

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Awana Program through First Evangelical Free Church.

  Charlotte Iron Shooter 71

Charlotte Iron Shooter 71, of Winner, SD passed away on Saturday, Oct. 24th, 2020 at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.       

Funeral service was held on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020 at 2 p.m. at the Winner Middle School Gym.    Burial  followed in the Winner City Cemetery.    A wake service began on Thursday, Oct. 29    at the Winner Middle School Gym.   

Charlotte is preceded in death by her husband Carl “Chick” Iron Shooter.

Survivors include children: Lenora “Hub” Iron Shooter, Carla Laray Iron Shooter, Michelle Lynn Iron Shooter, Carl “Toots” Iron Shooter III, Grandchildren: Blake Wike, Caydence Night Pipe, Christopher Night Pipe, Carla Iron Shooter, Duane Iron Shooter, Alison Iron Heart, Julian Moreu, Josiah Old Lodge, James, Heather Iron Heart and many other grandchildren, Great- Grandchildren; Tywin Iron Shooter, Daxton Amaryllis, Arrius Amaryllis, Daisy Wike, Siblings; Esther Antoine, Richard “Sonny” Thin Elk, William “Jack” Brandis, Beverly Brandis, Marvin Brandis, Melvin Brandis Jr., George Brandis, Parents; Alice High Rock and Melvin Brandis Sr.

Chester Jorgensen, 100

Chester Jorgensen, 100, of Winner, SD passed away at his home on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020.       

Funeral service were held on Saturday, Oct. 31, at he First Baptist Church in Winner, SD.    Burial   followed in the Winner City Cemetery.         

Chester Howard Jorgensen was born on April 21, 1920 to Martin and Edith Jorgensen at the farm near Clearfield, SD.   Martin and his brother Nels emigrated from Denmark and homesteaded in Tripp County.  Edith Martin was a neighbor renting land with her brother. Edith and Martin were married on April 29, 1919 in Winner, SD.   

Chester was the oldest of eight children, and    he attended Clearview grade school all 8 years.    He, his siblings, and neighboring children often walked to school and life-long friendships were formed.   

Chester enrolled in Colome High School but only completed a partial year, he and his father both contracted pneumonia and were hospitalized.    His father did not survive so at 15 years old Chester stepped into the father figure role to help his mother run the farm, to help provide for his siblings and extended family through many years of hardship, poverty and the depression.   

The Jorgensen family attended Star Prairie Church near Clearfield, and there Chester met Merle Meyer, daughter of Grover and Anna May Meyer.  They got acquainted, courted and were married there June 30, 1951.    They purchased a farm nearby where they lived and raised their 3 children Paul, Terry and Janice.    Merle taught elementary schools in Tripp and Todd counties before marriage and after her children were school age for much of her married life. Chester, a life-long Tripp County resident, respected and loved the land; farming and family were his focus and joy.  Although he never finished his formal education Chester never stopped learning.   He read and researched anything and everything from repair and how-to manuals, encyclopedias and current magazines and newspapers.

Chester never formally retired, but due to Merle’s and his own health issues he reluctantly moved into Winner from the farm and shortly after that into Paul and Rhonda’s home in Winner.   

Their home became the gathering spot for birthdays, holidays and vacations for the growing family circle.   

Chester’s face lit up with every greeting, hug and conversation.    He cherished each time together from cuddling each new grand and great-grand baby to big reunions with nephews, nieces, in-laws and extended families on all sides.

Chester was preceded in death by his parents Martin and Edith Jorgensen; his siblings Marvin, Russell, Eugene, Doris, Dwain, Opal (Pederson) and Peter, his spouse Merle, four brothers-in-law Otis, Lloyd and Norman Meyer and Stuart Pederson, 3 sisters-in-law: Virginia, Margaret and Dorothy Meyer, his son-in-lawBernard Born and nephew Keith Meyer.   

Chester is survived by his children Paul (Rhonda) and Terry (Mary Carroll) Jorgensen, and Janice Born; his grandchildren Lonnie Jorgensen, Kendra (Kris) Jorgenson, Heather (Doran) Hamburger, Hannah (Paul) Degner and Justin (Kelsey) Jorgensen; his great-grandchildren Jadyn Jorgensen, Erika, Ethan, Cadence, Sierra, Elijah and Nataya Hamburger; Ava, Ariel, Asher and Amos Jorgensen, Kyren and Natalie Jorgensen, and Phineas and Silas Degner.    He is also survived, by 1 sister -in-law Delores (Dwain) Jorgensen, and 17 nieces and nephews and their families