Monthly Archives: August 2021

Kenneth Ward Miner passed away Sept. 3, 2020, in Independence, MO, from complications of myasthenia gravis and dementia.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Aug. 30, 2021, 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Gregory, SD. Visitation will be at noon at the church before the Mass.  Burial will be August 30, 2021, 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church, Paxton, SD.

Kenny was born Aug. 31, 1935, in Gregory, SD, to Harlow and Helen (Young) Miner. He grew up on the Miner farm 13 ½ miles south of Gregory, living there the next 63 years. He was an active 4-H member and showed prize-winning registered Hereford cattle. During high school, he continued in 4-H, attending the SD State Fair with his cattle, and adding FFA and Gregory Gorilla football to his life. Kenny remained close friends with his high school football coach and generally made a visit with Glen Burgess part of family vacations and hunting trips to Wyoming.  The best part of high school, according to Kenny, was meeting Doris Putnam, “a pretty girl with curly black hair who laughed and smiled a lot.” Gorilla football, however, remained a close second.

After high school graduation in 1953, Kenny planned on accepting an appointment to West Point Military Academy and serving in the Korean War. The war’s end made his decision to attend South Dakota State College on an engineering scholarship a better choice. That autumn, Kenny and Doris married Oct. 14, 1953, at St. John’s Catholic Church at Paxton. They moved to Minneapolis where Kenny worked for Doris’s aunt, Mildred Putnam Frevel, at her company that made aluminum windows. His second job was working with ice skates at Pierce Ski and Skate, a long-time Minneapolis institution, where he learned to build, sharpen, and restore skates. Many years later, when his granddaughter Timmi Lunsford told him about buying her new figure skates at a place in Minneapolis, they were delighted to discover she had been at Pierce Ski and Skate.

Kenny and Doris moved back to South Dakota in 1954 to help run the farm. Kenny soon ran his own herd of Angus cattle and a flock of Suffolk sheep. Over the many years on the Miner Sheep Ranch, he raised Suffolk rams for sale and taught his kids how to wash sheep, clip them for show, and earn purple ribbons at 4-H and regional stock shows. When the kids were bowled over by the hard-nosed rams and old, feisty ewes, he had no sympathy. Kenny encouraged all the kids to be 4-H members, with livestock, garden, and other projects. At one point, Kenny bought a Shetland pony named Flossie to teach the kids how to ride. After Jana was promptly thrown from the pony, the Shetland became Kate’s horse and Flossie’s colt Frosty became a longtime family member and an excellent little horse 4-H project.

Growing up, Kenny worked hard on the farm and his kids were expected to do the same. Kevin and Kate became his outside workers, tending cattle and herding sheep. Kate learned how to drive the hay sweep when she was 8 years old; Kevin and Kate spent many long summer days on horseback, herding sheep as they grazed ditches and pastures. He decided early on that Jana should stay in the house and work, because as he noted “she was a bad driver.” While Lorrie did her share of chores, she was allowed to work “in town” and not spend days stomping wool, docking sheep, and moving cows, or being ordered into the chicken coop full of cantankerous laying hens.

Kenny was an active member of the community, serving as a 4-H leader for many years and helping with Gregory County Achievement Days. He served on the school boards for Carlock, Pleasant Hill, and Gregory school districts. Kenny was elected to leadership positions with the South Dakota Farmers Union, the South Dakota Sheep Growers Association, the National Sheep Board, and the board of the American Sheep Industry association. For 32 years, he was a school bus driver for the Gregory and Colome, SD schools. He worked as a bartender for the Hill Crest Inn in Burke, SD, where he excelled in making the perfect martini. 

Kenny enjoyed hunting elk and moose in Wyoming and Colorado with Ray Stukel and other friends. Deer hunting, pheasant hunting, and hosting breakfasts for the annual Senator Tom Daschle pheasant hunts were events he enjoyed. Kenny was an excellent cook and grilled hundreds of pounds of pork loins, beef, and lamb to serve at 4-H events in Gregory and Tripp counties, Farmers Union meetings at the State Fair, weddings, and graduations. He researched and tried new recipes and loved to plan what he would serve. There were those Christmases where more of the wine went into Kenny and Doris than made it into the roaster with the turkey.

While Kenny made sure work was done, there were days when he would take the kids and gather mulberries, chokecherries, and wild plums. Hot summer afternoons, he would dam up the creek south of the place and wade with the kids while catching minnows. Driving to Carlock for a bottle of pop, hauling the kids on the snow mobile up the Big Hill to sled down onto the frozen creek in the west pasture, churning ice cream on the front step, or bringing huge watermelons up from the potato patch to eat on the picnic table are all good memories.

The true highlight of his life was his unconditional love for his three granddaughters. “They are so smart,” was the accolade he used to describe the girls. He talked about Courtney’s work with satellites, Kristi flying “big planes” for the Air Force, and Timmi becoming an emergency room  doctor. For each girl, there was a special time: Courtney’s canned ham surprises and loving his nickname “Kenbo” coined by her at an early age, watching Kristi’s ball games, and surprising Timmi with the quarter horse, Classi. Learning to understand figure skating, volleyball, and soccer was an example of the lengths he would go for his granddaughters.

Dementia clouded the last years of Kenny’s life.  The one person he always knew was Doris. The last two years of their life together were some of their best times. When Doris passed away, Kenny was there and held her hand, telling her he loved her and that she was a good mother and a good wife. During those few hours, he had a period of lucidity and understanding he had not had for several years. When she was gone, he retreated into himself.

Surviving Kenneth are his children: Jana Miner, Fort Pierre, SD; Kevin Miner (Judy Ingold), Bonesteel, SD; Kate Miner (Linda Watson), Kansas City, MO; Lorrie Miner Brannan (Lee Brannan), Presho, SD, and grandchildren: Courtney Brannan Ewell (Todd Ewell), Bismarck, ND; Kristi Miner (Chris Ramler Miner), Wichita, KS, and Timmi Lunsford Hutchison (Jesse Hutchison), Englewood, OH. He is survived also by brothers-in-law, Joe (Julie) Putnam and Pat (Linda) Putnam, CA, and Jim Putnam (Texas), and many nieces and nephews. He also is survived by his good friends Ray and Melba Stukel, and Larry and Carol Shepherd, and his Kansas City friends Kathy Timmerman and Tina Spallo.

Preceding  him was his wife of 66 years, Doris Putnam Miner; his parents, his brother Harlow Jr. and his wife Carol, his sister Madeline; in-laws, Francis and Bertha Putnam; nephews Greg Miner and Brian Putnam; brothers-in-law Bob Putnam and Morris Marwede; sisters-in law Margaret Putnam Marwede, Judy Putnam, Mary Lou Putnam, Mary Jane Putnam; and his great friends Ray Clemens, Robert Jappert, Glen Burgess, Kenny Messick, and Sonny Dolezal.

Verlyn Parkis, 74, of Sioux Falls, SD formerly of Winner, SD passed away at his residence in Sioux Falls, SD on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. 

  Memorial service was held on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021 at 11 a.m.  at the United Methodist Church in Winner, SD.  Burial  followed in the Colome City Cemetery. 

Verlyn Parkis, 74, passed away peacefully Aug. 14 at his home in Sioux Falls, SD surrounded by his family.

Verlyn Clarence Parkis was born on Dec. 21, 1946 to Clarence & Leona (Nieman) Parkis.  Verlyn attended high school in Todd County, Wood and graduated from Colome High School.  Going through his yearbooks, we found out that he was in show choir and also a school play something that he never shared with us. 

After high school, Verlyn was drafted into the Army.

On June 6, 1966, Verlyn was united in marraige to Shirley Kaiser in Colome, SD.  The day after their wedding, Verlyn returned to active duty.  Verlyn was discharged from the Army in January 1968. To this union they were blessed with four children.

Verlyn worked various jobs but will always be remembered in the community as the milkman with Terrace Park Dairy/Land O’Lakes.  He retired in 2004 after 36 years of service, loyalty and devotion.  After retirement, Veryn volunteered countless hours with Shirley’s Diner.

In March of 2016, Verlyn and Shirley re-located to Sioux Falls to be closer to their daughter, Carrie and her family.

In November of 2016, Verlyn’s life changed when Shirley suffered her stroke and could no longer live at home.  Even though living apart, Verlyn rarely missed a day from seeing her.  Verlyn made sure Shirley was taken care of.  After she passed, his job on earth was done.  It was time for them to reunite.  Hopefully he wasn’t late but if he was, we are sure Shirley was pointing at the clock when he arrived.

Verlyn is survived by his children Carla (Andy) Bruce-Pierre, SD, Christy (Greg) Feyereisen, Larry Parkis, Carrie (Steve) Contreras all of Sioux Falls, SD and his niece whom he thought of as one of his daughters (Becky) Tom Burdick of Mitchell, SD, grandchildren Jackson (fiance Jessie) Bruce, Allison (Taylen) Templeton, Chase & Kayla Feyereisen, Bryant, Brenden and Gianna Parkis, Phil & Olivia Contreras and his great nieces that were like his granddaughters Kylee (Jonathon) Shorosh and Haley Burdick, sister Sharon Bettcher and sister in law Marcella Kaiser, numerous nieces and nephews and his companion dog (Izzy).

Verlyn was preceded in death by wife, Shirley, parents (Clarence & Leona Parkis), mother & father in law (Henry & Ella Kaiser), grandson (Ryan), sister Jeanette Bellander & brothers Virgil & Wayne (Tuff) Parkis.

The family appreciated  Aseracare Hospice for taking such good care of our dad.

Alice Marie (Marsh) Emry of Lincoln, NE (formerly of Ainsworth and O’Neill, NE and Colome, SD) passed away peacefully in her sleep on Aug. 15, 2021. 

She was born to Emil and Minna A. (Bassett) Marsh on June 8, 1916 on the family farm, 14 miles southwest of Colome (Tripp County), SD.  She would later be joined by twin brothers, Mervin and Ralph in 1918 and a brother Don in 1920, which would complete their family. 

In October of 1937, Alice married Johnny Randall and lived for many years in the Colome area.  They later moved to Ainsworth where Johnny passed away in November of 1958.  On Oct. 31, 1962, Alice then married her second husband, Kenneth Emry.  Of this union, Alice gained four beloved stepchildren.   Though Alice never bore children of her own, in 1974 she was blessed with the opportunity to care day-to-day for a young child that would later be recognized as her daughter.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, three brothers as well as many other close family and friends. 

Alice is survived by daughter, Erin (Michael) Graber of Ewing, NE; 3 grandchildren, Shalee Cook of Ewing, Tristan (Josh) Keyes of O’Neill, NE and Alexa Cook (Afton Baker) of Lincoln, NE; four great-grandchildren; four stepchildren, Robert (Jennifer) Emry of Arlington, VA, Raleigh Emry of  Manchaca, TX, Leona Emry of Kearney, NE and Ruth (Bill) Micheel of Ainsworth; as well as many precious step grandchildren,  step great-grandchildren and step great-great-grandchildren; a niece, Carol Woods of Ainsworth, and nephews, Jim Marsh, of Ceresco, NE, Gary (Phyllis) Randall  of Webster City, IA and Melvin Randall of Woolstock, IA, along with numerous other family members.

A graveside service was held on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021 in the Ainsworth Cemetery at Ainsworth, Neb., with Pastor Dan Woods officiating at the service. 

Memorials were suggested to the family in Alice’s name for future designation.  Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth was entrusted with the service arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Lennox Jack Lapsley, aged 1 month, passed away in his parents’ arms at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI on Aug. 15, 2021, after a long surgery to repair congenital heart disease and malformed airway system.

Funeral service was held on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021 at 10 a.m.  at the United Methodist Church in Winner, SD.  Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. 

Lennox is the son of Luke Lapsley and Misti Lapsley (Hofeldt) of Winner, SD.  He defied the odds and amazed his doctors and nurses with his strength.  The fact that he was stable and was not connected to tubes or IVs prior to surgery was a miracle in itself. That gave his parents the ability to hold and feed him themselves.   During his brief visit on Earth, he enjoyed listening to music, watching his toy aquarium, and being held by his parents.  He was loved by all who met him, and will be greatly missed.

 Lennox is survived by his parents, Luke and Misti, grandparents Steve and Tammy Lapsley of Valentine, NE, Rodney Todd and Gwenith Hofeldt of Millboro, SD, great grandmother Dorothy Lapsley of Ideal, SD, aunts and uncles Kory and Greg Hall of Watertown, SD, Nick and Amanda Lapsley of Spearfish, SD, Matthew and Trisha Walker of Las Vegas, NV, Lacee Lapsley and TC Colvin of Valentine, Tricia Hofeldt of Millboro, and Michael Hofeldt of Millboro, first cousins Kaylee, Maddie, and Gage Hall, Sadie and Lexo Turner, Zach and Allie Lapsley, Kennedie Assman, and Keelani Cox.

David Gerald Dobbin was born Jan. 7, 1955, in Gregory, SD to Harold and Coreen (Tarr) Dobbin. He was raised on a ranch by Bull Creek, north of Iona and attended country school through 8th grade. As a boy, he spent many hours riding his horse, Brownie.

David graduated from Winner High School in 1973, and then spent four years in the U.S. Army based in Germany. He toured several European countries and especially enjoyed skiing in Austria.

After discharge from the Army in 1977, he worked road construction near Reliance and Belle Fourche. While living in Belle Fourche he was hired by Homestake Goldmine, where he worked from 1979 until the mine closed in 1998. He then obtained his CDL and traveled most of the U.S. as a truck driver, until ill health forced retirement in 2016.

David liked living in the Black Hills and riding his Harley there, attending the Sturgis Rally nearly every year. He was an expert marksman and received numerous trophies for his quick draw. He enjoyed watching old westerns, especially Gunsmoke, plus discussing current events and a good joke.

In 2019 he moved from Box Elder to Sioux Falls where he passed away on Aug. 13, 2021.

Survivors include a daughter Cecily Alexander (Nick Huff); 2 grandchildren, Ava and Conway, Sturgis, SD; siblings Beverly Dobbin, Sioux Falls, SD; Lorin Dobbin, Reliance, SD; Dorinda (Terry) Steele, Brandon, SD; Ellen (Gary) Sluzar, West Monroe, NY; 4 nieces and 3 nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and son, Philip Dobbin.

No services are planned at this time and burial will be at a later date in the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD. www.heritagesfsd.com.