Elk Point-Jefferson stuns Winner

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Winner quarterback Blake Volmer hands off the ball in the Class 11B championship game on Nov. 11 in Vermillion.

It was the game of the year in Class 11B. Two undefeated teams going at it for bragging rights as the state champion.

Winner was going for its third consecutive state championship. Elk Point-Jefferson was making its first appearance in the DakotaDome in a football championship.

Elk Point-Jefferson spoiled Winner’s quest for a third consecutive title with a 21-14 victory. It also halted Winner’s 34 game win streak.

“We couldn’t consistently run the ball,” said Winner coach Trent Olson.

The coach said this is the best team Winner has seen in 11B play.

The Friday afternoon game in the Dome lived up to all its pre-game hype.

The game was scoreless in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Huskies running back Lucas Hueser broke free from a 48 yard bust up the middle to put Elk Point-Jefferson deep in Warrior territory. Hueser would get the ball again on a 4th and goal from the one and he reached the ball over the line to put EPJ on the board first.

Winner quickly answered as Riley Orel exploded for a 69 yard TD run. But the two point conversion failed that kept EPJ in the lead 7-6 with 4:29 to play in the half.

Two minutes later EPJ scored again and took a 14-6 halftime lead.

Karson Keiser would miss a 27 yard field goal that came up short in the closing seconds of the half.

Both offenses started slow to begin the third quarter. Winner went three and out while EPJ grabbed one first  down but then had to punt.

The Warriors put together an efficient drive on their next possession, using the clock and gaining yards into the Huskies side of the field.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Blake Volmer hit Ethan Bartels for a 35 yard touchdown. The two point conversion was good and Winner had tied the game at 14-14.

The Huskies retook the lead with just under eight minutes to play when Hueser broke free up the middle for a 31 yards touchdown scamper. The score is now 21-14.

However, Winner puts together an all or nothing drive that digs deep into Huskies territory. With a critical fourth down, the Warriors go for it with a pass by Volmer which is intercepted and seals the victory for EPJ.

Orel led the Warriors with 111 yards. Aiden Barfuss added 62 yards.

In passing, Volmer was 5-14 for 66 yards.

For the nine seniors on the team they have played in four consecutive championship games in a row and have a 45-2 record.

Dorothy Vivian Wells (Pochop), 92

Dorothy Vivian Wells (Pochop), 92, of Arvada, Colo.,, passed away at San Marino Retirement Village, on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

Dorothy was born in Colome, South Dakota on April 1, 1930 to Mary (Spinar) and Otto Pochop.  Riding her horse to school nearly every day, Dorothy attended and graduated from Witten High School. Dorothy then studied nursing at the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Mitchell, South Dakota and graduated in 1953.

Dorothy had many great experiences, but the greatest adventure of her life took place on March 11, 1956, when she married her sweetheart, Samuel Wells. The couple met at the wedding of Dorothy’s best friend Lena, who was marrying Sam’s brother, Marlin; Dorothy was Lena’s maid-of-honor and Sam was Marlin’s best man. Exactly six-months later, and in the middle of a record-breaking blizzard, Dorothy and Sam were married in Witten, South Dakota.

Dorothy and Sam began their life together in Grand Island, Neb., where their son, Michael LeRoy, was born. In November of 1958, the couple moved from Nebraska to Arvada, Colo. Shortly after their arrival to Arvada, their daughter, Donna Denise, was born. Dorothy enjoyed working as a nurse at various locations from 1953 until February 1990, when she retired from Lutheran Hospital, in Wheat Ridge, Colo. Throughout her career, Dorothy worked in the surgical, maternity, and rehabilitation wards, and was employed as head nurse for many years.

After her retirement, Dorothy enjoyed helping Sam with his antique and collectibles business. Dorothy also loved harvesting and cooking delicious homegrown fruits and vegetables from her and Sam’s family garden. Dorothy and Sam reveled in traveling throughout the world to places, including France, Japan, Hawaii, Germany, Switzerland, Russia (then the Soviet Union), Lichtenstein, England and Belgium. Dorothy also enjoyed watching baseball – genuinely, apparently, because her favorite team was the Colorado Rockies. Dorothy took several trips to Arizona to see Rockies’ spring training; on one visit, Dorothy and Donna even took a hot air balloon ride. One of Dorothy’s most favorite things was dessert – notably, Dorothy and Sam would frequently make homemade ice cream with fresh raspberries and homemade chocolate syrup for their families. As delicious as the ice cream was, the memories are even more sweet and endearing.

Dorothy is predeceased by Sam, her husband of 56 years, as well as her parents Mary and Otto.

Dorothy is survived by her son Mike Wells (Joey) of Westminster, Colo., and her daughter Donna Greenawalt (Kevin) of Rapid City, SD. Dorothy has three grandchildren: Katyie Wells of Broomfield, Colorado; Tyler Greenawalt of Brookings, South Dakota; and Samuel Wells, of Westminster. She also has one great-granddaughter, Ayda Rea, of Broomfield, Colo.. Dorothy is also survived by her brothers Harold (Judy) Pochop and Larry (Beverly) Pochop. Dorothy has many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews – all of whom she loved very much.

Dorothy made every activity fun and always made you feel welcome and loved; she and Sam were the epitome of kindness, compassion, and warmth. Thank you, Dorothy, for blessing our lives with much love and laughter. We will miss you every time we enjoy chicken noodle soup, potato casserole, four bean salad, zucchini bread, and premixed brownies without oil. We will miss you dearly and love you oh so much.

Funeral services were held at Aspen Mortuary in Arvada, Colo., on Nov. 3, followed by graveside services at the Arvada Cemetery.

Janet Bruun, 84

Janet Bruun, 84, Winner, passed away on Nov. 5 at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

Memorial service will be Friday, Nov.18 at 11 a.m. at  Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner. Burial will follow at a later date.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, Nov. 17, at Mason Funeral Home from 6-7 p.m. with  prayer service at 7 p.m.

Janet Jane (Schramm) Bruun was born on June 29, 1938, to Howard and Irene “Chic” (Hight) Schramm. Janet was born in Winner, SD and was baptized Aug. 5, 1938, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner. She was later confirmed in 1952; Janet was proud to be a lifelong, active member of Trinity Lutheran.

 She grew up in a loving home at 126 Liberty St. in Winner, SD with her parents and younger brother Chuck. She was blessed having her Uncle Herbert’s family living right across the street. Howard and Herbert were identical twins and always wore matching blue and white striped Oshkosh overalls. While growing up, Janet would often mistake her uncle for her dad and would go to him for money; Janet benefited greatly! Her cousin Jim Schramm was from June to November younger than Janet, but he was like a big brother to her. They had an incredibly special bond. Janet’s mother was a nurse, and during Janet’s childhood years, she spent many hours at the hospital while her mother was working. Janet remembers being put to work cleaning needles and other medical supplies; they were hoping to instill an interest in nursing, but it had the reverse effect, and she disliked every minute of it.

Janet’s school years began in Winner, and she later graduated from Winner High School in 1956. Highlights of this time were spending time at baseball, football, and basketball games with close friends Bev Mason, Rita Reckling, Vesta Bice, and Gloria Rowe. Janet’s dad loved taking the girls to games and spoiling them with treats. Janet felt very blessed growing up in Winner with seven uncles and one aunt; they made her proud to be a Schramm, and she had a special relationship with each one of them. Janet was the oldest cousin on the Hight side and the second oldest on the Schramm side. She was proud of this role and loved all her cousins dearly.

Janet met Carroll Bruun in 1951 on a bus ride going to 4-H camp. Janet was seated behind the bus driver, and when she would look into his mirror, she could see this cute, blonde, blue-eyed boy sitting a few rows behind her winking at her. So yes, they got acquainted and were dance partners at camp! That was the beginning of their dancing career. They started dating in 1953 and were later engaged on Janet’s high school graduation day, May 21, 1956. In the fall of 1956, Carroll went to Huntington Park, CA to work for General Motors on a car assembly line. In January, Janet headed to Los Angeles, CA to work at a bank. In May of 1957, Carroll wanted to move back to farm with his dad, so he and Janet headed back to South Dakota. One year to the day after getting engaged, they broke off their engagement. Over the next seven years, their paths crossed about once a year.

Janet started college at Drake University for dental hygiene; that was not the right choice for her, so she quit at semester. She followed her cousin Jim and enrolled at South Dakota State University declaring Spanish as her major. She graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in 1961 from SDSU and later with her Master’s in Business in 1969 from USD. Janet’s first teaching job was at Rapid City Central; she taught there from 1961-1964. In July of 1963, Janet was home from her teaching job in Rapid City. She went to Frank Day’s in Dallas; she walked in the door, and Carroll grabbed her hand and said, “Here’s someone I can dance with!” Second engagement was in September of 1963 with a wedding to follow on Feb. 22, 1964. Carroll continued to farm, and Janet started her teaching career in Winner.

In the early years of their marriage, special twins, Donnie and Ronnie Matthews (neighbor boys to Howard and Irene Schramm), started making frequent trips to the farm on weekends. They eventually stayed and became part of the family. Johnyne Carol was born on Dec. 16, 1968; Jacey Jane on Dec. 6, 1973; and Jad Howard on February 13, 1975. Janet wrote, “My favorite place in the whole world was our farm living with my best friend and special blessings Johnyne, Jacey, and Jad. We had a great life, and I never wanted for a thing.”

Janet retired from teaching in May of 2002. Over the course of her career, she touched so many lives both inside and outside of the classroom. She started the Winner High School Warriorettes, youth track, and youth basketball. She was an outstanding teacher and wonderful role model. Janet and Carroll moved back to the farm after Carroll and Jad completely rebuilt the old farmhouse. Janet and Carroll lived in that house for many years during their retirement before moving back to town full-time. Janet enjoyed attending every sporting event possible and was proud to wear her favorite color – purple! She also loved sitting in her chair crocheting while looking at her pride and joy wall – pictures of her grandchildren. Janet and Carroll loved following their six grandkids in all their activities; they also enjoyed taking as many trips as they could, especially to Branson, MO. Spending time in Brookings while attending SDSU basketball games and staying in Parker, which became their second home, were highlights of their lives. Fondest memories were having all six grandkids together at the farm and most recently visits from new great-granddaughter, Murphy.

Grateful for having shared her life are her three children: daughter Johnyne (Brad) Horstman of Winner; daughter Jacey (Dale) Peters of Parker; and son Jad (Suny) Bruun of Dallas. Grandchildren: Zachary (Tayler) Horstman of Mitchell; Jayden Bruun of Spearfish; Kylie (Jayd) VanDerWerff of Gregory; Kelby Peters of Sioux Falls; Joren Bruun of Dallas; and Karley Peters of Parker. Great-granddaughter Murphy Jean Horstman. Brother Chuck Schramm of Sioux Falls; sister-in-law Marlene (Tom) Hansen of Canyon Lake, TX; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Janet was preceded in death by her husband Carroll; her parents Howard and Irene (G’ma Chic) Schramm; in-laws Helmer and Mae Bruun; sister-in-law Ginny Canon.

Jeanetta “Boots” Louise Moses, 83

Jeanetta “Boots” Louise Moses, aka “Bootsie Lou,” passed away peacefully at home the morning of Oct. 24, 2022, in Loveland, CO, at the age of 83.

Boots was born Dec. 19, 1938, in Winner, SD, to Carl Harrison Moses and Emelia Anna Jares Moses. She was number 9 out of the 10 siblings: five brothers and five sisters.

She graduated in 1956 from Winner High School, worked and retired from Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. in Winner, SD. She worked at Nelson and Sally Miller’s print shop, Plains Printing Co, in Gregory SD, for 13 years.

She loved her crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles.

Boots lived and took care of Grandma Emily until her passing in 1985. Boots loved all the nieces and nephews. She always loved the company and card playing, especially during hunting season. All of the cousins have very fond memories of 417 Lamro St.

Boots was an awesome athlete and loved sports. She enjoyed watching sports and influenced some of the nephews to become Chicago Bears fans, which is why nobody was allowed to watch the Vikings on her TV.

In 1998, shortly after sister Dorothy “Dot” passed away, Boots decided it was time to move to Colorado to live with brother “Cookie” and sister Kate. Jares Moses and Dean DiPaola drove up on a Friday, loaded the truck, left on Saturday showed up in Colorado on Sunday and moved her in.  

Boots loved animals and loved to watch the horses and dogs on the race track. She even grew to like cats, offering her lap to the two that shared her home the final years of her life.

Boots had an amazing gift for making the nieces and nephews feel like they were her favorite.  She could always bring out the best in us and give us an “atta boy, boy!” or “atta boy, girl!”. While she never warmed up to the new electronic gadgets, we can’t function without, she got the biggest kick out of looking at photos and posts on Facebook and keeping up with our growing family. 

Boots is survived by sisters: Bernice Moses Weickum of Bozeman, MT, and Shirley Moses Hart and husband D.L. Hart, of Gilbert AZ; sister-in-laws – Evelynne Moses of Gregory, SD, and Beverly Crew Moses of Florida; and countless nieces and nephews.

Turnquist wins matches

Submitted Photo
Wyatt Turnquist, right, who wrestles for Northern State University, won two matches in Oklahoma.

Wyatt Turnquist, who wrestles for Northern State University, won two matches in Oklahoma.

He received a pin in 2:19 over a wrestler from Carl Albert State and then won a 6-4 decision over the No. 3 wrestler Brik Flippo of Central Oklahoma.

Turnquist is ranked No. 11.

Girls on the Run held their 5K run

Submitted photo
Girls on the Run held their 5K run on Saturday, Nov. 5. Pictured in front from left are Claire Pravecek, Anistyn Duffy, Maggie Assman, Savannah Bennett, Bianca DeMers, Katie Burns, Aubrey Heenan, Allie Tideman, Bridget Goodell and Taylor Meiners. In back from left are Abby Manke, Auden Duffy, Kenli Pollard, Jaya Ernest, Lidia Barfuss, JoyLeigh Eagle Star, Khloe Briggs, Grace Curtis and Christa Senter.

Winner headed back to the Dome

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Riley Orel carries the ball in Friday’s state playoff game. The Warriors won 46-6.

Focused. Determined. Locked down and ready to play.

That was the Winner Warriors Friday night as they defeated McCook Central/ Montrose 46-6 in the semifinals of the state football playoffs.

The victory sends the undefeated Warriors to the DakotaDome in Vermillion on Friday for the Class 11B  state championship. The game will be at 2:30 p.m. and the Warriors will take on Elk Point-Jefferson.

The Warriors are the two time defending state champions and have won 34 consecutive games.

The Warriors are attempting to win a third consecutive state title.

“You could tell how focused they were, how much film they were watching just based on the questions they were asking in practice,” said head coach Trent Olson.

“I am very proud of the kids. They have worked really hard for this. MCM is a very good team but the boys were extremely focused and took care of business,” explained Olson.

Winner put the first points on the board and that was crucial to setting the tone of the game.

Using his versatility to pass the ball, quarterback Blake Volmer completed a 9 yard pass to Shaw Hammerbeck for the first touchdown.

MCM drove to mid-field on the next drive and failed to convert a fourth down which allowed Winner to take over and five plays later the Warriors were on the scoreboard again. This time Volmer completed a 31 yard pass to Riley Orel.

Rounding out the first half, Aiden Barfuss scored on a one yard run. Winner took a 20-0 lead into the lockerroom at half.

Volmer said that first touchdown set the tone for Winner. “They are a good team. We knew they were not going to let up and that first possession set the tone and showed them Winner was ready to go,” said Winner’s quarterback after the game.

Winner scored two touchdowns each in the third and fourth quarters.

Barfuss scored his second TD on a 3 yard run with 5:17 left in the third period.

With 52 seconds left in the third period MCM got on the scoreboard.

However, Winner was going to respond right away. On the ensuing kickoff, Karson Keiser ran 76 yards for a touchdown and Winner is now up 34-6.

The third touchdown for Barfuss came in the fourth quarter on a 78 yard run. Four minutes later Jude Sargent plunges in from two yards out for the score.

The Warriors had a total of 397 yards of total offense with 332 of those yards coming on the ground.

Winner had 20 first downs to 13 for MCM.

Barfuss was the rushing leader with 162 yards. Keiser had 55 yards, Jack Peters, 48 and Riley Orel, 47.

In passing, Volmer was 4-9 for 65 yards.

Jack Peters said the victory was a great team effort. “We were locked down and focused that is for sure. We wanted it more than they did,” he said.

Winner again had a strong defense. Jack Kruger and Jack Peters both had 7.5 tackles. Jude Sargent had 6 tackles. Dalton Petersen had 3.5 tackles, Barfuss and Karson Keiser, 3 each, Shawn Hammerbeck 2.5 and Sam Scholz, 2.

The next step for Winner in their undefeated season is defending its state championship as they face Elk Point-Jefferson on Nov. 11 at 2:30 p.m.

“We have a great opportunity in front of us,” said Olson.

Winner Legion Vendor Show

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
A vendor show was held Nov. 5 at the Winner Legion. Persons had a chance to shop for a variety of items and even start some early Christmas shopping.
Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
There were several vendors at the Tripp County Prospect Show held on Nov. 5. The show was held at the Tripp County 4-H Center.