Monthly Archives: December 2022

Clifford Tenney Hight, 84 of White River, SD passed away at Monument Hospital in Rapid City due to surgery issues on Nov. 27, 2022, with family at his side.

Funeral services were held at 11 am on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 at the White River Community Center with a visitation one hour prior to the services. Burial followed at the White River Cemetery.

He was born to Clarence and Ruth (Rhoades) Hight on Oct. 20, 1938 in Murdo, SD. He was welcomed home by his older siblings, Phyllis, Cecil, Sharley, Clarice and Curtis. “Tenney” lived the majority of his life in White River. He was active in sports in high school and was a WR graduate of 1957. He continued being a supportive “Tiger” fan and went to as many games as possible.

Tenney and Iva Brown were married on Aug. 11, 1958. To this union three sons were born, Tenney Eugene (Gene), Ronnie and Gary. Shortly after marriage Tenney and Iva moved to Deadwood where he was employed with the Homestake Gold Mine. After a few years they returned home to the ranch northeast of White River. Ranching, raising boys and life being tough, Tenney and Iva decided to lease the ranch and move to White River. Over the years he worked for local ranchers, George England, Lawrence and Ronnie Krogman and Bob Derry. He decided to try a “town job” for a while and worked at the Gas N Git and Farmers Coop. His love of being a ‘Cowboy” sent him back to the country, this time to the Stromer Ranch, where he spent 20 plus years doing what he loved.

Some of Tenney’s favorite things were football, basketball, playing cards, coffee with his friends and rodeo! He was requested by several ranchers to rope calves at brandings. Stories have been told, that if you were roping with him and he saw some skills that didn’t meet his approval. Well, he wouldn’t hesitate to correct you!! Even though he could be stern about roping cattle, there was nothing he enjoyed more than teasing people, a good joke or prank!

From the late 60’s to early 80’s he worked as a pickup man for rodeos run by Don Hight and Howard Beissinger. Partners for these jobs were usually Veldon Brown, Glen Hollenbeck or Alvin Stromer. The rodeos he traveled to, took him to several places in the United States and he also worked at Cheyenne Frontier Days at least two years. One year they had a rodeo in Louisville, KY. The horses went on the semi (like they did many times) but the pickup men and contractors went by plane. Tenney also enjoyed team roping and would often compete at the rodeos he attended.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Clarence “Bud” and Ruth; his siblings, Phyllis, Cecil, Sharley and Clarice; his in-laws, Vernon and Esther Brown and grandson Christopher.

Survivors are his wife, Iva; brother, Curtis of Colona, IL; sons, Gene (Lorena) Hight of White River, Ronnie (Janet) Hight of White River, Gary (Kim) Hight of Douglas, Wyoming; grandchildren; Shelsey (Shawn) Klein, Matt (Lorena) Hight, Eliot (Taylor) Hight, Justin (Nicole) Hight, Clifford (Carlos) Hight, Lee Hight, Morgan (Jake) Brenholdt, Haley (Jacob) Hight, Amber Hight and Colton Hight; great-grandchildren, Natalie, Dylan and Hattie Klein, Sophia, Isabelle and Natalie Hight, Thomas Hight and Millie Hight and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to WR Grandstand for improvements at the rodeo grounds.

Mary Edwards, 94, of Winner, SD passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Center in Winner, SD.

Funeral services were held on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.  at the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Mary Edwards was born July 7, 1928 in Winner.  Her parents were Vince and Sara Fuchs. She was the younger sister of Richard Fuchs, and the older sister of Vera Fuchs.

Mary’s childhood was spent in Winner where she attended school and graduated from public high school. She played various sports including basketball. I’m not kidding!!!!!

After high school she attended nursing school and worked in the medical field long enough to realize she did not want this as a career.

She was married to Lester Edwards April 29th, 1949. They had 5 children. She spent the rest of her pre-retirement years raising her children, gardening and working for the state highway department in Winner as the secretary and office manager.

She enjoyed being a rockhound, fishing, canning fruits and vegetables, and meeting people. Her wild plum jam was so good that it was often stolen. I want to apologize to my siblings for this.

Mom was very active at the Methodist church where she served on various committees, taught Sunday School, and reveled in the Lord’s love. She was also active in breast cancer patient care. (She was a survivor of two bouts with breast cancer herself) She spent many days driving people to post surgery treatment and helping people dealing with the rigors of this disease. Mom also volunteered regularly at the thrift store downtown. Our mother never missed the chance to help someone with a willing smile, a listening ear, or much more.

The local residents noticed this and awarded her with “Tripp County volunteer of the year” award. An award she humbly accepted but richly deserved.

As years past mom’s health weakened and she spent the last 6 ½ years of her life at the long-term care facility where she continued to warm many hearts. (Thank you kindly for all you people did for her) She passed while resting comfortably with family at her side.

She is preceded in death by her brother Richard, Martin, SD, Sister Vera, Detroit, MI., husband, Lester, Winner, mother, Sara, Winner, and her sister-in-law and great friend, Dorothy Edwards, Winner. Our mother outlived most all her friends, but I am impressed by the number of people that have stopped to tell how kind and gracious she was, often with an example. That was our mom, the person we all only wish to emulate.

She is survived by the many people she touched and us, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Son: Skip and Sandra Fortuna, Winner.  Grandson, Rian and Terami Edwards, White River. Doug and Melissa (Fortuna) Underwood, Dellwood, Mn., Gerald and Melanie (Fortuna) Witte, Winner.

Son: Lon and Carol (Ringstmeyer) Edwards, Custer, South Dakota.  Grand Daughters, Jamie (Long) and Scott Glenn of Custer, Sheena (Edwards) and James Vis, Sioux Falls, and Laci (Edwards) and Boyd Bergeron Custer, TR and Heidi Horton, Rapid City.

Daughter: Dianne (Edwards) and Richard Blazo Brookings, Oregon.

Son: Jim and Cindy (Cummings) Edwards Berthoud, CO. Sons, Grant and Valarie (Perone) Edwards, and Brey and Jackie (Henry) Edwards, Green River, WY.

Son: Paul and Carol (Belchak) Edwards, Gaylord, MI., Daughters: Paulette (Edwards) Hall, and Jonathon Hall, Kalamazoo MI., and Caitlin Edwards Gaylord, MI.

Plus, many great grandchildren.

We all wish her next garden to green and lush and her bobber to submerge often!!!

The family of Mary request that a donation to the Winner Area Breast Cancer Support Group be made in lieu of flowers or gifts to the family.

Marvelle (Eagle Star) Baker, 49, of Sioux Falls, SD passed away on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022 at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. She was surrounded by her loved ones far and near that loved her and misses her.

Funeral services were held on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022 at noon at the Winner Ideal Community Hall in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery in Winner, SD.

Wake services were held on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022 at 2 p.m. at the Winner Ideal Community Hall in Winner, SD.

Marvelle loved her family and loved her kids. She was very close to her mother Marva Mae Eagle Star & her sister Kendra Kay Eagle Star. She lived and grew up in Winner South Dakota with her mother Marva, sister Kendra, and brother Miguel. She lived in Winner Housing Community (North Ideal) and attended school in town (Winner). She attended Job Corp and graduated.

Marvelle had her daughter Monique (Princess) Lynn Crowe and her sons Austin (Oz) James Crowe and Adam (Angel) David Torres. She loved her kids with a passion of unconditional love. She would go off and leave Winner to explore the United States. She had many homes in many cities and enjoyed life with her kids. She loved the city of Seattle, Wash., because that’s where her father was from plus she loved the city.

She made so many memories with everyone she met, she had a personality that made anyone that met her fall and enjoy to be around. She will be missed by her family, friends, and everyone that she had the chance to meet. Marvelle was a Christian and loved Jesus our Lord and Savior. She would watch the daystar channel and donated to the less fortunate. She had a good heart and enjoyed to have met her grandchildren and her younger children. She was so thankful that she was able to help her children and make the memories that she did. Marvelle will be missed and will not be forgotten.

Lawrence “Larry” Wayne Baker, 75, of Sturgis, SD, died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Lawrence “Larry” Baker was a devoted husband and a loving father. He was a kind and generous person, who provided for his community and his family in countless ways. He was a member of the National Guard for six years; he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Elks Club, and the American Legion; he was also a volunteer fireman for 25 years and operated his own custom haygrinding business for 46 years. He married Maureen Grebner-Herbst on Oct. 12, 1968, and together they raised four children: Daniel (Shanda) Baker, Denise (Rex) Ryckman, Cindy (John) Spelbring, and Neil (Christine) Baker. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Throughout his life, Larry was an avid outdoorsman, marksman, and loved traveling with his family. Larry never missed an opportunity to impart his own sense of humor, and he was reliable in innumerable ways throughout his life. He was a beacon in dark times and was always steadfast in uncertain times.

Larry is preceded in death by his mother and father, Arnold and Edna, his sister, Debbie, his mother-in-law, Katherine Herbst-Kelley, his father-in-law, Al Herbst, his granddaughter, Amanda Baker, his brothers-in-law, Raymond Smith, Joel Herbst, and Leroy, his favorite cat, whom Larry trained to wipe his feet.

Memorial Mass was held  10 a.m. on Dec. 6, 2022, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sturgis.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the American Cancer Society.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com