Monthly Archives: February 2023

Wayne Meyer, 81

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Wayne Meyer, 81, of Winner, SD passed away on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023 at the Avera Gregory Health Care Center in Gregory, SD.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023 at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Winner, SD.

Wayne S Meyer was born Dec. 17, 1941, in Winner SD to Otis and Virginia (Bell) Meyer. He passed away on Jan. 29 of Advanced Stage Parkinson’s after a week stay in the Sioux Falls hospital and his final 6 days in the Gregory Hospice. One of the final words said to him was “John has finished feeding the cows and the chores are done.” He passed away shortly after hearing the cows were taken care of for the day.

He lived all his life on the family farm raising cattle & farming. Also raising hogs in the earlier years.

On Aug. 3, 1963 he married the love of his life Georgia Layh. From this marriage came 2 daughters and 3 sons.

His days were spent caring for the cattle & farming the land. In his younger years he enjoyed riding motorcycle and water-skiing.

He started working for UPS as Christmas help in 1976 becoming full time in January of 1977. He retired in 2002 with a 25-year safe driving award. Wayne always said he missed seeing the people on his route.   He served 9 years on the Winner School Board between 1992 – 2001. He also was the area Democratic party chairman for several years.

He thoroughly enjoyed when his grand kids came and traveled to see them until he could no longer make the trip. The only thing that made him smile while he was in the hospital/hospice was the sound of his sister’s voices when we put them on speaker for him to hear.

Diagnosed with Parkinson, he would not let that slow him down.  He was opening and watching gates when the cattle were fed and could be counted on make sure the water tanks were full up until 2 ½ years ago.

He is preceded in death by baby daughter Cindy, his parents, and his brother Keith.

Surviving him is his wife Georgia, children Tammy (John) Harter, Winner SD, Brian (Kathleen) Meyer, Mesa AZ, Justin (Megan) Meyer, North Liberty, IA and Jason Meyer Myrtle Beach, SC . Grandchildren Becky (Josh) Curtis Winner SD, Ethan Meyer and Lillian Meyer of North Liberty, IA.  Siblings Jean Sigafoos Tucson, AZ, Betty (Steve) Super, Kansas City, MO. Joanne Sterner, Tucson, AZ.  Along with many nieces and nephews.

Legislative leaders differ on tax cut legislation

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

By Dana Hess

For the S.D. Newspaper Association

PIERRE — Republican legislative leaders are promising a conservative approach to the various tax cut bills that have been submitted during this session of the Legislature. Democratic leaders, who for years have backed a sales tax cut on food, aren’t entirely optimistic about the fate of this year’s tax cut legislation.

Their comments were made on Thursday, Jan. 26, to a group of editors and publishers in Pierre for Newspaper Day at the Legislature.

 Currently in the Legislature there are four bills with versions of sales tax cuts as well as a bill to cut property taxes.

 “Most of us would love to do a tax cut,” said Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree, R-Madison. “We’re going to be conservative and prudent with our decision-making. We don’t want to make a mistake now.”

 House Majority Leader Will Mortenson, R-Pierre, said Republican lawmakers are faced with a tough choice as they want to cut taxes, but they also want to be fiscally conservative.

 “We don’t make that decision hastily,” Mortenson said. “Fools rush in.”

 A cut of the sales tax on food was a cornerstone of Gov. Kristi Noem’s re-election campaign. The Republican leaders said they would work with the governor, but they needed to consider all the tax cut bills.

 “The governor has the loudest microphone of everyone in the Capitol,” Mortenson said.

 The governor may have the biggest microphone, but, according to Democrats, she’s not putting in the work that’s needed to pass her bill to cut the sales tax on food.

 “She’s using this as a campaign stunt,” said Senate Minority Leader Reynold Nesiba, D-Sioux Falls, referring to Noem announcing her support for the sales tax cut on food during her re-election campaign. “My sense of the Senate is that she doesn’t have the votes.”

 There’s a certain amount of education, cajoling and arm twisting that goes into the passage of legislation. According to Nesiba, Noem has been missing in action.

“She hasn’t been making the phone calls, doing the work necessary,” Nesiba said. “She’s often out of state, traveling, focusing on something else.”

 Rather than go without any cut in the sales tax on food, Nesiba said Democrats have offered alternative bills that cut one penny and two pennies off the tax.

 “Democrats are leading the way to a compromise to get this done,” Nesiba said. “We’ll probably help the governor save face.”

Republican legislative leaders respond to a question during Newspaper Day

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment
Photo: Jeremy Waltner/Freeman Courier
Republican legislative leaders respond to a question during Newspaper Day at the Legislature on Jan. 26. From left are press conference moderator Carson Walker, CEO of South Dakota News Watch, house majority leader Will Mortenson of Pierre, senate majority leader Casey Crabtree of Madison and senate assistant majority leader Michael Diedrich of Rapid City.

Democratic legislative leaders participate in a Newspaper Day

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment
Photo: Jeremy Waltner/Freeman Courier
Democratic legislative leaders participate in a Newspaper Day at the legislature press conference on Jan. 26. From left are moderator Carson Walker, CEO of South Dakota News Watch; House assistant minority leader Erin Healy of Sioux Falls; Senate Minority leader Reynold Nesiba of Sioux Falls and House minority leader Oren Lesmeister of Parade.

One Act Play Wins First

  By | | ,
Leave a comment
Submitted Photo
First place went to the Winner High School contest one act play at the regional in Pierre on Jan. 23. The play, “Whispers,” will advance to the state meet Feb. 3 in Sioux Falls at O’Gorman High School. Pictured in front from left are Tessa Mann, Faith Covey, Addi Heenan, Illyana Crabb and Mallory Thayer. In back from left are Justin Hausmann, Maggie DeMers, Hayden McMurtrey, Leah Wiechelman, director Sarah Taggart, Cassie Shutt, Amanda Blare, technical director Dan Patmore and assistant director Emily Moser.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

A Winner High School one act play that has a lot of emotion won first place at the regional contest in Pierre on Jan. 23.

“Whispers” is the contest one act play chosen this year by Winner High School.

The play will advance to the state contest Feb. 3 in Sioux Falls at O’Gorman High School. Winner will perform at 2:15 p.m. on Feb. 3.

A sendoff for the state-bound one act play cast and crew will be held at 7:45 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 in front of the Armory.

The eight cast members are: Maggie DeMers, Leah Wiechelman, Tessa Mann, Hayden McMurtrey, Justin Hausmann, Faith Covey, Addi Heenan and Amanda Blare. All members of the cast received an outstanding rating.

The crew members for this play are Illyana Crabb, Cassie Shutt and Mallorie Thayer.

The play is directed by Sarah Taggart with Emily Moser as the assistant director and Dan Patmore as the technical director.

Taggart explained that “Whispers” is a play where the central character (Kate) has lost her father in the war. She is in the woods, a place she and her father would visit often. Her friend finds her and tries to support Kate through her grief.

The whispers are characters that are on the fringe and represent kids that Kate met at a grief camp.

Throughout the play, each member of the whispers tell their story and what their feelings are in losing their parents. Kate begins to use all the different pieces of how these kids have processed their grief to somehow get some closure.

This powerful one act is a beautiful and touching ensemble piece that gives every single actor a monologue and a moment in the spotlight.

Taggart explained the judges in Pierre felt the Winner kids were awesome and had nothing bad to say about the play.

The director added the judges were impressed how these students could bring so much emotion and feeling to this play.

Taggart explained she at first had a different play picked out. “I had a whole different play chosen with the large number of seniors who would be in the play,” explained Taggart.

For tryouts, Taggart had each student perform a monologue. “It just blew me away what these students did in the short time they had to prepare,” she said.

“In the play I had chosen everyone gets killed off throughout the play and I could not have one of these outstanding kids get killed and not be on stage anymore. I just could not do that with the amount of talent we had in this play.  I did not think it would be fair so I went back and started searching for something different. The play “Whispers” jumped out at me because each character has a monologue and their own moment in the spotlight,” she said.

 Taggart noted she was a little nervous about the play being about a war but there is very little mention of the war in the play.

This is the third time in four years Taggart has taken a play to state. Also, for the bulk of the seniors it is their third time competing at state.

Taggart explained the play cast will have practice before heading to Sioux Falls. They practiced Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

 “We want to perform well at state,” said Taggart.

Eunice M. Siler, 103

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Funeral services for Eunice M. Siler were held Jan. 28 at the United Methodist Church in Burke. Burial was in Graceland Cemetery, Burke.

Eunice  M. Siler was born Aug. 30, 1919 on the family homestead near Lucas, South Dakota to Thomas C. and Anna (Ternes) Stewart and she died Jan. 20, 2023 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Burke, South Dakota at the age of 103 years.

Eunice grew up in the Lucas area.  She and her sister spent several years in Tacoma, Wash. with an aunt and uncle because of health concerns with Eunice’s lungs.  She attended school, graduating in 1936.  She then attended Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota where she received her teaching certificate.  She began her teaching career in 1937, teaching in several local country schools Lucas, White River and Burke to mention a few. 

She was united in marriage to Dick Siler in 1944.  Although Eunice and Dick were never blessed with any children, they were like parents to many nieces and nephews.

Eunice wrote articles for many area newspapers and magazines.  Some of her hobbies were drawing, hunting, fishing, reading, baking pies for Rich’s Rec, Bingo and trips to the casino.  For her 90th birthday she was able to take a Hot Air Balloon ride and danced at Carlock celebrating her 100th birthday.  She also enjoyed playing the piano, and was a member of the Burke Senior Center. 

She won a literary award in 1985, was an original member of the Burke Library Board – a position she held for many years, and was recognized as a Trustee for the South Dakota Library Association in 2010.  She was also a member of the United Methodist Church in Burke.

Eunice was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dick in 1982, her sisters: Kathryn Swanson, Mary Distad, Janet Bohnet, Vera Sutton and a baby sister Emma in infancy.

Eunice is survived by her many nieces and nephews, her special fishing buddy Duane Davis and numerous cousins, relatives and friends.

Ruth Swedlund, 99

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Ruth Swedlund, 99, passed away peacefully on Jan. 21, 2023. Ruth and her twin brother Raymond were born in Brown County, South Dakota on Dec. 4, 1923 to parents Albert and Mabel Ofstedal. The Ofstedal children, Marion, Sylvia, Raymond and Ruth, attended the local country school as young children and then attended high school in Ellendale, North Dakota. The Ofstedals and many of their relatives and friends were long time members of Aurdal Lutheran church.

After graduation from high school she worked for a short time and then received notice she had received a scholarship to South Dakota State University. After 3 semesters there she moved to Chicago to stay with her sister Marion whose husband had recently gone overseas in the military. Ruth started work as a riveter building airplanes at Douglas Aircraft during WWII. She made $0.65/hr and worked up to $1.05/hr and once wrote, “Who needs college when you can make such good money?”

At Douglas she met Lyle Swedlund. They came back to South Dakota to be married at Aurdal Lutheran Church in August, 1945. On returning to Chicago they found operations for the war winding down in the factory so they returned to Tripp County, South Dakota to take up ranching.

Life on the prairie started out pretty lonely and dreary but before long they built a house and settled into life as cattle ranchers. By the time they decided to pull up roots in 1964 and move to a ranch in the Black Hills near Custer they had 4 children, Marla, Lowell (Swede), Duane and Brad. Once again, they built a new house which they moved into in 1966.

Ruth sewed, crocheted, quilted, cooked, baked, read, gardened, built things and did woodworking projects, often out of necessity but also because she enjoyed these things. She raked hay in the summer and helped pull calves when it was below zero. She enjoyed the beauty of her garden and the natural beauty of the Black Hills. She liked to drive down an unexplored road she found just to see what was there. Gathering at Custer Lutheran Fellowship and enjoying the neighborhood ladies club were favorite social activities.

Ruth’s husband Lyle passed away in 2000. She continued to live on the ranch with her son Duane until just about a year ago when they moved to assisted living at Peaceful Pines near Rapid City. Ranch life had provided many challenges during her life but she sure missed living on the ranch. She very much enjoyed many visits from family and friends throughout life and especially during her time there.

She was preceded in death by her husband Lyle, her siblings and Lyle’s siblings, daughter-in-law Anita Swedlund and son-in-law Dave Sebade.

Ruth is survived by her 4 children, Marla Sebade (Larry Chilstrom), Lowell (Swede), Duane and Brad, 4 grandchildren, Christa (Steve) Drab, Chad Sebade (Debbie Borsch), Kasiah Swedlund, and Lucyna (Swedlund) Flor and 4 great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, at Custer Lutheran Fellowship Church in Custer, SD.

Committal services followed at the Custer Cemetery in Custer, SD.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to your favorite charity.  Good friends of Ruth should consider themselves honorary pall bearers.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer, SD.

Chamberlain-McColley’s Funeral Homes, Inc.

Kelsey Jo Atteberry, age 33

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Kelsey Jo Atteberry, age 33, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

A memorial service was  held at 11 a.m. on Friday Jan. 27, 2023 at the United Methodist Church in Winner.  The family requests that memorials be made to South Dakota Right to Life or the Orphan Grain Train in Kelsey’s honor in lieu of flowers.

Kelsey was born on Jan. 9, 1990 to Steve and Sandy (Bich) Atteberry in Winner, South Dakota. She was baptized at Colome United Methodist Church on the 11th day of February, 1990. She grew up on the family farm near Colome. Kelsey enjoyed spending time with family, especially time spent with her grandparents. She was her sisters’ biggest fan, cheerleading from the bleachers at many sporting events. After Kelsey finished school, she spent much of her time at Community Connections and their services positively impacted her life. Her family is forever grateful for the acceptance and care that was always shown to Kelsey throughout her life.

Routine and structure were very important to Kelsey. Working with beads and telephone cords were her daily enjoyment and brought a smile to her face. Kelsey also liked to spend time with water, whether by playing with the hose in the yard or enjoying bath time. A sure way to soothe Kelsey was with a back rub, but to bring her some excitement, taking her for a ride on the four-wheeler was the way to go. Kelsey’s presence will be greatly missed.

Grateful to have shared their life with her are her parents, Steve and Sandy Atteberry, her sisters Andrea (Brock) Olson and their children Isaac and Claire of Afton, MN; and Kara (Andy) Van Orden and their children, Anabel and Flora of Ringwood, NJ; her maternal grandparents, Lyman and Phyllis Bich of Cavour, SD and many extended family members. Kelsey was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Robert and Mildred Atteberry of Colome, SD; her aunt Jeannie Snyder of Ellendale, MN; and her uncle, Bryan Atteberry of Sioux Falls, SD.

Kelli Marie (Urbanski) Schulte, 49

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Kelli Marie (Urbanski) Schulte was born on July 26, 1973, in Grand Island, NE, to Carol (Eastwood) and Jerry Urbanski. She grew up in Grand Island and graduated from Northwest High School in 1991.

Kelli met some lifelong friends when she worked at a grocery store in Grand Island. Kelli went to New York City for photography training and then did photography for Walmart. After working in photography, her caring heart led her to work for Mid Plains Center.

On Oct. 3, 2009, Kelli married the love of her life, Henry Schulte, from Dallas, SD, where they lived.

Kelli always had a smile on her face and had such a big heart. Her love of animals led them to rescue their three dogs: Marley, Daisy, and Pup Pup and two cats: Oreo and Gibbs. Kelli was known for her decorated sugar cookies and taking lots of pictures for all family events. She had a room dedicated for scrapbooking, using pictures that she had taken. Kelli enjoyed scrapbooking with the friends she made at the Hobby Shoppe in Winner, SD. She took pictures of birds from her many bird and squirrel feeders, of back road Jeep rides with Henry, of family and friends, and of wildlife and sunsets.

Kelli’s brother John and his wife Monica, and her nephew Alex and niece Jordyn, were a very important part of her life. She loved planning for when they could get together and for weeklong summer visits from Alex and Jordyn. Kelli also had many other nieces and nephews that she loved spending time with. Kelli had just planned a trip to Estes Park over Thanksgiving with Henry, her parents, and her brother and his family and they are all so thankful to spend that time with her, the pictures taken, and memories made.

Surrounded by her loving family, Kelli passed away peacefully on Dec. 28, 2022, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, at the age of 49 years.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband Henry, parents Carol and Jerry Urbanski, brother John Urbanski and his wife Monica, nephew Alex and niece Jordyn, mother-in-law Mary Schulte, aunts and uncles Larry and Mary Eastwood, Bob and Char Eastwood, Pat and Ron Jensen, Don and Lois Urbanski, cousins Heather and Corey Ludwig and family, Jared and Jamie Jensen and family, Bart and Shannon Eastwood and family, Liz and Scott Stotler and family, Jason and Shannon Urbanski and family, Stacie and Mark Wiegert and family, and many more brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews.

Kelli is preceded in death by her grandparents Bill and Irene Eastwood and Rose and John Urbanski, father-in-law John Schulte, and nephew Isaac Schulte.

Memorial gifts for Kelli may be sent to Rescues Unlimited.

Services for Kelli will be held at a later date in the spring.