Monthly Archives: March 2023

Kenneth Duane Thompson, 67, of Winner, South Dakota passed away at his home with family by his side on Monday, March 13, 2023.

Inurnment will be held at the Pleasant Lawn Cemetery in Geddes, SD at a later date.

Ken was born on July 9, 1955, in Armour, SD to Ivan and Billee (Steckly) Thompson, the second of four children.

Ken, “KT”, as he was also called, attended school in Geddes and graduated in 1973.  Following graduation, he attended and graduated from SD Barber College.

In 1974, KT moved to Winner, where he was a barber, car salesman, worked at the lumber yard, was a heavy equipment operator, potato chip delivery driver, carpenter, bartender, and then returned to barbering until his retirement in 2018.  He owned his own barber shop with his partner, Ethan Ernest for twenty-one years.

In his free time, he enjoyed darts, hunting, fishing, camping, and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle to Poker Runs and the Sturgis Rally.  He put over 55,000 miles on his motorcycle.

Ken has two children from a previous marriage, a son Jody (Amber) Thompson of Amelia, Ohio; a daughter Casey (John) Colin, of St. Augustine, Florida.  Also, four grandchildren: Ashley and Shane Thompson of Ohio, Brynn Mitchell and Cooper Colin of Florida.

Survivors also include: Billee Thompson, mother, and Richard Durham, Geddes, sisters: Connie Steele, Lake Andes, Kathleen Webb (Randy Franssens), Platte, and one brother Dale Thompson of Harrisburg and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his father Ivan Thompson, grandparents John and Helen Thompson, and William and Dorothy Steckly, also brothers-in-law Harold (Babe) Steele and Pat Webb, and nephew Abraham Steele. Funeral services will not be held at “KT’s” request.  Inurnment will take place at a later date in the Pleasant Lawn Cemetery in Geddes, SD near his father.

Tyler “PITA” “Jiggers” Wayne Brunmeier was called to heaven on Friday, March 10, 2023.

Tyler was born, April 26, 2000, in Gregory, SD, to Melissa and Justin Brunmeier. In typical Tyler fashion, he was born 10 days late. PITA was his mother’s enduring nickname for him. Jiggers was given to him by his great-uncles Whitey and Kelly.   

Tyler attended Gregory High School from kindergarten to his freshman year, participating in many sports. He then attended school in Colome until his senior year. Tyler made many lifelong friends in Colome and Winner. He was a smiling, happy social butterfly. He was always on the go since birth, yet always late for everything!  He was even lost once at a Rapid City Walmart running around in the parking lot.

Tyler was always hanging out with his friends, family, or playing Xbox. He loved getting his hands dirty on the farm, hunting, fishing, camping, and the outdoors.  He was always tinkering on his vehicles, whether it be making it louder, faster, or just trying to get it to run. He enjoyed training and playing with his dogs, especially his new puppy Tatum Jo. He also loved working with horses for his friends. Recently, Tyler became passionate about bronc riding. When he would get bucked off, Tyler always brushed himself off and got right back on. No matter what the challenge, he never quit.

Tyler met Makayla Louise Chmela and was blessed with two children. RiverLee Faye Brunmeier (2 years old) and Gates Wayne Brunmeier (1 year old).

Tyler is survived by his two children; his mother, Melissa Brunmeier (Wayne); four siblings, Ellie Jo, Natalie, Teah, and Dylan; grandfather, Bob Klein; father, Justin Brunmeier (Val) of Winner, SD; grandparents, Danny and Linda Brunmeier; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Ionia Klein; great-grandparents, Leonard and Twila Brunmeier, Frank and Delores Soles, and Donna and Darrell Smith; as well as his great-uncle Bradley Brunmeier.

Funeral services for Tyler Brunmeier, age 22, of Gregory, South Dakota, were held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at 1 p.m.  at the Gregory Memorial Auditorium.

Kenneth Van Kekerix, 82, of Witten, SD passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at the Winner Regional Health Care Center in Winner, SD.

A memorial service was held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner, SD. . Burial will be held on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 10 a.m. at the South Dakota State Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls, SD. A second memorial service will be held on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 2 p.m.  at the Faith Community Church in Colton, SD.

Kenneth Kryn Van Kekerix was born on June 6, 1940 to Tillie (Vander Woude) and Kryn Van Kekerix at his home near Parker, SD. Ken and his brother grew up on a farm southwest of Lyons. Ken graduated from Lyons High School in 1958. He worked for area farmers in Crooks and Colton until he was drafted in 1963. Ken was on a bus to Fort Leonard Wood when word was received of JFK’s assassination in 1963. Ken was stationed at Fort Leavenworth in 1964. He extended for a second term and volunteered for Vietnam in 1966. He was discharged in September of 1966 where he returned home to Colton area. He worked for farmers in Sheldon, IA in 1967.

Ken attended college at Southern St. at Springfield for 2 years and received an associate degree in carpentry. After graduation he came to Witten area to build pole barns. He worked for Miami Stone Co., driving truck to get materials, then did cement work for Jay Hartshorn. Ken worked for Dave Ernest for a number of years and Red Hartford doing building and home construction. He bought The Village Store in Witten in 1969 and managed full time till present and did woodworking projects, wooden banks, wooden jig saw puzzles and scroll pictures.

In 1978 he met Sandra Dewes. They were married on Oct. 6, 1979. They enjoyed traveling SD, attending VFW and American Legion meetings & activities, while making many friends. Ken served as local commander and district commander for VFW 4674. He was long time commander of Witten Post 167 American Legion beginning in 1981. He also served as county commander, district commander and one of 5 area Vice commanders for SD, American Legion.

He joined Witten Baptist Church and served as trustee for many years. He was a member of Witten Fire Department as well.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Kryn and Tillie (Vander Woude) Van Kekerix; father-in-law Frank Dewes; and sister-in-law Glenis Dewes Hipke.

Kenneth is survived by his wife Sandra; brother Marvin and friend Judy Bosma; sister-in-law Lois (Dewes) Boyd Brue; brother-in-law’s Gene (Beulah) Dewes of Rapid City, SD, Dean (Marge) Dewes of Sioux Falls, SD, Larry (Cookie) Hipke of Mesa, AZ; and many cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Ruthie Marie Joachim 63, passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at her home in Rapid City.

Visitation will be from 4-6pm on Thursday, March 23 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Prayer, sharing memories, and recitation of the Rosary will follow. A Catholic Funeral Mass will be 11am Friday, March 24 at Blessed Sacrament Church, With Fr. Brian Lane as celebrant. Burial will follow at Mt Calvary Cemetery in Rapid City. Online condolences can be left at www.osheimschmidt.com. A memorial will be set up for a service dog to help children, as Ruthie had a love for dogs and children.

Ruthie was born in Valentine, NE to Mark and Dolores Storms April 4, 1959. She grew up on a ranch by Keyapaha, SD. There she found a love for hunting, fishing, and the country lifestyle. She attended a country school for grades 1-5. She and her brother, Andy would ride horseback and bicycles to school. In 1970 the family moved to Winner, SD where she graduated high school in 1977. In 1978 she moved to Arizona thinking this was where she wanted to live, however, in a short period of time, she found the city life wasn’t for her. In 1979 she moved to Rapid City and went to work for Piggly Wiggly and Family Thrift grocery store. She met her husband Bob at Piggly Wiggly and they were married August of 1984. They were blessed with two children, Ashley, and Austin. She always felt so blessed to be a stay-at-home mom and treasured the time she had with her kids. Ruthie did a lot of volunteering as the kids started school including Meals-On-Wheels distribution and then selling Mary Kay on the side. Ruthie was passionate about hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, canning, and most of all being a grandma.

In 2002 she went to work for Nabisco and retired in 2018. In 2018 she was blessed with her 1st grandchild, Kullen. After being diagnosed 2 months before with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, she believes Kullen is what got her through this time. In 2019, she gained her second grandchild, Karson who like his grandma was quite the fighter after being born with a rare heart condition. Ruthie cherished her grandkids by spending as much time as possible together, giving her the title of the “Best Nanny”.

Ruthie is survived by her husband Bob, her children, Ashley (Josh) Kirchner, Austin (Allison) Joachim, grandchildren, Kullen and Karson, her brother, Andy (Lisa) Storms, her dog Lucy, and grand dogs Ellie, Moose and Porter.

Ruthie was preceded in death by her mother Dolores and father Mark Storms.

Ricky Dale Farris went home to Jesus on March 11, 2023 at the young age of 66.

A memorial service will be held on Friday May 12, 2023 at 11 a.m.  at the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery.

He fought the good fight against cancer and Won the greatest Win by entering his place in His Almighty Father’s home.

Rick was born to Edwin (Bob) and Viola Farris on April 9, 1956 in Grand Island, NE. He attended elementary school in Johnstown, NE and middle school in Ainsworth, NE. He also attended and graduated from Winner High School in 1975. Rick worked at Grossenburg Implement after attending Black Hills Tech school in Rapid City, SD. He also worked at the Winner Country Club and retired from DOT of SD in 2019.

Rick left behind a son Christopher Bolton of Winner, SD. Four sisters; Nyhlia Kempke of North Platte, NE; Audrey Farris of Sun City, AZ; Judy Dykstra (Robin) of Marion, SD; Deb Splitt (Steve) of Buckeye, AZ. Three brothers; Robert Farris (Sue) of Yakima, WA; Randy Farris of Shawnee, KS; Ron Farris (Janelle) of Rapid City, SD; along with 6 nephews and 8 nieces and 6 great nephew and 11 great nieces.

Rick was a person that was always there for his friends and family. He had a dry sense of humor that made you laugh out loud, along with a competitive nature at games and sports. He valued friendships and the ability to golf, play pool, darts and fish. Rick was preceded in death by both parents, brother-in-law Melvin Kempke and numerous aunts and uncles.