Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

Roger Allen Pochop, 83

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Roger Allen Pochop passed away Dec. 8, 2021, at the Winner Long Term Care Facility at the age of 83 years.

A celebration of life was held Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, at Zion Lutheran Church in Colome. 

Roger was born Nov. 11, 1938, to George and Pauline (Meyers) Pochop.  He was the third of four boys: Virgil, Darrel, and Merle.

Roger grew up on a farm in the Colome/Dallas area.  He graduated from Colome High School in 1956.  After graduation, he began his life-long career in farming and ranching.  After a short period of service in the United States Army, he returned to the farm where he and his wife Jeanne lived, until the time of his death.  He had four children:  Myra (Dan) Stoney, Michael (Tami) Pochop, Sandra Gillispie and Jamey (Lisa) Stroschine.

Roger’s faith was the most important part of his life; he was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Colome where he was a life-long member. He taught Sunday school and served on the church council for many years.  Roger was proud to be a veteran and was active in the Colome Legion.  He was a staunch Republican and not afraid to let anyone know his opinion.  Roger also spent several years working for FSHA measuring grain bins.  He loved meeting people.

Roger is survived by his wife Jeanne of 40 years, his four children, their spouses and 13 grandchildren and a soon to be great-grandchild.  Also surviving are his brother Merle, sisters-in-law Verna and Margaret, brother and sister-in-law Stan and Connie Bicek, many nieces and nephews including three special nephews: Donnie Hambek, Damen and Cory Pochop.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Pauline, and two brothers Virgil and Darrel.

Parting words — Life should not be a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming “Wow, what a ride”

Football players honored for Best of the West

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Joey Cole, quarterback for the Winner football team, has been named Best of the West MVP.  

The Rapid City Journal picks the Best of the West team.

Also recognized from Winner Kaden Keiser, Charley Pravecek and Riley Orel with Aiden Barfass, Jackson Vesely and Achilles Willuweit being named to the honorable mention list.

Cole guided the Warriors to their second straight undefeated season and back to back Class 11B state championships.

Cole was also a South Dakota Coaches Association all-state selection for defensive linemen after recording three sacks four tackles for loss, two pass breakups and recovering four fumbles.

Of the multiple rushing options the undefeated Warriors had at their disposal this season, no one punched in more touchdowns than Kaden Keiser. He finished his senior campaign with 16 while picking up 747 yards. He also caught six passes for 156 yards with one touchdown.

Charley Pravecek was named outstanding lineman in both this year and last year state championship games. He helped the Warriors rush for nearly 4,000 yards.

Riley Orel’s defensive performance was impressive. The junior collected three interceptions, two pass breakups and two tackles for loss as well as 26 tackles.

Orel also rushed for 933 yards on 72 carries. He also rushed for 933 yards on 72 carries with six touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 130 yards and four touchdowns.

Oral interp students place at state

  By | | ,
Leave a comment
Submitted photo
Winner High School students participated in the state oral interp this weekend in Huron. In front from left are Amanda Edwards, Addi Heenan and Leah Wiechelman. In back from left are Hayden McMurtrey, Amanda Blare, Justin Hausmann and Noah Manke.

Three Winner High School students earned a superior rating at the state oral interp festival this weekend in Huron.

Addi Heenan and Amanda Edwards competed in duet and earned a superior.

Justin Hausmann competed in non-original oratory and earned a superior.

Amanda Blare competed in storytelling and earned an excellent.

The WHS team earned an excellence award.

A part of the history of Winner was taken down early this fall

  By | | ,
Leave a comment
Submitted Photo
The screen at the Pix Drive-In Theater, west of Winner, is being taken down. It was purchased by a theater in Spirit Lake, Iowa. This drive-in was open for 32 years in Winner. It closed in 1998.

The Pix Drive-In Theater was located west of Winner on Highway 18. It was a place for families and kids to go during the summer to enjoy a great movie.

Winner was one of very few cities that featured two drive in theaters.

A movie company in Iowa purchased the Pix Drive-in screen and plans to use it in an outdoor theater.

The screen is going to Superior 71 Drive-In Theater in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

The Pix Drive-In opened Sept. 9, 1966 and the opening movie was “Cat Ballou” staring Lee Marvin and Jane Fonda.

The Pix was leased to D & N Theater Corp and R. C. Metzger was the buyer and booker for the corporation.

Harold Davis leased the drive-in theater from the D&N Theater Corp for the 1967 season.

The  Pix boasted the largest screen in the state. The first screen was built similar to the drive ins in Tyndall, Gregory and O’Neill, Neb. It was destroyed by a tornado in June 1968.  Soon after the tornado, a new screen was installed.

The original screen had a full length garage attached to it.

The drive in had a capacity for 275 cars. The drive in was closed on Sept. 13, 1998 after the showing of the movie “The Negotiator.”

The only mention of D&N Theater corporation has been in the Winner Advocate and its association with Pix Theater on Main St and the Pix drive-in theater.

Steve Flora, a graduate Winner High School and South Dakota State University, was a good friend of the Metzgers. He said it may have been set up as a subsidiary under Ben-Dak Investment Company. Ben-Dak was a Metzger family business with holdings in motion picture theaters and drive-in theaters in Nebraska and South Dakota. Commercial real estate, farm land and a portfolio of stocks and bonds.

The Pix Drive-in was the last theater built by the Metzger family. In addition to Flora, Royce McDowell of Winner provided a lot of help with old stories and pictures of the drive-in theater.

16 teams to compete in sharpshooter classic

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

The 11th annual Winner Area Chamber of Commerce Sharpshooter Bird and Clay  Classic will be held Dec. 10-11.

The classic will feature six person teams and they will have four hours to hunt on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Check in will be at the Rosebud Arrow, Rod and Gun Club before 2 p.m.
Once checked in persons will compete in trap shooting.

The Friday night banquet will be held at the Tripp County 4-H Center where there will be a Calcutta and a drawing for landowners.
The Saturday night awards banquet will be held at the 4-H Center.  There will be games, a meal followed by awarding of prizes from the hunt.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams and guns will be awarded to each member of the team.

This year there are 16 teams in the hunt.

Mike Scott, executive director of the Chamber, says there is still need for more volunteers for the hunt. This incudes more judges for the Saturday hunt. Persons who can help are to call the Chamber office at 842-1533.

George Roubideaux, 64

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

George Roubideaux, 64, of Mission, SD passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021 at the Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, SD. 

Funeral service was held  Dec. 2, 2021 at noon at the Bishop Jones Building in Mission, SD.  Burial  followed in the Holy Family Cemetery.  Wake service  began on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021 at 7 p.m.  at the Bishop Jones Building in Mission.

The family of George Michael Roubideaux Sr. include wife Diane Miller and children: Denise, Michael Jr. Weylin, Tamelia, Alexis, David and Teresa.

Larry Sund, 73

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Larry Sund, 73, of Hot Springs, SD, formerly of Winner, SD passed away on Thursday, Dec 2, 2021 at the Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, SD.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Colome City Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services.

Larry Dale Sund was born Aug. 26, 1948 to Eldon & Ruth (Burdick) Sund in Winner Baptist Hospital. He passed away on Dec. 2 in Rapid City Monument Hospital with wife & daughter by his side.

Larry grew up in the Winner area and started working for Frank Antes and worked there for 25 years. He then started work for Tripp County Highway Department and worked there for 32 years until he retired.

He married Lorinda O’Bryan on Nov. 11, 1978 in Winner, SD. To this union two children were born, Scott Sund & Shawna Rogers. They resided in Winner until October of 2019 when they moved to Hot Springs, SD.

He enjoyed spending time with family, fishing, gardening, and fixing bikes for kids. He loved watching western movies, driving around, & seeing new sights.

Larry is survived by his wife Lorinda, son Scott, daughter Shawna (David), 4 grandchildren; Adrian George, Robert George, Dustin Sund, & Destiny Sund. Sisters and brothers: Belva (Bud) Leighton, Ruth (Bob) Benedict, Carol Hight, Linda Sund, Don (Susan) Sund, Jim Sund, Mary (Mike) Hodge, Wanda (Ron) Klein, Connie Jones, Nancy (Jeff) Peters, & Roger (Tammy) Sund, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Larry is preceded in death by parents, Eldon & Ruth, sister Janet (infant), brother Eldon (Pat) Sund and in laws Patrick & Ethel O’Bryan.

Jerry L. Meyer, 73

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Funeral services for Jerry L. Meyer, 73, of Chamberlain, SD will be 3 p.m., Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at the United Church of Christ in Chamberlain with burial in the Riverview Cemetery at Chamberlain.  Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the United Church of Christ.

Jerry Lee Meyer, 73, of Chamberlain passed away peacefully on Dec. 1, 2021 at the Sanford Chamberlain Care Center surrounded by his loving family.

Jerry was born to Gideon and Adeline (Holec) Meyer on Sept. 21, 1948 in Parkston, SD. Jerry was raised in the surrounding Chamberlain area and graduated from Chamberlain High School in 1966. He worked various jobs over the years in his beloved community and served our country for 27 years in the Army National Guard.

Jerry married his high school sweetheart Sherry Smith on Nov. 20, 1966. To this union one daughter, Michele, was born.

Jerry was adored by his family and community and was always willing to help anyone in need. He worked for most of his career between Midwest Supply and Register Lakota Printing, however, his true passion was tinkering and fixing small engines. Throughout his career, Jerry supported a small engine repair shop from his home. He truly was a jack of all trades and was able to fix anything from lawnmowers to chainsaws to vacuum cleaners. Jerry also volunteered for many years as Santa Claus’ local embodiment for the City of Chamberlain and families in the community.

Memories of Jerry will survive with his life partner Sherry Meyer (Chamberlain, SD); daughter Michele Hagenlock (Winner, SD); grandson Evan Hagenlock (St. Charles, MO); half-sister Shirley Gregoire (Fairfax, SD); cousin Maynard Meyer (Tripp, SD); brothers-in-law Ty Smith (Mitchell, SD) and Ron Smith (Chamberlain, SD); dear friend of many years Ron Luurs (Pukwana, SD); his dear furry dachshund friend Oscar Weiner Meyer; and all of his community who had the opportunity to share the joy that Jerry brought to our lives.

Preceding Jerry in death were his parents, grandparents, father-in-law Clairedon Smith, mother-in-law Bertha (Hieb) Smith, brother-in-law Gary Smith, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to be directed to the Chamberlain Senior Center.