Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

Class of 1971

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The Winner High School class of 1971 held its 50th reunion at homecoming. Pictured in front from left are Kathy Kaiser, Winner; Cheryl (Holman) Williamson, Reliance; Dixie (Dreyer) Nilson, St. Paul, Neb.; Liane (Pospisil) Christensen Winner; Diane (Kirksey) Kathol, Lincoln, Neb.; Marcy (Hecht) Allibone, Sioux City, Iowa; Debbie (Schwinler) Jorgensen, Winner; Jane (Anderson) Assman, Winner; Kim (Ehrlich) Boe, Lennox; Alona (Butterfield) Burtz, Winner; Malon Burtz, Winner; Bob Littau, Carter. Second row from left are Randy Sprenkle, Sioux Falls; Nell (Heying) Ryno, White River; Tim Sander, Acampo, Calif; Debbie (Bittner) Almen, Gillette, Wyo.; Dori (Fisher) Simonton, Granbury, Texas; Darla (Adel) Hosek, Lawrence, Kan.; Norma (Kaiser) Keiser, Winner; Linda (Novak) Connot, Valentine, Neb.; Connie (Steiger) Christensen, Winner; Dwight Hossle, Faulkton; Pat Steele, Winner; Kevin Peters, Winner; Curley Parlet, Whitewood; Ross Neyens, Winner; Jim Pajl, Yankton; Monte Hopkins, Winner. Third row from left are Brent Snow, Sturgis; Bob Sala, Sioux Falls; Dave Hosek, Lawrence, Kan; Mylan Schroeder, Alcester; Dan Long, Omaha, Neb ; Davis Hoverson, Manvel, N.D.; Dennis Kaiser, Winner; Brad Carlson, Colome; Dick Kulbel, Yankton; Jack Williams, Winner; Gary Sharkey, Gillette, Wyo. Not pictured are Carol Olson, Seabrook, Texas; Lynn (Wortman) Hotz, Larchwood, Iowa; Tom Wortman, Arizona; Randy Braley, Yankton; Rick Kartak, Winner; Warren Lapsley, Ideal; Janet (Woidneck) Fenenga, Hamill; Paula (Daughters) Spense, Elkhorn, Neb.

Mary Chasing Hawk, 59

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Mary Chasing Hawk, 59, of Winner, South Dakota, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 at the Winner Regional Hospital in Winner, SD. 

Funeral service were held on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021 at 12 p.m.  at the Winner Middle School Gym.  Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.  Wake service  began on Wednesday and Thursday Sept. 29 and 30, 2021 at 7 p.m. at the Winner Middle School Gym.

Mary Frances Chasing Hawk (Blacksmith) was born on Jan. 7, 1962 to Alvin and Frieda Blacksmith.

Mary Frances Blacksmith and Nelson Chasing Hawk received the blessing of marriage in April 1983 at his Grandpa Bill’s (Bill Schweigman / Chief Eagle Feathers) Traditional Cultural Camp in the Two Strike Community.

Mary passed away Sept. 23, 2021 and at time of death her and Nelson have been together for 43 years since she was 16 years old and Nelson was 14 years old.  They had 4 children; Marie, Nelson Jr., Casey and Rebeca and 2 grandchildren Delilah and Delrick.

Mary sun danced for 24 years and a lot of those years she helped with and took care of what needed to be done with the ceremony.  She was really proud and enjoyed her life within her spiritual beliefs.

Mary really enjoyed being around children, her siblings and Nelson’s siblings even their grandchildren called her grandma.  Even non-natives called her mom or grandma.

Mary had a very friendly personality, she was very well liked by her family and friends both native and non-natives referred to her either by mom or as grandma.  She was well liked by her bosses and co-workers, fellow students and instructors.  When she saw her grandkids playing outside she would always be happy to see them she’ll say hi and if she had something she would give it to them like candy or whatever and watch them get excited over it that made her feel good to see all her grandkids happy.  She always got her own grandkids whatever they wanted, she just loved to see them happy.  When her granddaughter wants her no matter how she felt or what time it was late at night she would sit there with them.  Mary always talked to all her friends and family and would give them advice.  She had a big heart no matter who it is was she was always kind to everybody she met.  Mary and Nelson went back to school where they both received their bachelor’s degrees.

She is survived by her children Marie Chasing Hawk, Nelson Chasing Hawk Jr., Casey Chasing Hawk, Rebecca Chasing Hawk and her sisters and brothers Marilyn and (Darrel) Herman, Dorthy Heth, Alva and (Norman “Levi”) Chasing Hawk, Alice Blacksmith and Dawn & (Tim) Sharkey, David Blacksmith and Martha Blacksmith.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother Alvin and Frieda Blacksmith, her sisters; Veneda Eagle Hawk/Andrews, and Elizabeth Blacksmith, Grandmother Mercy Andrews and father and mother in law Norman Sr. and Clarice Chasing Hawk.

Mary loved being with her family and her grandkids, she was deeply loved by all her family and friends and will be forever in our hearts and forever missed.

Watson leads Winner runners

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Kade Watson took the top honors in the Platte-Geddes cross country invitational on  Saturday.

The Winner senior crossed the finish line in 17:33.58.

Second place went to teammate Joseph Laprath in 18:25.38.

The Winner boys team won first place.

Also placing for the Winner boys were: Kylar Meek, 10th; Hayden McMurtey, 20th; Chaz Blotsky, 28th .

Sidda Schuyler led the Winner girls as she placed 14th and Melanie Brozik placed 31st.

In the girls JV race, Hanna Scheffler took 21st. In the boys JV race, Hayden Hostetler placed 14th and Matthew Calhoon placed 17th.

Concrete work to start this week

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The Winner office of the South Dakota Department of Transportation reported Monday afternoon that weather permitting paving will start from 7th to North County Road on the highway reconstruction project.

The paving will take place from Wednesday, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. This will be on the south side of the highway project. Persons are asked  to drive very slow through this area. The paving will have to cure for a while before persons are allowed to drive on it.

Work is also progressing to place new underground utilities.

Tentative plans call for phase I of the highway project to be finished in mid November.

The DOT asks the public for their continued patience as the highway upgrade continues.

Winner High School Class of 1975

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Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
The Winner High School class of 1975 held its 46th reunion at homecoming. Pictured in front from left are Karen (Calhoon) Long, Omaha, Neb.; Connie (Ulmer) Blazina, Ottumwa, Iowa; Barb (Bartels) Olson, Platte; Cindy (Mayes) Peterson, Winner. Second row from left are Kathy (Jensen) Klein, Mission; Linda (Soles) Brunmeier, Winner; Brenda (Tuttle) Ernst, Hamill; Shirley (Dice) Bingen, Ideal; Nancy Turgeon, Winner; Susan (Wiley) Engel, Hamill; Zenda (Strain) Haase, Valentine, Neb. In back from left are Russ McCormick, Mitchell; Roger Burkinshaw, White Lake; Lorin Dobbin, Reliance; Jeff Walton, Harlan, Iowa; Darnell (Ducheneaux) Swanson, Clearfield; Ken Engel, Hamill; Jim Flynn, Clearfield; Jeff Kirksey, Seattle, Wash. Not pictured are Rob Curtis, Allen Schwandt, Georgianne Bear, Chris Novotny, Jerry Paulson.

Winner High School Class of 1986

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The Winner High School Class of 1986 held their 35th reunion at homecoming. Pictured in front from left are Mel Williams, Winner; Chris Phillips, Chamberlain and James Mathis, Winner.
Two of the men in front are holding pictures of classmates who died Randy Condon and James Schmit. Second row from left are Lana (Pajl) Stickland, Winner; Todd Pravecek, Winner; Toni Vavra, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Jill (Giessinger) Langer, Gettysburg; Jane (Mechaley) Moser, Winner; Marty Pederson, Winner and Jean (Brown) Clark, Winner. In back from left are Amy (Steppat) Meinen, Gregory; Troy Best, Ideal; Ben Risseeuw, Plankinton; Laura (Schramm) Goodhope, Sioux Falls; Sam Goodhope, Sioux Falls; Wayne Hopkins, Arlington; Jason Jares, Pierre and Dr. Tom Covey, Winner.