Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

Vernon Alfred Beehler was born on December 20, 1943, in Gregory, SD, to Alfred and Marie (Henderson) Beehler.  He was the youngest of four children.  He attended grade school at a country school north of the family farm which was homesteaded in 1904.  Vernon graduated from Gregory High School in the class of 1961.  After graduation, he attended college in Springfield, SD.  He then ventured out west to California with a friend, where he was employed for a time.  After which, he returned home to Gregory and small-time life that better suited him.  Upon returning home, he began employment with Harrison Plumbing & Heating.  Vernon and Barb purchased the business in October, 1974.   They owned and operated the business for almost 50 years.  During high school, he met his future wife Barbara (Fortuna).  They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on March 8.  Vernon and Barbara were blessed with four children, Lisa, Jade, Jason, and Jerred.  

Vernon was an avid outdoorsman that enjoyed hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren.  He was also a big fan of all sporting events, which included coaching his sons’ baseball teams.  He enjoyed Gorilla football and was seated in the broadcast booth for over 30 years with his friend Jack Clark.  Besides Gorilla Football, he was fortunate enough to attend many USD Coyote football games watching his favorite players Chris, Lucas, and Tim!  Vernon also enjoyed many card games with family and friends.  He was a member of many leagues including golf, pool, and darts.  He was also inducted into the Gregory Fire Department Hall of Fame in 2016 with 26 years of volunteer service. Vernon was well known in his community for his ability to repair most anything.  In addition, he was well known for his quick one liners and Vernie-isms!   

Vernon, age 80, passed away peacefully at his home on April 3, 2024, after a long battle with cancer.  

Vernon is survived by his wife Barb.  His children include, Alisa (Steve) Thieman, Gregory; Jade (Julie) Beehler, Spencer, IA; Jason Beehler, Winner, SD; and Jerred (Jodi) Beehler, Inwood, IA.  Also has 10 awesome grandkids, Chris (Abbey) Mikkelsen, Lucas (Jessica) Mikkelsen, Eric (Lauren) Beehler, Bayli (Fiance Jeff) Beehler, Emily Beehler, Mali Beehler, Lillie Beehler, Masen Beehler, Easton Beehler, Mara Beehler, and great grandkids Drake and Haddie Mikkelsen and Knox and Nyla Mikkelsen. Also surviving are several nieces and one nephew along with close relatives and friends.  

He was preceded by his parents, brothers (Gerald & Roger), and sister (Anne).  

                                                                                 V o We’ll miss you!

Memorial for Vernon Beehler age 80 of Gregory, SD will be held on Monday, April 8, 2024,at 10:30AM at United Methodist Church in Gregory, South Dakota.  

Rosie Julia Pesek Smith passed away on March 27, 2024, in Burke, SD. Rosie was born June 12, 1933, to Joe and Helen (Vomacka) Pesek. She attended school around Colome and Dallas through the 8th grade, attended Colome High School for two years, and graduated from Gregory High School in 1954. She went on to attend Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, SD.

Rosie married Don Smith on October 9, 1954, at the Gregory Methodist Church. Rosie and Don have lived in the Gregory area their entire married life of 69 years.

Rosie taught in Dallas, Colome, Keya Paha, Gregory, and Hayes SD. Rosie taught for 12 years before retiring to take care of her mother who was injured in a car accident. Rosie also cared for her father, brothers, and mother-in-law in her retirement years. Rosie never forgot her former students and stayed in touch with many of them. She loved all her former students as well as the neighborhood children. Rosie was famous for giving candy bars or a dollar to the neighborhood kids in exchange for a hug.

Rosie loved to dance and listen to her Czech music. Her favorites were her dad’s button accordion and the Leon Olsen band.

Preceding Rosie in death are her parents, Joe and Helen Pesek, sister Helen, brothers Joseph and Jim Pesek, great nephew Jeremy Pesek, mother and father-in-law Cliff and Anna Smith, and close friend, Clarence Raschke.

Survivors of Rosie are her husband Don Smith, brother Alvin Pesek, sister-in-law Linda Smith, special friend Carol Raschke, many nephews and nieces, friends at Buche’s, as well as neighbors and friends too numerous to list.

Rosie will be greatly missed by many.

Funeral Services for Rosie Smith, age 90, of Gregory, SD, will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 10:30AM at United Methodist Church in Gregory, South Dakota. Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD.  Visitation is one hour prior to funeral service. 

Janice Anderson, 80, of Winner, SD passed away on Sunday, March 31, 2024 at the Pipestone County Hospice Home in Pipestone, MN.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 11 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Winner, SD. Burial  followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Janice Elaine Anderson was born to James & Ethel (Schneider) Konvalin in Winner South Dakota April 10, 1943.  She was the oldest of the 3 children.

She graduated from Winner High School in 1962. 

 She married Eldon Anderson June 8, 1963 in Kennebec South Dakota.  To this union one child was born, Dawn in 1973.

After marriage, Janice attended Stewarts School for Cosmetology in Sioux Falls SD.  She went on to be a hairdresser for over 40 years with the majority of this time having her own hair salon in her home.

Janice was an active member of First Christian Church serving as a deacon.  She was a member of the VFW ladies Auxiliary in Winner.  She enjoyed baking and cooking and had a green thumb with plants.  Every weekend, she looked forward to watching NASCAR.

In the fall of 2016 Janice was diagnosed with cancer.   She moved to Falls Landing Assisted Living in Pipestone MN to be closer to her daughter.  She enjoyed this time being closer to her family.   While living at the assisted living one of the joys she took pride in was caring for all the plants at the facility.

On Easter Sunday March 31st Janice, died peacefully surrounded by her family at the Pipestone County Hospice House in Pipestone, Minn.

Janice is lovingly remembered by her daughter Dawn (Jon) Carson, Pipestone and their children Mitchel & Morgyn of Pipestone, one brother Michael (Judy) Konvalin, Rapid City South Dakota, and several nephews and a niece.

She is preceded in death by her husband Eldon, her bother Larry Konvalin, her parents James & Ethel Konvalin and mother and father-in-Law Leonard & Helen Anderson.

Barbara Jean “Barb” Winckler, 76, of Winner, SD passed away on Friday, March 29, 2024 at her residence in Winner, SD.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, April 5, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.  at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Barbara Jean (“Barb”) Winckler was born on May 29, 1947, to Raymond Bambas and Genevieve (Wysuph) “Jenny” Bambas, in the Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, South Dakota.  She was the only child born to the Bambas family and lived in Tyndall, South Dakota, throughout her upbringing. Ray was a plumber while Jenny was a homemaker for many years; and, together, they ran the local movie theatre and the Tyndall Sky Hi Drive-In.  

Barb graduated from Tyndall High School in 1965 – and treasured her high school classmates for life – especially the love of her life Myron “Big Mike” Winckler.  She went on to acquire her elementary education bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota and began teaching the next fall in the Yankton School District. 

While growing up, Barb was active in many school activities and, until the last few years, was happy to share a demonstration of a favorite cheer while a high school cheerleader.  In college, she was a proud member of the Chi Omega sorority and spoke often of her shared experiences with her sorority sisters.

After many a love letter while serving in the Army in Vietnam, Myron Mark Winckler made the best decision of his life and asked Barbara Jean Bambas to marry him.  They were engaged in February of 1969 and married on July 24, 1969.  They danced beautifully – at weddings and other events – and ultimately, through life.  To this union, two children were born – Alicia Jean in 1972 and Mark Raymond in 1978.

After a few years in Yankton, Mike and Barb moved to Colome, South Dakota, where Barb continued her career as a teacher.  A few years later, they moved to the big city – Winner – with Barb transitioning to teach in the Winner School District.  While Mike was socializing with others, enjoying the outdoors, and demonstrating reliably how to tell a great story, Barb was trying to get him to “do good, kind things”, “watch his language”, and be a role model for his children – but also laughed heartily and was entertained by his antics, sayings, and retorts for the better part of their life together.  Although their interests and personalities were very different, they remained in love through each of their earthly transitions.  

Through an impactful career of 33 years as an elementary school teacher, primarily for reading and math for early elementary students, she took great pride in the success of her school children and would reference their life successes as she tracked many of them quietly for years thereafter.  

Barb was widely known for her kindness, warmth, expressive cards and letters, and enthusiastic conversations.  She approached others always with a smile and with a positivity, hopefulness, and faith that miracles do happen while keeping hope alive for a better future.  Many have shared stories about her kind words and effervescent smile, enthusiastic waving while driving about town, and enjoyable (yet never brief) conversations as she moved about her daily life – noticeably changing their day in a positive way.

She took immense pride in and loved her family deeply.  To anyone whom she encountered, she told stories about the successes and accomplishments of her grandchildren and children – and when life wasn’t so kind – what she hoped for each of their futures.  She was also quite a sports enthusiast – especially when her son, Mark, was wrestling.  At times, her response to what was happening on the mat was more entertaining than what was actually happening on the mat.

She is survived by her daughter Alicia Jean, her grandson, Lucas Edward Hansen, his father, Gary Hansen; her son, Mark Raymond, his three children, Norah Blanche, Jacob Marcus, and Sullivan Charles, and their mother, Melissa (Grossenburg) Winckler; and her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law – Norma (Bob) Bender, JoeWayne Winckler, Vern Dangel, Jarvis (Marilyn) Winckler, Sue Winckler, Merlin (Lisa) Winckler, and Larry Winckler.

Barb passed peacefully in her home on Good Friday, March 29, 2024, appropriate as she was a staunch woman of Catholic faith. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike, her parents, Genevieve and Ray Bambas, her sister-in-law, Arla Dangel, her brother-in-law David Winckler, Mike’s parents, Hubert and Edna Winckler, several of she and Mike’s good friends, and many uncles, aunts, cousins.