The National Interscholastic Athletic
Administrators Association (NIAAA) is pleased to announce that Brett Gardner,
athletic director at Winner School District, has been recognized by the NIAAA
as a Certified Athletic Administrator.
To earn this distinction, Brett has demonstrated the highest level of knowledge and expertise in the field of interscholastic athletic administration. The voluntary certification process included a thorough evaluation of the candidate’s educational background, experience and professional contributions, as well as a rigorous, comprehensive written examination.
Brett is one of an elite group of
interscholastic athletic administrators nationwide to attain this level of
professionalism.
The NIAAA is a national professional organization
consisting of all 50 state athletic administrator associations and more than
12,000 individual members. It is
dedicated to promoting the professional growth of interscholastic athletic
administrators and preserving the educational nature of interscholastic
athletics and the place of these programs in the secondary school curriculum.
The Tripp County 4-H Rodeo will be held
July 15 and July 16.
The ambassador contest will be held
July 15 with horsemanship starting at 6:30 p.m. followed by interview and
speeches in the 4-H building. Horsemanship and speeches are open to the public
to attend.
Ambassador coordinators are Sarah
Gustafson and Shayna Dillon.
Judges for the horsemanship are JoLynn
Grieves and Dustin Schmidt. Appearance and interview judges are Amanda
Willuweit and Dr. Eric Heath.
Speech judges are Sandra York and
Brandy Biggins.
The crowning of the ambassador will be
July 16 at 8:30 a.m. at the rodeo grounds.
The ambassador contestant in the senior
division is Avery Schacht of Lake Andes.
Senior dally team roping is open to
both boys and girls.
Rodeo stock will be provided by
Hollenbeck Rodeo Co., Winner.
This year will see over 125 contestants
competing to qualify for a spot at the SD state 4-H finals to be held in Ft. Pierre Aug. 20, 21
and 22. This will be the 50th anniversary for the state 4-H finals rodeo.
Contestants who place first through fourth will earn a spot at the finals.
There will not be a gate admission to
attend the rodeo in Winner and
concessions will be available on the grounds.
Karri and Denny Allen with Healing Hope
Ministries are bringing the walk to remember to Winner. It will be held on
Sunday, July 18 at 1:30 pm at the city park. There will be cookies and drinks
donated by local businesses. There will be various door prizes also donated by
local businesses. There will be signs
remembering children that have passed
along the walking path at the park.
Katie Hurley lost her son, Brooks, in an accidental shooting.
Brooks Dean Hurley was a wild, bright and
ornery three and a half year old boy. He loved everything about life; animals,
movies, anything that went “vroom”, the rain, “Garth Me”
songs, lightning bugs,
“nuggles” with Mom or Dad, he loved it all. He lit up a room with his
contagious smile and deep blue eyes.
This is Katie’s story about what happened
three years ago that changed her life forever.
On Feb. 16
2018 at 6:37 pm my world stopped spinning. I was on my way to pick up my
kids after work and I received a phone call from my now ex boyfriend whom had
been watching my kids while I was at work. He was screaming that Brooks had
been shot. I just remember dropping my phone, my ears were ringing and the only
thing I could think about was my sweet little boy and how I could not hear him
crying on the other end of the phone. Surely he should be crying, if he was
hurt he would cry. There was no crying.
Brook’s death was caused by an accidental
self-inflicted gunshot wound. He found a handgun that was loaded in a
nightstand drawer that Katie did not know was there.
I raced to the house, and ran inside to
find my little boy laying lifeless on the floor. My daughter, who was ten years
old at the time, was there. She had called 911 while CPR was performed. When I
arrived I took over CPR. Somehow the directions to where we were confuseding
and the ambulance had taken the wrong turn. So my daughter, being so brave, ran
down the driveway to the road to flag them down. Everything was happening so
fast and at the same time so slow. I know now in situations like this that
adrenaline takes over your body. I have been CPR certified for many years but
never in my life did I imagine I would have to use those skills to try to save
my own child’s life.
When the ambulance arrived they scooped my
sweet boy up off the floor, ran him to the ambulance and headed to the
hospital. My daughter and I followed behind the ambulance. She called family
and close friends on the way to have them meet us at the hospital. I had never
prayed so hard in my life.
When we arrived at the hospital we were met
there by familiar faces. The pastor who married Brooks’s father and I being one
of them. He took me in a room and prayed with me. I had never felt so close yet
so abandoned by my faith. I did not understand how or why this could be
happening. This was the kind of thing that only happens in movies.
After a short time I was allowed into the
room where the nurses and doctors were working frantically to save my sons
life. I stood at the foot of the bed and prayed and pleaded with God to please
save my little boy. I knew that the more
time that went by the odds of my little boy coming home with me were
diminishing.
I was told I was needed in the lobby as
more family were arriving. They said that they had a flight crew coming to fly
Brooks to the Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls. I held onto that hope. It
sounded so promising. After sitting in the waiting room for a few short minutes
a man whose name I can’t remember but will forever remember his face, came out
and knelt down in front of me, took my hands in his hands and said the hardest
words I’ve ever had to hear. ” I’m so sorry, we did everything we
could…but your son did not make it.”
It has been three years now since we lost
Brooks. It has been a daily struggle to keep moving forward and I couldn’t have
kept my head above water if it weren’t for my family and friends but mostly my
faith. I am a very private person when it comes to my faith, losing Brooks
really tested my relationship with God. It is so hard to understand the
“why?”
Two years ago I was pointed in the
direction of Healing Hope Ministries by my boyfriend, Ted Kahler’s mom, Julie
Kahler. I found them on Facebook and saw they were having a walk to remember
children who had passed away. So I decided to reach out to Karri and we
attended the walk in Valentine, NE last year. It was wonderful and made me feel
supported and reminded me that I am not alone on this journey. It has helped me
in finding my faith again and knowing that Brooks is okay and that we will see
him again some day.
I wanted to help bring this event to Winner
as I know there has been so much loss in our local communities. I hope that
this brings parents, grandparents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins and anyone
else who has been affected by the loss of a child together to support each
other in our journeys. Every child deserves to be remembered and every child’s
story deserves to be heard.
Frances Montour, age 93, of Winner, SD
passed away on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at the Winner Regional Health Care Center
in Winner, SD.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at 2 p.m. at
the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.
A wake service was held on Friday, July 9, 2021 at 7 p.m. at the Winner Middle School Gymnasium.
Frances Maple Sprague Montour was welcomed to her heavenly home on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, surrounded by her family. Frances was born in Bradley, Mich., on March 10,1928 to Adam and Elizabeth Sprague. She was raised in the Bradley Community until she married Raymond Montour on June 6, 1951.
Frances was one of 11 children and is the last one to pass on.
Frances was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond A. Montour.
She was the beloved mother to Rebecca Wakeman (Thomas), Ruth Hooper (Kenneth), Sharon Phelps (Walter), David Montour, James Montour (Louva), Elizabeth Montour, and Esther Montour and grandmother to Anthony Wakeman, Maria George, Elena Wakeman, Christopher Wakeman, Catherine Wakeman, Suzanna Miller, Joshua Hooper, Joe Hooper, Serena Hooper, Sarissa Hooper, Wayne Phelps, Dakota Phelps, Raymond Montour, Max Montour, Jess Montour, Brandon Montour, Andy Wilson, and Amanda Wilson.
She was the great grandmother to Antoinette Wakeman, Raiden Wakeman, Alyssa George, Nicholas George, Mikayla George, Madison George, Olivia Sanchez, Riley Sanchez, Keziah Wakeman, Madalyn Wakeman, Maximino Betancourt, Milo Miller, Selah Miller, Drew Hooper, Ella Hooper, and Ashlynn Phelps.
She was a member of the Match-E-Be-She-Wish Band of the Pottawatomi Indians. Frances and her husband, Raymond, were the founders of the Society of Indian Missions. She was an honorary member on the board of the Society of Indian Missions for many years. Frances was a very devout Christian and prayer warrior. One of her greatest joys was to go to church.
Memorial Services for Ruby Graham age 77
formerly of Springview, Neb., were held on Saturday, July 10 at 10:30 a.m. at
United Methodist Church, Springview, NE. Burial followed in Mt Hope Cemetery.
Ruby passed away at the University Medical Center in Omaha, Neb., on July 1, 2021.
Ruby Mae Weston Graham was born on Sept. 7,
1943, to John Earl and Joella (Ellis) Weston in Ainsworth, NE.
Ruby attended grade school at the
Cottonwood school which is located in the yard at the Weston Ranch. She
attended eighth grade through high school in Springview, NE.
On July 6, 1960, she married Donald
Graham. To this union three children
were born: Russell, Barry and Brinda.
Ruby was blessed with the birth of her
daughter Sondra on Nov. 10, 1981.
Ruby had a love for flowers and
plants. Her green thumb could make
anything grow and her flower beds were amazing.
She enjoyed her years working at various Walmart greenhouses, and was
willing to share her knowledge with everyone.
Ruby enjoyed spending time with her family,
especially her grandchildren and great grandkids. Nothing she enjoyed more than cuddling the
little ones! She loved to travel and had
many interesting adventures and saw beautiful sites. Her recent trips were
canceled due to Covid, which was a disappointment to her. She also enjoyed gardening, sewing and
playing games with her kids. Playing
cards with family and friends was also an enjoyable pastime.
Ruby, 77, of Red Cloud, NE, went to her
heavenly home on Thursday, July 1, 2021.
She passed away at the Buffet Cancer Center in Omaha, NE.
Survivors that cherished their time spent
with Ruby include her son, Russell (Renee) Graham of Springfield, OH; her son
Barry Graham of Chetek, WI; her daughter Brinda (David) Simons of Winner, SD;
her daughter Sondra (Mike) Peck of Bonesteel, SD; granddaughters Danielle of
Kathleen, GA, and Michelle of Santa Fe, NM;
granddaughters Tara of Downsville, WI, and Halley of Menomonie, WI;
grandson Trenton of Rapid City; granddaughter Megan of Watertown, SD;
granddaughters Lacy and Ily of Bonesteel, SD; and eight great grandchildren;
her brother Ben (Sue) Weston of Springview, NE; and numerous, nephews, cousins
and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents John and Joella Weston, her brother Brad Weston, and grandson Tommy.
Harold Benson, 79, of Winner, SD passed
away on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at the Winner Regional Hospital in Winner,
SD.
Funeral service was held on Monday, July 12, 2021 at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Winner. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.
Harold Duane Benson was born at the Winner Hospital on Jan. 4, 1942, to Walter and Edna (Stark) Benson, the oldest of four boys. He attended Blue Valley grade school and graduated from high school in 1960.
In 1962 Harold was drafted into the U.S.
Army. Assigned to a special unit, Harold was very proud of the fact that he did
not have to wear a uniform while serving his country. He was discharged from
the Army in1968.
Harold was a lifetime member of the American Legion.
Harold was married to Sue Muzney on May
24,1969. Harold was a truck driver most of his life while living in Iowa. After
retirement he returned to Winner and continued his love of playing cards and
attending baseball games. He would attend as many games as he was able to cheering
on the youngest to oldest baseball players.
Harold passed away July 6, 2021 at Golden
Prairie Manor. Harold was preceded in death by his parents,Walt & Edna, two
brothers Dale and Tommy, mother-in-law and father-in-law James & Imo
Muzney, brother-in-laws LLoyd Stevens and Don Muzney, and sister-in-law Carolyn
Muzney.
Harold is survived by his brother Bob
(Judy), sister-in-law Cindy Jones (Kelly), niece Bobbi Jo (Scott)Rank, nephews
Jay Benson (Carrie), Blake Benson, Chad Benson (Darla), and Nick Benson
(Lauren), and Darrell (Peggy) Muzney of Iowa. Two great nieces and 3 great
nephews.
Edwin L. Assman, age 68, passed away on
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at his home in Pierre.
Services were held at 10 am, Tuesday, June 22, at St. Peter
and Paul Catholic Church, and he will be interred at the Black Hills National
Cemetery in Sturgis.
Ed was born on June 23, 1952, to Joe and Esther Assman of Mission, South Dakota. He was the third eldest child of seven that included two older brothers,three younger brothers, and a younger sister. He grew up farming and ranching, deciding at an early age, that was not what he wanted to do for the remainder of his life. He attended a one room country school until 9th grade, and he was the only student at his grade level throughout. He attended Todd County High School in Mission, participating in band, wrestling, and track, and graduating in 1970.
After acquiring consent from his mother
because he was underage, he volunteered for the U.S. Army at the age of 17. He
was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood for combat medic training and Ft. Sam Houston
for Airborne training. He arrived in Vietnam in early April of 1971. He was
stationed at Northern I Corps on the DMZ as a medic for light armor troop with
frequent engagements with the North Vietnamese near Con Thein (Alpha 4) fire
base. His unit was 1st Platoon B troop 3rd squadron 5th Armored Calvary 9th
Infantry Division. He was wounded in heavy combat on May 18,1971, earning his
first Purple Heart. Ed was able to return to his unit, however, he was
seriously injured again on June 18 that same year, earning his second Purple
Heart. He was able to leave for home to heal and recuperate in late August on
convalescent leave, but later returned to the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort
Bragg. He worked as an Airborne medic until he obtained an honorable discharge
in July of 1972.
After being discharged from the Army, Ed
was hired as the youngest ever (at that time) for the South Dakota Highway
Patrol, at the age of 21. He quickly rose through the ranks, as he was promoted
to sergeant in 1982, and lieutenant in 1990, where he was eventually stationed
in Pierre. He had a variety of accomplishments, including the youngest sergeant,
the youngest lieutenant, and the SWAT team leader. He was even the first
trooper awarded the Meritorious Service Ribbon for apprehending hundreds of
drug offenders. He also taught drug tactics at the police academy. During his
time as a State Trooper, Ed was the leader of various security details,
including President George H. W. Bush when he visited South Dakota.
Unfortunately, in 1997, due to heart complications, Ed had to medically retire
early. Since that time, he continuously worked as an investigator for the Crime
Victims Program and had his own private investigation firm.
Family and friends can attest that Ed had an incredible sense of humor, and was extremely witty, well read, and very articulate. He was a true patriot. Ed was also very passionate about history and would frequently attend Mountain Men Rendezvous with full pre-1840 era Fur Trade re-enactments, that included the correct attire, housing, and weapons. He was always up for a road trip or any impromptu adventure. He was not only a loving husband, father, brother; overall friend to everyone that knew him. Just know you were all loved by him.
Grateful for sharing Ed’s life and survived
by his loving wife, Josephine, sons, Clint (Shannon), Colter, and Bridger,
brothers, Dave (Diana), Greg (Cindy), Chris (Cathy), Brad (Debra), Mike
(Darla), sister Mary Beth (Chris Lovejoy), and grandchildren, Aubrey, William,
and Ethan.
Proceded in death by his parents, Joe and
Esther, infant sisters Jean and Kimberly, and little brother Gordon.
With a heavy heart we are saddened by the
loss of a true patriot who was willing to take a bullet for his country and did
take a bullet for his country.
Submitted photo Zona Serr and Elizabeth Wonnenberg create a circuit to be entered into the Mid Dakota Fair. The magic of electricity workshop for 4-Hers was held June 30. They learned how to create a circuit, make an electromagnet and how a compass works in terms of magnets and poles.
Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo All arounds at the Tripp County 4-H horse show include from left Kade Fenenga, beginner all around; Reven Moss, junior boy all around; Kyla Mammen, junior girl all around; Bailey Fairbanks, senior all around and Jack Anderson, senior boy all around. The horse show was held June 28.
Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo Three of the Winner High School students who attended Boys State and Girls State spoke at the July 1 meeting of the Winner Rotary Club. Pictured from left are Finn Bartels, Adrienne Lewis, Michael Olson and Bob Benson, president of the Rotary Club. Not pictured are Marissa Meiners and Ryan Sell.
By
Dan Bechtold
Editor
Attending Boys State and Girls State
allows high school students to understand the workings of government.
Three Winner High School students who
attended Boys State and Girls State spoke at the Winner Rotary Club on
Thursday.
Finn Bartels and Michael Olson attended
Boys State in Aberdeen. Adrienne Lewis attended Girls State in Vermillion.
All three enjoyed the experience.
Lewis represented the city of Miami and was elected city auditor. She
was also elected county register of deeds. At the state level, she was elected
to the senate and headed the transportation committee.
In the senate, one of her bill was
passed. Lewis found out some girls have similar names and the spelling of their
name is the same. This was a bill to add pictures on the ballot for future
Girls State.
“I learned a lot about the different
levels of government and how to be more involved,” she explained.
She also learned how to campaign for people you
believe in.
Bartels represented the city of
Phoenix. He was elected city postmaster and county chairman.
Bartels found it a great way to meet
new people.
Olson represented the city of Honalulu
and was the District 5 alderman. He then was elected District 5 commissioner
and then elected sheriff.
At the state level, he worked with
Bartels on a minimum wage bill.
“I enjoyed meeting new people I would
have not met had I not attended,” he said.
Olson said Boys State taught him how
complex government is and this experience will help him in the future.
Speaking at Boys State and Girls State
were Gov. Kristi Noem and the South Dakota congressional delegation.
Also representing WHS at Girls State
and Boys State were Marissa Meiners and Ryan Sell. They were unable to attend
the July 1 meeting so they will speak at a future Rotary meeting.
Boys State is sponsored by the American
Legion and Girls State is sponsored by the Legion Auxiliary. It was held May 31
to June 5.
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