Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

Roland Barton, age 93, of Murdo, South Dakota, died on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at Avantara Nursing Home in Pierre.

Roland John Henry Barton, better known as “Uncle” to all that had the pleasure of meeting him, was born on Aug. 13, 1927 to John Otto Barton and Christina Niedan Barton in Murdo, South Dakota. Roland was baptized and confirmed and was a life-long member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in the country near the farm.

Roland grew up on the family farm attending 1st grade at age 5 in the one room school house down the road. He had 2 first grade classmates and 8 other students in the school. He remembered all their names. He attended Okaton High School for three years and then graduated from Winner High School in 1944. There he took the test for the Mensa Society and was later accepted into this prestigious high IQ society. He never told us about this – we found his letter of acceptance! He always regretted not going on to college but enjoyed his many years of farming/ranching.

Uncle had a love for astronomy, and that love took him to destinations including South Africa and Aruba for viewing an eclipse, and at nearly 90 years old, took him to Nebraska to get a better view of that solar eclipse. He also had a yearning to know more about his ancestors. He was able to travel to the Ukraine where he was able to do more genealogy research and explored earlier generations’ way of life. Uncle also attended many German Fests throughout the Midwest during his lifetime. He enjoyed raising tomatoes and potatoes until his health took him to an assisted living/extended care facility in Pierre, South Dakota where he resided until he was called to his heavenly home June 3, 2021.

Roland is survived by nephews, Eugene (Becky) Barnes of Mesa, Arizona, and Steve (Michelle) Taylor of Littleton, Colorado, and niece, Linda (Bob) Barnes Caton of Littleton. Also many great-nieces and nephews, relatives and friends in the Murdo community.

He is preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Vesta Barton (Jim) Taylor and Esther Barton (Elvin) Barnes. Also nieces, Connie Taylor and Ann Marie Barnes (Merlyn) Peck.

Visitation will be held one hour preceding the services. His funeral will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 12, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, south of Midland. He will be laid to rest next to his parents at St. Peter Cemetery.

A live stream of the service will be available on the webpage the day of the service.

Everett Vernon Hossle, 82, of Hamill, SD went to be with his heavenly Father on Thursday, June 3, 2021. He passed away at the Winner Regional Health Care Center in Winner, SD.

Private family funeral services was  held on Monday, June 7, 2021 at 2 p.m. at the Church of Nazarene in Winner, SD. Burial  followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Everett was born on Jan. 5, 1939 to Vernon and Jeanette (Broline) Hossle, at the Wilson Hospital in Winner, SD. He was baptized on April 9, 1939 in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church at Hamill, SD.

Everett attended grade school at the North Bijou School and high school in Winner, SD.

On Aug. 12th, 1961, he married the love of his life, Carol Jo Spreckels. To this union four children were born; Carlette, Kirt, Kent, Kory.

Everett served as a deacon and also served on the Tripp County Fair board.

Everett loved ranching, farming, his hereford cattle, but his family was his pride and joy.

 Everett is survived by his wife, Carol Jo, his children; Carlette (Gene) Schultz, Kirt (Jacque) Hossle, Kent (Julie) Hossle, Kory (Becky Jo) Hossle, “adopted daughter” Anna (Dan) Nesseth. Grandchildren; Travis (Sara) Swartz, Jeremy Schultz, Benjamin (Jacqueline) Schultz, Colton (Lindsey) Hossle, Chisom (Jessica) Hossle, Cierra Hossle, Chelsey (Cody Daly) Storms, Sidney (Kevin Tiger) Hossle, Landon (Mariah) Hossle, Samuel Hossle, and Paisley Jo Hossle. Great Grandchildren; Rosalie Schultz, Evelyn Schultz, Memphis Hossle, Dietrich Youles, Maggie Mae Hossle, Madeline Hossle, Grayson Tiger, Ramsie Hossle, Liza Daly, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Jeanette, in-laws Harry and Bonnelle Spreckels, sister Evelyn Hofer, brother-in-law Calvin Hofer and grandson Ty Hossle.

William Long Crow III, 59, of Winner, SD passed away on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Funeral services were held on Friday, June 4, 2021 at 11 a.m.  at the Assembly of God Church in Winner, SD. Burial  followed in the Mniska Cemetery. Wake services were held on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 5 p.m.  at the Assembly of God Church in Winner, SD.

William, also known to those who shared his life as “Will”, “Willie” or “Uncle Will”, passed on and began his journey to the spirit world on May 29, 2021 at Avera Hospital in Sioux Falls.

William was born in Rosebud, SD on June 10, 1961 to William Long Crow, Jr. and Geraldine Iron Heart. He grew up in the Bull Creek area and was raised by his grandparents, William Sr. and Rosa (Collins) Long Crow. He liked to recall the good times in Bull Creek and often mentioned his memories with his grandparents.                                                                            

Willie attended Hamill School for a short time and then went on to Todd County School where his love for basketball grew. He graduated from Todd High School in 1980.

He went on to attend Dakota Wesleyan College in Mitchell for a few years. Later on, Willie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business at Sinte Gleska University. As a student at SGU he came back to his roots as a Lakota, he made many friends there and was proud and grateful in his accomplishment.

Willie loved many things in his life. Basketball, music from the 70’s and 80’s, family dinners, and watching the Minnesota Vikings play football. But, most of all he loved just being with his grand kids and being called “Uncle” Will. You would often hear the kids in the backyard playing and Willies’ laughter right behind.

William is survived by his sister, Marvene Long Crow from Sioux Falls and brothers Lawrence (Bernadette) Long Crow from Winner and Frank Iron Heart from Sioux Falls, and many nieces, nephews and grandchildren that he cared so deeply for.   Willies’ passing was preceded by his parents Geraldine and William Jr., paternal grandparents Rosa and William, Sr., maternal grandparents Fred and Beulah Iron Heart, a special uncle, Elmer Long Crow, and 2 sisters, Jackie and Sandy.

Vickie Ann (Winter) Harter, 65, was the daughter of Ralph and Shirley (Rehak) Winter. She was born Aug. 23, 1955, in Winner, SD. On August 16, 1956, Vic was blessed with the birth of her younger sister, Val Winter. The two of them spent the next sixty-four years sharing all the joys, triumphs, and hardships that life had to offer them and shared a bond that only sisters can.

Vic attended school in Winner, where she graduated from high school in 1973. While growing up in Winner, she enjoyed the tight-knit community and friendships that are found in small towns all across South Dakota.

While attending high school, Vic met and fell in love with Lonny Vern Harter. They were married on Aug. 10, 1974, starting a love-filled adventure that would last forty-seven years. Shortly after the wedding they packed their bags and moved to Sturgis, SD, where Lon accepted a job teaching at Sturgis’s Elementary School. After spending their first few years together as a married couple in Sturgis, they once again packed their bags and moved to Philip, SD, where Lon accepted a job to become the elementary principal for Haakon County School District.

While living in Philip, Vic and Lon were blessed with the birth of their first child. Eric John Harter was born in Philip, SD, on Aug. 24, 1979. Three years later, Amy Lynn Harter was born in Philip, SD, on Oct. 17, 1982. During this time, Vic was able to stay home and take care of two of the most important people in her life, Eric and Amy.

In 1984, Lon accepted the job of Middle School Principal at Sturgis Williams Middle School. The Harter’s were once again on the move, but this time they were a family of four. In 1987, Vic took a job working at Black Hills Special Services Cooperative, which she retired from on June 7, 2019, after 32 years of service. While working there, Vic made several lifelong friendships that lasted beyond retirement. While living in Sturgis, Vic and Lon attended LifeSpring Wesleyan Church. They were regulars at the church and met many lifelong friends, not just at church, but throughout the community. They enjoyed spending time with all their friends and family as often as they could.

Vic was blessed with a wonderful husband, incredible children, and a loving family, but without a doubt the thing she enjoyed the most in her life was her grandchildren. There was nothing she enjoyed more than cuddling with them in her big recliner, facetiming them at bath time, talking to them on the phone, and just spending time around all of them. Whether taking them on a trip to Disney World or watching them wrestle with Lon on the living room floor, it was pure joy for Vic. A birthday or holiday did not go by without receiving a card from their grandma, and Sunny, Sean, Berkeley, and Calder loved every second of their time with her.

Victoria “Vickie” Ann Harter, 65, of Sturgis, died Monday, May 31, 2021, at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital.

Survivors that cherished their time spent with Vic include her husband, Lon Harter of Sturgis, SD; her son, Eric (Jason) Harter of Dell Rapids, SD; her daughter, Amy (Chris) Bessette of Wall, SD; grandsons, Berkeley and Calder of Wall, SD; a grandson and granddaughter, Sean and Sunny of Dell Rapids, SD; her mother, Shirley Winter of Rapid City, SD; her sister, Val (Steve) Lien of Rapid City, SD; many in-laws; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ralph Winter; her father and mother in-law, Vern and Berniece Harter; and her nephew, Reed Lien.

Funeral services were at 2:30 p.m. on June 4, 2021, at LifeSpring Wesleyan Church in Sturgis.   Interment  followed at Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.

 Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.

Verna Jane (Forsch) Aeschbacher, 88, of Billings MT passed away peacefully in the early morning of May 22, 2021. Exactly 6 years prior to the date her brother Bing passed away, the family likes to think that he came to bring her home.

Verna was born Nov. 1, 1932 south of Herrick on the family homestead in a sod house to Emil and Albina (Stroh) Forsch. She was the 1st born of 13 children in the family. Verna was raised on the family farm and attended grade school and high school at Burke, SD.  Verna would tell stories of having to get up early and milk the cows before she could clean up and walk to town for school. Verna graduated from Burke High School with the class of 1951. After high school graduation Verna moved to Winner,SD where she worked as a telephone operator for the local telephone company transferring calls with a switch board.

In 1954 Verna met and married Dale Robert Aeschbacher on April 27, 1954. From this union they had 4 children Allen, Meldon, Myron, & Joel.

Verna took pride in being a stay at home mom taking care of her children and later on in life enjoyed having her grandchildren grow up in the same small community as she lived! When her grandkids started high school Verna took pride in cooking lunch every day for them. For 7 consecutive years they would come from school for their 20 minute lunch break to enjoy her home cooked meals which always included some form of potatoes. Verna enjoyed cooking, conversation, and of course making her famous brownies that her grandsons loved and requested often. Verna and Dale always attended any sporting events her grandchildren took part in.

Verna also remembered everyone’s birthday/anniversary and was sure to send a letter or a card out. She made sure to keep in touch with her granddaughter Domenica through the years with letters. Dale would never write a line or two but always made sure to read each letter they received in the mail.

Verna was a Chicago Cubs fan her and Dale would switch the “tube” from the Dodger and Cubs games. Baseball was only one of the many things Verna & Dale shared interest in. In their retirement years you could always find them on Sunday nights playing card downtown or at their friends house. They never would play on the same team girls against guys in pitch.

Verna took time to enjoy herself by being selfless member and was part of the Newcomers extension club for 38 years which includes 2020. Verna would offer up her talents and make 5 homemade pies a year for the annual local 4H fair every August.  She always had to make an extra peach pie for Dale & Bridget to enjoy!

It wasn’t until 2015 when Verna’s health declined after she had multiple mini strokes and once finishing rehab in 2016 moved to Billings, MT with Dale where they proceded to live out their final days.

Verna is survived by her sisters: Marlys Cardelli of Inner Grove Heights, MN; Joyce & Art Knutson of Kaw City, OK; Jann Gessner of Oakdale, MN; Marjorie Schroeder of Appleton, WI; Marlene & Robert Percy of Sioux Falls, SD; her sons, Allen Aeschbacher, Helena, MT; Myron Aeschbacher, Billings MT; Meldon & Kathy Aeschbacher, Ashland WI,; Joel & Rhonda Aeschbacher Wanblee SD, Grandchildren: Domenica VanDyke Sarasota FL, Brooke & Dustin Fisher Winner SD, Sam & Elaine Aeschbacher Ideal SD, Bridget & Younger Kramme Presho SD, Patrick Aeschbacher Winner SD, Jenie & Nick Borders Thermopolis WY, Jess & Miles Vondra, Zap ND. Great Grandchildren: Payton, Bailey Carley, Jerrod, Evelyn, Elyse, Eloise, Emerie, Mieka, Lincoln, Baylee, & Tayton. Along with a very large extended family.Verna is preceded in death by her husband of 67 years Dale Aeschbacher, her parents, a baby sister Karen Kay, her sisters Shirley, Bonnie, and Lorraine and three brothers Gary, LaVonne and LuVerne.