Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

Earl Stucke, a pastor at United Methodist churches in the Winner area and across South Dakota for decades, died Feb. 25, 2021, in Rapid City with family at his side. He was 91.

Earl was born to Joseph Stucke and Phebe Sloat Stucke on April 21, 1929 in Gettysburg. His boyhood was spent on a farm near his homesteading grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

The family survived the Great Depression in the loving care of family and friends. After high school graduation, Earl went to South Dakota State College, where he met Grace Hay of Lake Preston. He graduated from college and then became a Navy officer serving aboard the heavy cruiser USS Los Angeles during the Korean conflict.

Earl and Grace married in December 1953. They returned to Gettysburg to farm until Earl was called by God to be a pastor. After seminary he began a decades-long ministry in South Dakota that included the Winner Larger Parish. From 1966 to 1972, Earl served the Winner, Colome and Lakeview Methodist churches, Ideal Presbyterian, and Millboro and Wewela United Churches of Christ.

Earl and Grace retired to Rapid City in 1994.

Earl loved his congregations and ministry in South Dakota. He was trusting, quick with a handshake and had an affinity for good stories and jokes.

He has been blessed by his marriage to Grace and their five children and their spouses, Janet and Rob Young of Rapid City; Karen and John Stucke-Jungemann of Tempe, Ariz.; Kathy and Mike Torgerson of Rapid City; David and Bea Stucke of Rapid City; and John and Lorie Stucke of Spokane, Wash. He had nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Earl shared a special bond with surviving brother Lloyd and his wife Dar of Mesa, Ariz.

Earl’s family could not have asked for a better role model, mentor, confidant and friend. May his spirit of joyful optimism continue to flourish in the company of Heaven.

A memorial service is pending for late June.

For a full obituary, visit https://www.kirkfuneralhome.com/obituary/raymond-stucke.

Marvin F. Olson, 77, of Wood River, formerly of Winner, SD, passed away on Monday, March 1, 2021 at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney, NE.

 Funeral services were held  1 p.m.  on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at the United Methodist Church, 301 West 4th Street – Winner, South Dakota.  Interment will be in the Winner Cemetery in Winner, South Dakota. 

 In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Marvin Olson Memorial Fund.  Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul, Nebraska is assisting the family. 

 Marvin was born on June 19, 1943 to Amiel “Bud” Olson and Stella (Nelson) Olson, inside a farmhouse on a little farm 8.5 miles west of Colome, SD.  He was the 4th oldest of 8 children, with 2 sisters and 5 brothers.  In 1945, his parents moved to their forever home 12.5 miles south of Winner, S.D. where he spent most of his life and even became blessed enough to own the property later on in his life.

In 1957, Marvin completed his first semester at Winner High School before becoming ill in the fall and choosing to leave school and help on the family farm. Marvin also helped on neighboring farms until 1963, when he started working for Hanson Feed and Fertilizer. He was employed here for four years before taking a job as a mechanic at Schramm Auto Sales and Repair. He and his brother Ken also did custom haying and harvesting across the state of South Dakota during this time.

 In the fall of 1962, Marvin met the love of his life, Beverly Engel, and the two were married on May 10, 1963. To this union, five children were born, with a plus one born in 1987. In 1972 they moved to a farm south of Winner where they farmed while he continued to work at the garage. He never retired from being a mechanic.

 Marvin and his family started Olson Dairy Farm. This was a family venture with all hands-on deck. Marvin, with the help of his children, ran the dairy farm while he also drove truck, hauling milk for other dairy producers for 18 years. During this time, he worked for Meyer Dairy Transport out of Springview, NE and Riteway Milk out of Holdrege, NE. After 18 long years in the truck, and numerous friendships made, Marvin decided to give up the open road and took a job at the City of Winner as a Shop Foreman and Maintenance Supervisor. He worked here for four years before retiring.

 Marvin had a strong set of family values, which he instilled in his children and grandchildren. There was not a person around that Marvin would not invite to their dinner table or lend a helping hand, if there was a need. He was a wealth of knowledge and a caretaker, mechanic, friend, and the go-to for many. He loved to sit around and tell stories, and his laugh will never be forgotten. His love for music will live on in all of us left here to cherish the memories and appreciation for a good guitar solo.

 After retirement, Marvin continued to be the family mechanic and was always working on something. He never rested and was always busy. He cherished his time with his great-grandchildren and on Tuesdays and Thursdays you would find him in the carpool lane, picking them up from school. This was the highlight of his week. There was not a birthday or event that he missed. He was incredibly involved in every aspect of our lives, until the very end. He was the unofficial Shop Foreman at Mid Plains Landscaping, LLC until his passing and took his duties for the business very seriously and had great pride in the success of the business.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Beverly Olson; brothers, Alvin Olson, Donald Olson, and Dale Olson; his sister, Carol (Bill) Boerner; his sister-in-law, Marilyn Olson; children Ronda Olson, Roslyn Olson, Kimberly (Bob) Farley, Ed Olson, Kerry (Jamey) Vannier, and Chelsea (Danny) Powell; 9 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Amiel and Stella Olson; his in-laws, Ben and Gleva Engel; brothers, Kenneth and Larry; sister, Lorraine; and sisters-in-law, Arlene and Sherry.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.jacobsengreenway.com

Larry Jackson McCollam of Spearfish was born Sept.  3, 1940 in Pierre, SD to Andrew McCollam and Ruby Evans McCollam.  He grew up in Carter, SD working for the Farnsworth family on their farm until 1960 when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. Larry served for 6 years which included two tours in Vietnam. 

After being honorably discharged, he worked in Carter helping his mom run the family grocery store and his dad with the family gas station.  He subsequently bought and ran a farm outside of Carter until 1975 when he moved to Spearfish to work for Don Nichols Construction. 

Larry then moved to Spearfish, SD in 1980 where he met his lovely wife JoAnn Crofutt-Clevenger. They were married in August 1981, and they began L&J Log Hauling.  Larry retired from logging in 2016, and enjoyed working in his garden with his faithful canine companion, Sparky.  Larry was a man of few words, however he was a loyal friend who would bend over backwards to help anyone who needed it.  He fought a courageous battle with cancer for 13 years.  His battle ended on Thursday, March 4 surrounded by his wife, his three children and many of his grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Ruby, three brothers and three sisters, and a grandson Andrew.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, JoAnn McCollam of Spearfish; son, Dave Clevenger (Michele) of Custer, SD; daughter Michele Joyce (Kirk) of Tucson, AZ; daughter Megan Molm (Brandon) of Billings, MT; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; one sister in Winner, SD, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.  If you would like to honor Larry, please donate in his name to Western Hills Humane Society in Spearfish.

Arrangements are under the care of the Fidler-Isburg Funeral Homes and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com