Grandparent of the year essay’s

By Adrianna Joseph

I think my grandma Alma should be Grandparent of the Year because she is funny, helpful, and entertaining. She can be very overprotective and she is very pretty and awesome. Whenever I don’t feel well, she makes me soup and fry bread. It tastes really good and when I’m done she lets me sleep. When I’m done resting she would let me watch TV.

Every time when we are in the car and we are bored, she will notice right away and tell us stories. The stories are mainly about she and her sister, before she died. Sometimes when she would tell us these stories, she would cry and laugh. Seeing my grandma laugh is the highlight of my day, because when she laughs, I laugh. Sometimes when I go to the store with her, she always finds a way to make me laugh. When we are in the store, she is too short to reach the top shelf so I have to jump up to get what she needs to get.

Whenever I’m sad she will notice instantly and will tell me jokes and makes me laugh every time. Whenever my cousins and I are bored we play BINGO. It’s really fun and one time my cousin Gavin got a BINGO. He shouted really loud and it hurted my ears. When my cousins and I are at my grandma’s powwow, we help her in the kitchen. We sell snacks in there like candy bars, suckers, pop, pickles, and popcorn. My grandma is the best because when there are leftovers form the candy bars, she lets us have sometimes.

When I’m at my grandma’s house she sometimes has cookies or she has cinnamon rolls. We eat the cinnamon rolls until we are full. When we are bored, we walk to my grandma’s house. My grandma does not live far from the park. It’s not a long walk. We ask if my grandma can take us to the park. Sometimes when I’m at her house, I like to take walks.

When we are at church, she lets us play outside or the pastor has coloring books there so my cousins and I color while they sing and listen to stories. When they are done we go downstairs and eat and drink fruit punch. When we are done at church, we go back home and my grandma makes breakfast for the ones who didn’t go to church. When she is done, she sometimes goes to the store and I go with her and so does my cousin. When she goes in the store my cousin and I listen to music. When she comes back, we turn off the music and change it back to Elvis Presley, who she likes.

This is why I think my grandma should be Grandparent of the Year. She is more than just a funny, helpful, and entertaining person. She is my grandma and I love her more than anything in the entire world.

By Tianna Evans

I know my grandma Donelle should be Grandparent of the Year. I know this because she is hardworking, smart, loveable, very funny and courageous. My grandmother is my inspiration and here is why.

She is a wonderful daughter, mother and grandma. Grandma is always on her toes. This woman is always being daring and thoughtful. There is never a dull moment with her. She helps out her family and friends whenever they ask or call. Grandma Donelle watches over my siblings and I when needed and the same goes for my cousins. She never quits in the middle of a project or job. She always puts everyone before herself even when she doesn’t feel good. She just keeps going and going. We kind of think she’s the energizer bunny!

As I said beforehand, there is never a dull moment with grandma Donelle. She is  a jokester, let me tell you. Grandma always find a way even if she doesn’t mean to. This lady makes us laugh until our belly’s hurt. We could all be rolling on the floor holding our stomachs not being able to breathe because of her. She is an interesting human being. Another thing I enjoy is that my grandma and I, along with my siblings and cousins, have dance competitions, singing competitions, and photoshoots. You would get a kick out of it! Sometimes she tells us about when she was younger and other stories, I bet you already guessed it, but there were some pretty funny ones.

When I say my grandma has courage and bravery in her bones, I mean it. Grandma Donelle is a perseverer and a survivor. Grandma has survived two types of cancer. She is the strongest person I have and will meet, maybe not physically, but mentally. Grandma has this saying she always says. The saying may be common but when she says it, most definitely is not. It goes like “I love you to the moon and back.” This means all the blood pumping through her veins and every single bone in her body loves, cares and supports us no matter what.

Again, I know grandma Donelle should be Grandparent of the Year. I told you why she should be. From what I have learned over the years, it shouldn’t be until the day she passes it should be to the day she passes and then on. My grandma is full of love. She welcomes everyone with open arms and gives the best warm hugs. The jokester she is, she is hilarious! Grandma, with the unique personality, will always find ways to cheer you up when you are down. My grandparent of a lifetime, Grandma Donelle, will always be my inspiration and I hope she can be yours too.

By Jocelyn Soles

If you live in Winner, SD you may know my grandma Shawn and if you do you are one lucky person. Most people love or like my grandma. My grandma is very encouraging, caring, and helpful and here are my reasons why.

My grandma Shawn is really encouraging. My grandma encourages my family and I to push ourselves to do things that scare us or we think we will not like. Usually we end up liking these activities. For example, I have crutches and trying certain activities scare me at first. However, my grandma encourages me to try them anyways. No one laughs at me and the activities like softball and plays, I have learned to enjoy and have a lot of fun with. This is all thanks to my grandma’s encouragement.

My grandma Shawn is also very caring. My grandma will drop everything to help my family and me. She helps my mom a lot by watching my sister when daycare is closed. My grandma comes to all of my activities that I am in. Afterwards she will always take me out for ice cream because she is proud of me, even if I did not do well. She will tell me “You tried your best that’s all that matters”.

My grandma is helpful. She helps kids as a teacher. She helps them learn their numbers, letters, and lots more. She is very helpful to me too. My grandma helps me with my Reading Olympics which means a lot to me because I love spending every minute with her. She means the world to me. My grandma will also help me practice catching for softball in the summer. She also helps me at my doctor appointments. When I’m scared, she will help me calm down. She tells me “it’s okay, everything will be fine”. She is always right because everything turns out ok.

My grandma is a grandma to 3 beautiful grandchildren and she loves all of us so much. She says “I don’t have a favorite” but I’m pretty sure I’m the favorite. I think my grandma is Grandparent of the Year because she is encouraging, caring, and helpful. However, if she does not get chosen to be Grandparent of the Year, she will always be Grandparent of the Year in my heart.

By Jamisyn Long Crow

I think my grandma Judy should be Grandparent of the Year. I think this because my grandma Judy really inspires me. She is very kind, caring, a hard worker, and she is very smart.

My grandma Judy is very kind and caring because she takes care of me and my family. She helps us through tough times. For example my cousin was fired from work one day and my grandma Judy helped my cousin get through it.

My grandma Judy is a very hard working person. She is a financial worker. She goes to work every day and makes sure everyone is doing okay. She works hard every day to take care of us and gets everyone what they need. She is a hard worker.

My grandma Judy is very smart. She went to financial school and became a financial worker. She also did four years of college. Whenever I need help with money on a math paper she knows how to help me and helps me understand it.

These are some of the reasons why I think my grandma Judy should be Grandparent of the Year. She is very caring, kind, a very hard worker, and very smart.

Colome students have poem published

Several Colome students were selected to be published in the Creative Communication fall poetry contest.

The publication was titled “A celebration of Poets.”

“Less than 50 percent of submissions are published so this is pretty big honor for our students,” said Colome English teacher Samantha Christensen.

“Our school will also be awarded writing achievement award due to the fact that 50 percent of the 8th and 9th grade students that submitted were chosen to be published,” she added.

Only the top 10 percent of schools that submit poems are awarded this.

The Colome school name will be published in the fall poetry edition on the writing achievement awards page. This is a national publication.

“I am so proud of the students and this is the most students in any year I have been published,” said Christensen.

The name of the Colome student and the title of the poem include:

Maura Luedke—Raindrops

Camryn Seegers—The Unknown

Raelynn Kingsley—Just do You

Hadley Harruff—Growing up as a Teen Girl

Lane Leighton—Opposites

Alana Supik—When I feel completely free

Preslie Petersek—Mirrors

Aspyn McKenzie—Autumn

Raylynn Dehning—An unstable teenage mind

Westlie Cahoy—Love is the most magical feeling

Tianna Larson—Pictures

Kalene Preslicka—Why I’m different

Emma Vandenbark—Forever and always

Jordan Musser—The Pacific war

Shaleena Kingsley—Autumn

Joseph Laprath—Joseph Bromley Heath—Dentention

Della Marie Farley, 77

Della Marie Farley, 77, passed away at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls after a short illness.

Memorial services will be held at the Winner Cemetery June 12 at 3 p.m.

Della was born at the Winner Baptist Hospital Dec. 29, 1943 to George and Velma Hiserote Farley.

At the very young age of 3 she came down with polio and began a very long life of pain and suffering. She spent many years in Hot Springs and then Minneapolis, Minn.

She was sponsored by the Shriners organization and they sponsored her for many years.

Eventually, she came to the Children Care Hospital in Sioux Falls and graduated from there in 1962.

She was then offered a secretarial position there and worked there until she retired.

She is survived by one sister, Rita Dillon, Ainsworth, Neb.; three sister in laws, Joan Farley Manke, Spearfish; Evelyn Farley, Mission and Elysabeth Farley, Winner, many nieces and nephews and  a host of relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Velma Farley, a sister, Bettie Toman and brothers, Guy Farley, Robert Farley (infant), Richard Farley, Ralph Farley and Merle Farley.

Fern (Peneaux) Ringing Shield, 68

 Fern (Peneaux) Ringing Shield, 68, of Winner, SD passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 at her residence in Winner, SD.

 Funeral services were held on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 1 p.m. at the Winner Middle School Auditorium in Winner, SD. Burial  followed in the Winner City Cemetery. Wake services were held on Tuesday, March 2 and Wednesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. at the Winner Middle School Auditorium in Winner, SD.

Fern Marie Ringing Shield (Peneaux) 68 of Winner, SD passed peacefully at her at residence with love ones by her side on Feb. 24.

Fern Marie was born in Bad Nation, SD on Nov. 18, 1952 to Verle Lee Peneaux and Elsie Coedelia Fast Horse (Peneaux).

She grew up in Bad Nation and Winner, SD with 3 brothers and 5 sisters.

She married Pete Ringing Shield Sr May 10th 1985.They had 7 children together. She went to school for a CNA and worked at Golden Prairie Manor for 7 years. She loved spending time with her family and cooking big meals for everyone.

She is survived by her children Marcy (Matt), Mardell (Michael), Calvin Sr. (Daryl), Pete Jr. (Kenja), Marissa, Corey (Jasmine), Melody; her sisters Alma (George) (Peneaux) Small and Melda (Joe) (Peneaux) Struck; her brother Bud (Kathy) Peneaux, her aunt Joyce Watts (Peneaux) and all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren

She is preceded in death by her great grandbaby Jeesie the 3rd Felix sisters Mavis Peneaux, Velda Peneaux and Beryl (Peneaux) Antione, her brothers Wilbur Peneaux and Lester Peneaux, her niece Crystal Peneaux and her husband Pete Ringing Shield Sr.

Earl Stucke, 91

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

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, 80

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