Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

A Celebration of Life Service for Ronald Duane Sampson, age 84 of Windom, Minn.,will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021 at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Windom with Pastor Paul Sajban officiating.   

Burial will follow at Memory Garden Cemetery in Windom.    A visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 29,2021 at 5 -7 p.m. at the LaCanne Family Funeral Home in Windom. The visitation will continue 1 hour prior to the funeral service at the church.

The service will also be livestreamed on the LaCanne Family Funeral Service Facebook Page. Masks are preferred and social distancing will be observed.

Ronald Sampson passed away from lung cancer on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 at the Sunset Cottage in Worthington, MN.

Condolences can be sent online to:    www.lacannefuneralhome.com.    

Funeral arrangements are under the care of the LaCanne Family Funeral Service in Windom.

Edward K. Rohla died on Jan. 7, 2021 at Ava’s House Hospice in Sioux Falls, SD. He was 76 years old and passed away due to complications after a 2-month battle with Covid-19.    

Ed was born Nov. 1, 1944. He was the youngest of the three children born to Robert and Eleanor Rohla. He was born, grew up, and lived most of his life on the family farm north of Carter, SD.  Ed began his elementary education at the Red Hill School and went on to attend Witten High School, lettering in track and field, and graduating in 1963. After graduation, he attended Scottsbluff Junior College for one year. Ed was deeply involved with the family farm for the majority of his life. He worked first with his father, brother and uncles, and later with his nephew, raising hogs, chickens, and cattle, as well as planting and harvesting crops.    He was dedicated to the daily chores of the farm, care of the livestock, and the planting seasons.    Ed was thankful to be able to share his life, and love of the farm, with his nephew and business partner, Rich Shimek. Ed was a proud member of the Western Fraternal Life Association as well as the Winner United Methodist Church.    He enjoyed traveling with family and friends and loved having new experiences such as concerts, dancing, and learning the practice of yoga when he was 70 years old.    Always happy and optimistic, Ed never met a stranger…he could talk to anyone and got along with everyone!

Although Ed never married, he was devoted to family.    He cared for many elderly family members over the years and loved spending time with his nieces and nephews.

Ed is survived by his sister, Eleanor Shimek of Gering, NE; brother, Robert (Nancy) Rohla of Presho, SD; nephews, Rich (Donna) Shimek of Lennox, SD; Jim (Coleen) Shimek of Scottsbluff, NE; nieces, Karol (Galen) Smith of North Platte, NE; Cristy (Ross) Flemmer of Dell Rapids, SD; Jenny (Scott) Choquette of Overland Park, KS, and many other cousins, great nieces and nephews, and wonderful friends, especially his good friend, Kathie Patten-Jundt of Pierre, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Eleanor Rohla; his brother-in-law, James D. Shimek, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.   

Due to the danger of the Covid-19 pandemic Ed did not want an in-person funeral service and instead wished to be cremated, with Mason Funeral Home in Winner SD handling the arrangements.   

There will be a private family memorial planned at a later date. Cards can be sent to the family of Ed Rohla, PO Box 614, Lennox SD 57039.

Charlotte Charlene (Chastain) Colson was born to James and Adeline (Redding) Chastain on Dec. 31,1930, in the family home at Wheeler Bottoms on the Missouri River in South Dakota. She was delivered by her Aunt Jen, as were all five of the children in the family.  Charlotte’s father ran a ferry across the Missouri River.   

At the time this was the only way to cross the river for several miles. Charlotte would do all the grocery shopping for her mother as her mother didn’t like to leave the house.     

The family moved several times while she was growing up.    First to Platte, then to Winner, and on to Custer before returning to Winner.                       

Charlotte finished the seventh grade and went to work at age 13 at Omaha Cold Storage. She always said she was breaking eggs and plucking chickens for the soldier boys.                       

Charlotte married the love of her life, Percy Colson, on Oct. 25, 1947. To this marriage four children were born: Roger, Kathryn, Karen, and Gary.                       

They worked on farms for the first several years of married life and moved to Winner in 1969. She worked several jobs after moving to town. Most notably, she and her sister Jean ran the Outlaw Creamery. Charlotte and her sisters, Jean and Twila, worked for Donna Dice and Barb Kuil and eventually took over and ran the Outlaw Cafe for many years.                       

After retiring, Charlotte and Percy enjoyed going for long rides in the country.  She lived next door to her daughter Kathy and enjoyed watching her grandkids grow up. They always knew they could go to Grandma’s to watch TV with her or just hide out if they were in trouble at home.  She was a member of the Assembly of God Church.                       

Charlotte passed away on Dec.16, 2020, at the Winner Hospital. She was 89 years 11 months and 16 days old.                        Charlotte lived the last 18 months of her life at the Winner Nursing Home. She liked it and often said “this is my home now.”  She sat out in front and watched TV. She liked it there because she could greet everybody that walked by and visit with them.   

Then the COVID-19 Pandemic hit and isolation became the new norm. She could no longer see and hug her children and grandchildren. The family tried to keep her spirits up by video chat, phone calls, and talking through the window glass. It was a losing battle and as time dragged on she got more and more depressed. She finally succumbed to her third battle with pneumonia.                       

Charlotte was loved by her family and friends and will be missed greatly.       

She is survived by two daughters, Kathryn (David) Hagen of Winner, SD, and Karen (Davey) Nahnsen of Rapid City, SD; one son, Gary Colson of  Winner, SD; her sister Twila Brunmeier, of Winner, SD; six grandchildren, Casey (Loni) Colson, Rapid City, SD, Chalsea (Chris) Larson, Elkton, SD, Chanie (Randy) Hlavka, Rapid City, SD, Chastin Hagen, Box Elder, SD, Chanteal (Zac) Pengra, Box Elder, SD, and Jesse Colson, Winner, SD; eleven great-grandchildren, Michael, Danielle, Cynthia, Olivia, Emily, Evan, Dayson, Raelyn, Evan, Riley, and Dane; also Gay Patmore, Jack and Jonathan Yeaman, and all of her Church Family.                       

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 66 years Percy, infant son Roger, brother Emmet, and sisters Jean Siewert and Shirley Broadbent.                       

Services are being planned for Summer 2021 so family and friends can gather to celebrate Charlotte’s life