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Author Archives: Rita Pravecek
Covid-19 Cases
Tripp County saw four new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. The total number of active cases is 89 with 490 recovered. The total number of cases confirmed in Tripp County since COVID-19 started is 519. There have been 59 persons hospitalized and 10 deaths.
Statewide on Monday, there were 272 new cases.
The total number of active cases is 12, 623. Currently, there are 441 persons hospitalized.
The total deaths in the state is 1,259.
Winner Regional Health to discontinue baby pictures
According to the Center of Missing and Exploited Children, baby pictures posted to hospital websites are strongly discouraged. Winner Regional Health has made the difficult decision to discontinue posting baby pictures to our website.
As of 12/15/2020, we will no longer have a baby roll page on our website said Leigha Dempsey, communication director.
The Center of Missing and Exploited Children warn’s parents of potential risks of public announcements. For more information please visit The Center of Missing and Exploited Children website at missingkids.org
Wrestlers place first in Gregory
Winner Area wrestling team won first place at the Gregory Invitational on Saturday.
The Warriors scored 163.5 points.
Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon took second place with 148 points.
First place for Winner went to Maxton Brozik, Karson Keiser, Aaron Gilchrist and Riley Orel.
Also placing for Winner were Jude Sargent, 2nd ; Konner Osborn, Gavin Tucker, Riley Shippy, Stetson Shelbourn and Jack Peters, all fourth.
Brozik won the championship with a pin over Brock Kotalik of Bon Homme, 1:33.
Keiser won first with a pin in 1:55 over Kellan Hurd of Miller/Highmore-Harrold.
Gilchrist won first place with a 12-6 decision over Joey Hoverson, Wessington Springs/Woonsocket.
Orel, 152, won first place with a 1-0 decision over Keegan Haider of Wessington Springs-Woonsocket.
Several Winner wrestlers took the ACT test on Saturday and did not wrestle. The next action for Winner will be the Valentine tournament on Saturday, Dec. 19. Due to COVID-19, there will be no fans allowed at this tournament.
Winner 8th Grade Basketball Team Wins Championship in Colome Tournament
Outdoor Christmas Party
11 teams compete in sharpshooter classic
On a cold Saturday hunters had a chance to enjoy some pheasant hunting plus shoot some clays.
This Friday and Saturday was the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce Sharpshooter classic.
There were 11 six man teams. The hunt was on Saturday.
The first place team was MW Cockbusters 30.68. They were followed by Sargent Farms and Arms, 2nd, 29.52; Fat Boys 28.8; Blood Bath and Beyond, 4th, 28.8; Young guns, 5th, 27.4; Mark’s Misfits, 6th, 28.36’ Jeff’s Gun Vault, 7th, 26.08; No Name, 8th, 24.48; Rooster Strokers, 9th 24.2; Winner Plumbing, 10th, 23.64; and Good Guys, 11th, 22.52.
Members of the winning team were Mark Ferrell, Brad Williams, Mike Sawyer, Chris Cochrane, Chase Wolf and Shannon Wolf.
Each member of the team won a gun along with the landowner.
The landowners who provided the land for the hunt were: Red Hills Lodge, Barry and Betty Tideman, Carter; Sargent Farms, H & H Hunts, Jesse Heese; Thunder Creek Ranch, Richard and Rick Bice; Antler Ridge Lodge, Steve and Donna Kubik; LD. Farms Maximum Pheasants, Larry and Dodie Anderson; White River Sportsman, Larson families of Hamill; Tom and Marcia Laprath, Dallas; Big Hollow Ranch, James Massa; Rick and Becky Odenbach; Roger Fiala, Carter.
John R. O’Malley, 69
John R. O’Malley, age 69, passed away Nov. 15, 2020, in Phoenix, AZ.
Born in Winner, SD on January 5, 1951, John was raised by his father Shannon P. O’Malley (deceased 2004) and his mother Carme O’Malley (deceased 2020) in Winner, SD alongside his younger brother Marty O’Malley (Las Vegas, NV).
John excelled in scholastics and athletics as a young boy and well into his high school years. John graduated from Winner High School in 1969 lettering in golf, football and baseball. John’s passion stood out in baseball. As a highly recruited high school pitcher, John accepted a scholarship to play at the highly touted baseball powerhouse Arizona State University. John, a left handed pitcher, competed and played at a high level. John transferred to Yankton, SD college in 1971. Setting numerous pitching records his college career ended in 1973. John received two Major League Baseball minor league contracts from the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians. In 2014, John was inducted to the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame.
John’s early career was in hotel/restaurant management. His professional career coincided with the start of his most important career, his family. Marrying his high school sweetheart, Donneen Ainsworth O’Malley (Payson, AZ) in 1971, and in 1972 his first children were twins, John M. O’Malley (Payson, AZ) and Shani P. O’Malley (Phoenix, AZ). John and Donneen’s third and last child Katie J. O’Malley (Scottsdale, AZ) was born in Pierre, SD.
John was the general manager of many SD properties including the historic Hotel Alex Johnson in Rapid City. In 1983 John made a critical, risk taking move at the age of 34 to switch careers and geographic location to start new in the automotive sales industry in AZ. Uprooting his family from South Dakota and moving to Scottsdale, AZ, John started as an entry level salesperson. In 1985 John went to work for ANC Nissan. Excelling through management positions he became General Manager/Dealer partner at Camelback Toyota in 1991.
Another highlight was marrying his beloved Gina Burton O’Malley (Phoenix, AZ). John and Gina attended numerous Toyota awards events and trips. Representing Camelback Toyota like JFK and Jackie O. did on trips and at dignitary dinners. John would remain there until his bittersweet retirement in 2019. John built a culture of taking care of his customers and his people. The key ingredient to his success was being firm but fair and taking care of his 275+ employees. In 2002, Camelback Toyota received the honor of being the number one business to work for in AZ by Phoenix New Times magazine.
Because of his compassion for his people, his employees gave back tenfold to beat and exceed sales and service goals for ten years in a row. John O’Malley with his loyal employees put Camelback Toyota on the map. Camelback Toyota was and still is recognized as sales and service champions on a national level.
Alongside all of these Camelback Toyota accomplishments, John’s generosity was unmatched. When he became the President of the Toyota Dealers Association he changed the dynamic of the advertising budget. John used the budget to bring awareness to the homeless Arizona and U.S. Veterans. Toyota was now assisting U.S. veterans in building and renovating motels for them, sponsoring additional medical supplies and counseling for our forgotten veterans. The Valley Toyota Dealers Association immediately impacted the veteran’s problem and made a difference in the community. Because of his tireless efforts, in 2017 John was awarded the Copper Sword Award by the Arizona Veterans Society. This award is the most prestigious award given to a non-veteran.
In his retirement years John had the time and opportunity to hone his skills on his passion, golf. Always known as a fierce competitor John loved to play and compete with his friends and family as well. John and Gina even organized an annual family Easter golf tournament. John loved traveling with Gina and always prioritized his life around his family. His seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren brought so much joy and love into his life. John will be sorely missed by hundreds, perhaps thousands of people he personally touched.
The true Patriarch of the prideful O’Malley family, his traditions will continue and his legacy will live on. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to: Homeless Veterans, P.O. Box 6325, Glendale, AZ 85345.
View video of services at: youtube.com John O’Malley Tribute 2020.
Clair Turgeon, 91
Clair Turgeon, 91, of Winner, SD passed away on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020 at the Avera Healthcare Facility in Gregory, SD.
Lawrence “Clair” Turgeon was born Aug. 9, 1929, in Burke, SD to Marie and Abe Turgeon. He was the youngest of ten children. When he was a few years old, they moved to “the ranch” near Mission. Clair remembered the dust storms. He and his brother, Don, gathered tumbleweeds and placed them into feed bunks. His father told the boys to sprinkle salt water on them so the cattle would eat it.
When he was 8, his family moved to Littleberg where his parents ran a grocery store. The store was near the country school which made Clair happy because he did not have to walk far to get there. A special memory he talked about was when he had 25 cents and he purchased admittance to a movie, popcorn, an ice cream cone, and rides at the carnival in Valentine, Neb., while visiting his older sister. The movie was “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
In 1941, they moved to Mission where Abe ran a gas station. During lunch, Clair would run to Hoffine’s Cafe and wash dishes in exchange for a hamburger. He was an Altar Server all the years they lived in Littleberg and Mission. He served till he was taller than the priest. The priest said masses at more than one parish and he rode along. He even served at his oldest brother’s wedding.
After Abe passed away in 1943, Marie moved the house from Littleberg to Burke. Clair went to high school there and graduated in 1947. After high school, he spent time helping Cornell Siler wire houses.
During this time, Clair played baseball for his hometown. At a game in Dallas, he saw a lovely blonde girl.. He went home that night and told his mother that he “had met the woman he was going to marry”. At the time, he did not even know her name. Clair was right. In 1949 on Oct. 3, Clair and Shirley (McKenzie) were married wearing matching brown suits. They lived with Clair’s sister Alvina Larimer near Mission until their first child was born in 1950. Clair helped his older brother, Bob, dig wells.
They moved back to Burke and Clair worked for Fullerton Lumber and Melvin Bresee in the hardware store. Shortly after, he bought the ice cream store. Clair and Shirley ran Clair’s Ice Cream Parlor for a year. He returned to Fullerton Lumber and managed that until 1958. He was then offered and accepted the Burke City manager job.. During that time, he was a member of the fire department and ambulance crew. In 1970 he took the city manager job in Winner, which resulted in moving his family to Winner.
Clair enjoyed taking his family to the Black Hills for vacations. They would take their van and everyone would sleep in it. Great memories were made on these trips. Clair also loved to go fishing. His kids remember their dad coming home after work and wanting to go fishing. The lucky two who were chosen to go were told to go to the bathroom, get a jacket, keep quiet, and get in the car.
Clair retired from the city in 1979 and at that time he and Shirley bought the Speed Queen Laundromat and Car Wash. They ran those businesses for 22 years. After all those years, Clair and Shirley enjoyed retirement together. He drove vehicles for Harry K. Ford during retirement too. He seemed to know where every Arby’s was in the Midwest. He enjoyed driving until 2015.
Clair and Shirley enjoyed their time with their loved ones. He was a wonderful son, brother, uncle, cousin, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.
He would say that he was a jack of all trades and a master of none, but his family would argue differently. He was an electrician, plumber, carpenter, baseball player, golfer, bowler, hunter, trapper, fisherman, and gambler (and a BSer). He liked to introduce his family to different things. He helped his family raise chickens and rabbits. He had bait tanks to sell minnows. There was always a huge garden and they would do lots of home canning. One year, the family raised cucumbers and sold them to Gedney’s. Clair and Shirley would take the family to pick wild grapes to make jelly and grape juice. In recent years Clair especially loved the apple tree near the house. He would peel the apples and take them to all his friends. He also enjoyed brightening the neighborhood with his vibrant Christmas displays.
He was a lifelong devout Catholic and a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Winner.
Clair is survived by his children Sandra (Alan) Hubbard, their children Erin, Scott, Rachel, Andrew and their families; David (Kathy) Turgeon, their daughters Stacy and Jamie and their families; Rick (Joey) Turgeon, their children Jessie, Tony, Paige and their families; Carol Turgeon; Nancy Turgeon, and her children Jenny and Jordan; Ed (Teri) Turgeon, and their daughters Nikki and Tiffany and their families; Doug (Leah) Turgeon, their children Dana and Daria and their families; Larry (Kim) Turgeon and their daughter Blaire; 20 great-grandchildren, one brother Don Turgeon, one sister in-law Maxine Moxon-Davis, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Shirley; an infant son Kevin James; a granddaughter Rebecca Hubbard; a grandson Alex Turgeon; his parents, Abe and Marie; siblings Bob (Evelyn) Turgeon; Alvina (Paul Larimer); Romona (Robert McKinney); Herbert Turgeon (infant); Rosalie (Art) Wilson; Betty (Roger) Eastlund; George (Irene) Turgeon; Ben (Bernice) Turgeon; parents in-law Homer and Pearl McKenzie; brothers in-law Jim (Loretta) McKenzie; Ken (Mardy) McKenzie; Duane Moxon; and Mort Davis; sister in-law Marjorie Turgeon.
Ruth Sutton, 91
Graveside services for Ruth Sutton, 91, were held Dec. 15 at the Sutton Cemetery. Burial was in the Sutton Cemetery in Bonesteel.
Ruth Darlene Geyer Sutton was born on July 10, 1929 in Bonesteel, SD to Harry C. Geyer and Mary (Flisram) Geyer. She passed away on Dec. 11, 2020 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Burke, SD at the age of 91 from complications of Covid-19.
She was the youngest of 5 children and grew up on a farm southeast of Bonesteel. She began attending the rural school at age 5 and later the family moved in to Bonesteel where she attended and graduated from Bonesteel High School in 1946.
Ruth taught at a rural school north of Gregory for one year. In 1947 she married Billie Sutton at Delmont, SD. They lived on the Sutton Ranch north of Bonesteel, where she made her home for 70 years. There they raised their 3 daughters, Sally, Susan, and Sara, and son, William John (Bill). Ruth spent the last four years of her life at Silver Threads Assisted Living in Gregory, SD.
It was a busy life on the ranch all those years but one that she truly loved. She was welcoming to all family and friends. She really enjoyed the holidays, birthdays, and special times with all the kids, grandkids, and great grand kids. A very important part of her life was cooking for large groups and she became known for making her family’s favorite dishes. She would always be the last to make her plate even though she had been cooking all day.
She was very proud of her family and their accomplishments. She was always present at the many school, church, sports, 4-H, and rodeo events of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Ruth was first baptized as a baby in the Norwegian Lutheran Faith. Then became a member of the St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Bonesteel until it closed. Up until her passing, she was an active member of the Lucas Baptist Church being baptized in the Missouri River at age 80. She especially enjoyed the music in the Lucas Church and was privileged to sometimes share her music as a soloist or with her family in a group. As a young girl and later on in life she sang for many funerals and events.
Ruth had a very special relationship with God, believed in his son Jesus Christ, and believed he was always with her, especially in the difficult times in her life. After losing her husband at a young age in a tragic accident in 1982 on the ranch, and after grandson Billie’s accident in 2007, her faith got her through those dark days.
Ruth enjoyed traveling and was able to visit all 50 states and 7 countries. She appreciated each trip with special friends or family and never missed a family reunion until 2009.
Ruth was a very active community member and had a long history of public service.. She was involved in many different organizations throughout her lifetime. They included the Rosebud Rancherettes, South Dakota Cattlewomen, 4-H, Rodeo, Herrick Legion Auxiliary, Bonesteel Alumni Association, and South Dakota Hall of Fame. Her involvement in politics started when her husband Billie served in the South Dakota State Legislature. It also included a campaign for state auditor, and involvement with the Gregory County Democrats. She was proud to see her continued passion for politics be carried on by her grandson’s campaign for governor in 2018. She was known for her outspoken opinion and knowledge of current political events.
Ruth is survived by her daughter, Sally (Dick) Brown of Spirit Lake, IA. Their children and grandchildren Chris (Debbie) Brown, Jennie and Tim; Steve Brown; and Mark (Lindsay) Brown, Laina, Sutton, and Bodie; and grandson Hunter Brown.
Daughter Susan Sutton of Burke, SD. Her children and grandchildren Dana Gooby and sons Tim and James Haskell; Billie Rae (Erik) Person, Kray, Lacey, and Hallie; and Jessi McDonald.
Daughter Sara (Rich) Grim of Bonesteel, SD. Their children and grandchildren Kim (Matt) Petersen Christina and Paul; Mollie (Seth) Andrews, Sadie and Beck; and Callie (Kevin) Vinton, Avery, Meyer, and Nicklin.
Son William John (Renéé) Sutton of Burke, SD. Their children and grandchildren Dee (Tyler) Haugen, Landry, Arina, and Blaisely; Billie (Kelsea) Sutton, Liam; and Réhme (Tayler) Thompson, Maris and Maysa.
She is also remembered by many nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, husband Billie, twin brothers Harry Jr. and Harold, sisters, June and Marie; grandson Eric Brown, and great granddaughter Lenny Sutton.
She was very thankful for all the many blessing in her life which included her family, friends, and good health for 91 years. She will forever be missed by her family. Ruth gave her family the blessing of writing down much of her story in her own words. In her writing, her humility and perspective shine through. She lived a purposeful–and by all measures successful–life, but ultimately cherished simple things. In a way that will strike everyone as so Ruth-like, she directed: “Make my obituary as simple as possible. I was born, I lived 91 years and died; end of story.” While it was an amazing story, the many family and friends she leaves behind know this is not the end.