Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

David Hibbs Sr., 59, of Kearney, NE passed away on Nov., 26, 2020 at the Kearney Regional Hospital in Kearney, NE.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, Dec., 5, 2020 at 11 a.m. at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

David Alan Hibbs was born on May 13, 1961, in Hastings, Neb. to Donald and Maryleen Hibbs. He was raised in Superior, Neb., and attended Superior Public Schools until he graduated from Superior High School in 1979.

He married Sheryl Marie Carpenter on Aug. 9, 1980. He adopted Sheryl’s daughter Jennifer Renae Hibbs on June 1, 1980. They had a son David Alan Hibbs Jr. born on Jan. 28, 1981 and another son Jason Lynn Hibbs was born on June 26, 1983. He became a Law enforcement officer on May 10, 1981. His career as a cop ended on Aug. 19, 1992 in Guymon, Okla., due to a back injury by a suspect he was arresting. He was retired out and on disability until he passed away on Nov. 26th, 2020.

David is survived by his daughter Jennifer Renae Hibbs (Alex), son David Alan Hibbs Jr., son Jason Lynn Hibbs (Maggie); Grandchildren: Jaymee Hibbs, Britney Hibbs, Dylan Hibbs, Aclynn Osterbuhr, Aayden Hibbs, Caitlynn Anderson and Chloe Blank; One sister, Lori Fennell; His parents, Donald and Maryleen Hibbs; Numerous Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins.

He is preceded in death by: Ex-wife, Sheryl Marie Hibbs; Grandparents, George and Alice Hibbs; Ben Vavra and 1st wife, Goldie Vavra and 2nd wife, Margaret Vavra; Uncle Merle Dwayne Vavra.

Mavis Mardell Peneaux, 56, of Mitchell, SD died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her family on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020 in her home in Mitchell, SD.

Graveside services were held on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020 at 11 a.m. at the Winner City Cemetery. Final viewing will begin at 10:30AM on Friday, December 4th, 2020 at the Winner Ideal Community Hall & Housing. Private family wake services were held on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 at  the Winner Ideal Community Hall & Housing. Public wake services were held on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 at 7 p.m. at the Winner Ideal Community Hall & Housing.

Mavis was born Jan. 29, 1964 to Verle Lee Peneaux and Elsie Cordelia Fast Horse Peneaux in Rosebud, South Dakota. As a child she was adopted by Ray and Margaret Gonzales from Fort Thompson, South Dakota. Mavis is a G.E.D. graduate who went on to further her education at Sinte Gleska University, at this time she was married to her ex-husband Melvin Songer who went on and had 5 biological and 1 adopted daughter, and a son who they took in as their own Chris Zephier Sr., Stacey Foote, Maria (Daniel Alonzo) Songer, Tanya (Lance) LaPointe, Dawn (Josh) Abdo, Brenda (Chris) Joiner & Julia (Kelly) Watts.

Mavis is survived by her 6 daughters Stacy, Maria, Tanya, Dawn, Brenda, and Julia, plus 29 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and 4 siblings Alma (George) Small, Bud Lee (Kathy) Peneaux, Fern Ringing Shield, and Melda (Joe) Foote and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandson Joshua Baptiste Abdo Jr., her parents, grand-parents, & 4 siblings Beryle (Peneaux) Antoine, Lester Peneaux, Wilbur Peneaux and Velda Peneaux and her son Chris Zephier Sr.

Besides spending her time watching her favorite TV shows or listening to her favorite music on the radio with her cat Samuel and her daughter Maria, she loved the presence of her grandchildren who will always remember her for her hospitality and fruit or home cooked meals especially her soup and frybread or fried chicken dinners or like her grandson Jordan will always say spaghetti. Everyone who knew Mavis knew her for her open arms, if you were hungry or needed a place to stay, her home was your home until you can get on your feet again. She had a very hard work ethic. She was a devoted CNA worker in Winner and Mitchell South Dakota. She worked at Avera Brady Rehab until early 2000’s. She is also a cancer survivor.

Roger Robert Milk was born on Dec. 24, 1933 in Milks Camp to Jesse Milk Sr. and  Salina High Rock, his siblings were Victor, Alfred, Ruth, and Jesse. Jr. who were descendants of Chief Red Cloud. Their great grandfather is Chief Good Cane Milk, Sagye Waste Asunpi. He was at the Fort Laramie Treaty talks in 1868. And their paternal grandfather is Daniel Milk son of Chief Good Cane Milk.

He was raised in Milk’s Camp community surviving through the Great Depression and World War II with his family. He attended Rosebud Boarding School in Mission, SD. He often shared the stories of those times and of the community. As a young man he would travel around South Dakota for work on farms.

Roger remained in the area until he moved to Chicago in the relocation program. While in Chicago he worked as a Journeyman and electrician. He also served as the president at the Chicago Indian Center.

He returned to the Winner area in the early 70’s. Upon his return he and Lavina King began their life together and were married Jan. 31, 1979. He cared for his family and was loved very much by his grandchildren and many young relatives. He spent many days advising them and writing letters to them. He enjoyed bowling in his younger years, in Chicago his team was the Southside Bombers.

In August of 2017, he received an honorary Doctorate Degree from Sinte Gleska for his lifelong work for the people and with our treaty. Roger served the people in many capacities. He was a life long member of Episcopal Church and a Lay reader; Roger was also a member of Brotherhood of  Christian Unity. His faith extended to our traditional ways, as he experienced the power of healing and prayers attending our ceremonies.

At the Sicangu Wicoti Awayankapi Corporation he was on the board of director and an employee for over 30 years; Roger served as advocate for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at the Winner Community Connections; He was a member of the Sicangu Treaty Council serving for a time as their chairperson. Roger was on the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council from 1979 through 1981; He was also an employee of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.

Roger supported local Native students in the Winner school district and their rights as Natives and human beings. He was an active part in efforts to protector the land, water and people against environmental issues. Roger said “this is not just an Indian thing we all drink the same water”, attending meetings, events and hearings to do so.

Roger leaves behind his wife Lavina of over 40 years, children: Eric & Melissa Antoine, Gary & Jurgita Antoine, Paula Antoine, Jay and Nannette Antoine, Dennis and Nancy Mahto, grandchildren and great grandchildren. His sister Ruth Mason, Melda Rose and Ralph Wendell and Marisa, special great grandson Jacob Turney,  Grandchildren and great grandkids: Kaitlyn and Eric Antoine Jr., Louis and Leona Antoine,Lucas Crow Eagle, Louis “Misun” Antoine, Dustin Antoine, Steve Antoine and Isaac Antoine, Lisa Antoine and Jaliyah Kills In Water, Skylin Thin Elk, Medeina and Algirdas Antoine

Kelly Turney, Tracy Turney, Jacob, Julie and Jorden Turney, Sean and Rexton Kilborn, and Racheal Iron Heart, Richard Swan, Kayden, Kaylie and Leonidas, Carl John Healy Jr. and Anakin, Solomon Healy, Raylene Looking Horse, Chanteal Looking Horse, Samuel Antoine, Brennan and Gabrial, Jay Antoine Jr., Alyissa Reifel, Alysson Lucia “Sunny” and Douglas Jennings, Lucy Riefal, Kyan James and Nyjah Emili, Noland Mahto & Samantha Black Bull, Kaycen and Natalia, Jaz and Dayle Sanabria, and son Wyatt, Aaron Mahto, Joy Janis, and numerous nieces, nephews and grandchildren from the Milk Tiospaye.    At the time of his passing Wanbli Naji, Standing Eagle, Grandpa Bob was 86 years 10 months 30 days, his life touched so many and he will be missed and remembered for generations.

Wesley Darwin Klein, son of Andrew and Tina Elizabeth (Moore) Klein, was born on April 28, 1936 in Burke, SD and passed away peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 27, 2020. Darwin, as he was known, spent his childhood years growing up in Lucas SD, graduating from Burke High School in 1955.

 After graduation he enlisted into the US Navy and was honorably discharged 2 years later. After leaving the Navy, he returned to SD and worked on the construction of the Oahe Dam and the Platte/Winner bridge.

In September of 1958 he married the love of his life Elva Schroeder. To this union he was blessed with three children.

Darwin held various positions, which included operating a café and bowling alley in Parkston and the “Tee Pee” Café in Bonesteel, SD. Many dairy farmers will also remember Darwin driving a milk truck, which eventually lead him to his true calling of operating a small dairy farm in Lucas, SD. In 1973 he was offered the opportunity to buy his own farmland and moved his family to Bonesteel, SD where he farmed until his retirement. After several years of retirement, Darwin and Elva moved to Gregory.

Darwin is survived by his wife Elva of 62 years, daughters – Kathy (Dave) Hausmann of Pierre, SD and Donna (Mark) Leibrich of Winner, SD; grandchildren – DJ (Liz) Hausmann and Darin (Molly) Hausmann of Pierre, SD; Ashley (Brad) Montgomery and Eric Leibrich of Sioux Falls, SD; great-grandchildren – Hailey Hausmann, Atticus and Zoey Moore, Riley and Cailyn Hausmann and Ainsley Montgomery; sister Norma Inglett, and sister-in-law Eleanor Klein, and several nieces and nephews.

 Darwin was proceeded in death by his parents, son Kerry, brother Andrew Wayne, and in-laws Henry and Lilly Schroeder.

Darwin’s belief was that the land, built by the hand of the Lord, was his place of worship. A memorial service for Klein will be held at a later date. Burial was in the Rosebud Cemetery in Bonesteel.