Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

William “Willie” Moeller, 98, of Winner, SD passed away on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 at the Winner Regional Health Care Center in Winner, SD.     Funeral services were held on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020 at 10 a.m. at the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner, SD.

Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation was held one hour prior to the services.   

Willie Moeller was born to Frank and Elsie (Maier) on May 30 1922 at their home in Carter, SD. Willie had 2 sisters and 4 brothers.   

Babe with her 2 sons Patrick and Bill moved to Winner, SD. This was where she would meet the love of her life Willie. They met on Main Street in Winner and were married in 1956 in Pierre after two short weeks.

After marrying, Willie and Babe purchased the Five Spot in 1960 on Main Street in Winner, owning it for three years before moving to Newport, Neb. They bought the Bar 20, which was along Highway 20, and owned and operated it for another three years. Willie had always wanted to move to a large city and work for a big company. A friend referred them to a big plant in Grand Island where they made bombs.

Willie phoned the company that very next day, and both got jobs at the bomb plant. Babe worked making trinkets and mini mites, which was very fitting considering her small stature and powerful personality, while Willie was in charge of measuring the powder. They both worked together until the plant closed four years later. After the closing of the plant, Willie and Babe wanted to settle down and move from the city. They purchased an 80-acre farm near St. Libory, Neb., where he still resided till January 2020 when he fell and broke his hip. He was hospitalized in Grand Island and Winner till he was well enough to live with Tim and Deb. Willie’s quaint farm house is nestled amongst many fields of corn and trees, alongside his barns and guest house cottage.

They always had a big garden, and took great pride in riding their lawn mowers to make their yard look special. They always had many cats to welcome their guests. Willie enjoyed a good game of cards in which Willie was proud of the fact he never lost a game of cards (he didn’t very often) but when he did, he would say, have to loss sometimes or nobody will play anymore.

Willie enjoyed playing checkers with Roy each winning a game, then quit so neither one would be mad.   

Willie went to be with Babe on Oct. 12, 2020. He was very well liked in the hospital, never complaining and always having something to say or talk to the nurses and doctors about. Willie and Babe were always together wherever they went and now together again.   

Willie is preceded in death by his parents, wife Babe, infant daughter, and sons, Bill and Patrick. 2 sisters and brother-in-law’s: Betty (Jerome) Flisram and Amelia (Johnny) Combs. 4 brothers and sister-in-law’s: Ray (June), Frantz (Esther, son Bobby and infant daughter), Roy (Estella, daughter Marcella), and Dick. And 1 sister-in-law, Linda Bicek.   

Willie is survived by nieces and nephews: Elizabeth (Alvin) Focken, children, Justin and Tyler; Joyce Flisram; Dennis Flisram; Louise Flisram; Connie Rae (Doug) Frantz; LaVonne (Brett) Brickman, children, Carter and Coy; Kenneth (Twila) Combs, children: Brent, Dawn, Heather, and Joshua; Linda Moeller; Brenda Moeller; Dough (Allison) Moeller, child, Lacey; Sharon Harbolt, child, Stefanie; Bobby, children, Russ, Sherrie, Tim, Renee, and Meridie; Kyle, children, Trent, Paul, and Sierra; Kathy (Steve) Mach, children, Roy and Lexy; Tim (Deb) Moeller, children, Tanner and Loren; Todd (Amy) Moeller, child, Morgan. Daughter-in-law’s: Joyce McHenry and Connie McHenry. Grandson Martin (Becky), great grandchildren, Abbie, Heaton, Thomas, andLillie. Brother-in-law Marlo Bicek, children, Kay (Dan), children, Kelly and Samantha; Amy (Dwayne), children, Emily, Jesse, and Ethan; Todd (Angie), children, Brandon and Austin; Carol (Justin), children, Hanna and Elijah.

Dr. Imogene Lorraine Marie DeSmet 92 of Sioux City, IA passed away on Oct. 11, 2020 at Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City, IA.     Funeral services were held 10:30 am Monday, Oct. 19, at the St. Isidore Catholic Church in Colome, South Dakota with Father Kevin Achbach officiating. Burial will be in Dallas Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City.   

Imogene was born Aug. 24, 1928 to Charles and Ida (VanOverschelde) DeSmet in Colome, South Dakota.    She graduated from Colome High School and earned her BA degree from St. Mary’s of the Vasatch, in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Imogene went on to earn her MA from Creighton University in Omaha, NE and her doctoral degree from the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada.   

Imogene taught English for many years at several places including Armour High School in Armour, SD, the College of Saint Catherine, in St. Paul, MN, and the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. She also taught abroad for a semester in Denmark and in Malaysia. After retiring from teaching she moved to Sioux City, IA. to be closer to her family.   

She loved to travel and spend time with her family and collecting dolls.    She volunteered at each of the Catholic churches that she was a member at in many ways including being a lector, Eucharistic minister and helping educate others about the faith.  She was also very active in several academic organizations.    

Imogene is survived by her brother, Claire and his wife Modeanna of California, sisters-in-law, Valda DeSmet of South Dakota and Margo DeSmet of Massachusetts, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families who will always remember the stories she would tell them of her travels.   

She is preceded in death by her parents, four brothers; Julius (Alona) DeSmet, Charles DeSmet Jr., Louie DeSmet Joe (Marilyn) DeSmet, her three sisters; Madeline (Charles) Watzel, Sadie (Miles) Krizan, Leona (Rex) Barcus, infant sister, Marie DeSmet, and a nephew, Jerry Barcus.

James Gregg, 86, of Carter, SD was called home to be with the Lord Oct. 12, 2020, surrounded by all of his children.    

Funeral services were held on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020 at 2 p.m. at the First Christian Church, 326 Madison Street in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. Jim was born June 7, 1934, the second of four children born to Herbert and Florence Gregg. Jim was born on the second level on the old hotel in Carter, South Dakota. Jim attended school through eighth grade in Carter, then went to work on the farm until 1954-1956 when he joined the United States Army. Jim served two years during the Korean Conflict and was medically discharged due to service-related injuries.    

On Oct. 14, 1961, Jim married the love of his life, Marian Lucille Earll. To this union, three sons and two daughters were born.   

Jim absolutely loved to farm and ranch, although about the only time you ever saw him get mad, and maybe cuss just a little, was when moving cattle. In December, 1983, Jim was injured in a farming accident, and then again two years later when he slipped on the ice and broke his previously injured leg. But that didn’t stop him from doing what he loved. Jim continued farming until about 2014 when he retired and spent most of his time delivering coffee, soda, and Little Debbie snacks to folks working in the field or working cattle in the neighborhood. Jim understood, firsthand, what amazing, caring neighbors there are in the Carter area… and the valueof “neighboring.” Jim also loved a good card game, but most of all he loved his family and demonstrated that love until the day he died.     

Jim is survived by his children Jeff Gregg(Sayna), Carter, SD; Julie Gregg-Bubac (Duane) Mammoth, WY; Jill Christensen (Joe), Arlington, SD; Jerred Gregg (Kara), Jason Gregg (Renee DeNoyer), and Pedro Cintron, all of Carter, SD; grandchildren that Jim was so proud of and loved very much: Jamin Hartland (Sarah), Rapid City, SD; Jessa Ellendorf (Gabriel), White River, SD; Jadyn Gregg (Wyatt McMillen), Rapid City, SD; Mark Bubac (Timmi), Rapid City, SD; Christi Bubac, Mammoth, WY; Dustin Christensen (Samantha), Colome, SD; Gary Christensen (Kayla), Sioux Falls, SD; Sara Wollen (Bryce), Sioux Falls, SD; JaceySmith (Conner), Faith, SD; James, Jacob, Josey, and Jenna; Justus (Liz Duffy), Jaynee, Jentry, Jude, and Jett, all of Carter, SD; great grandchildren Zylais Ellendorf, White River, SD, Sage Bubac, Rapid City, SD, Claire and Chloe Christensen and Brody Wollen, Sioux Falls, SD, Desirae Christensen, Colome, SD, and Paisley Smith and baby brother or sister due in March, Faith, SD; brothers and sisters Josephine Klein, Hidden Timer, SD; John Gregg (Jeanne Carpenter Thelen), Evansville, WY; Dennis Gregg (Kay), Martin, SD; and sister-in-law Lorraine Dohmen, Winner, SD; and many, many special nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, and neighbors.   

He was preceded in death by his wife Marian, his parents, Florence and Herbert Gregg, mother and father-in-law Lloyd and Geraldine Earll, brothers-in-law Lawrence Klein and James Dohmen, and sister-in-law Loyce Gregg.

Jim touched many lives… everyone that knew him will remember his contagious giggle, that he worked hard but loved what he did, that he was a quiet soul (unless moving cattle), and that he loved spending time with his kids and grandkids. He will be missed dearly but he and Toots are together again… just in time for their 59th Anniversary (October 14). We will love you always, Triple J.

Tammy Wynette Cook-Foote, age 48, of Ideal, SD passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.    

Wake services were held on Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11 starting at 6 p.m. at the Ideal Community Hall in Ideal, SD. Funeral services were held on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 starting at 2 p.m.  Burial  ollowed in the Ideal Cemetery in Ideal, SD.   

Tammy Wynette Cook-Foote was born to Charlotte R. Thunder/Cook and Drury D. Cook on Nov. 19, 1971. She attended school in Ideal and finished her schooling at Flandreau Indian School. She enjoyed listening to music watching Ivan play softball, watching her 8 grandchildren, and watching family play horseshoes.     

Tammy is survived by her husband Gerrit Foote whom she married on March 10, 2006. From this union she is survived by Ivan Foote (Samantha Foote), Jordan Foote, and Chelsea Foote. She is also survived by six brothers: Larry Long Crow Sr., Charlie Long Crow, Amos Cook, Delano Cook, Drury Cook, and Bruce Cook. Her sisters: Leona Long Crow/Foote (Dewey F.) Blossom Cook (Rodney F.), and Denise Cook.       

Tammy is preceded in death by her grandparents; Amos and Jeanette Cook, Simon and Gladys Thunder. Her parents; Drury Cook Sr. and Charlotte Cook. Brothers; Wayne, Harold, Lowell, Richard, and Mark. Sisters; Enola and Gwen.

Carmelita L. “Carme” O’Malley, age 89, of Gilbert, AZ, formerly of Winner, SD passed away on Monday, Oct. 5, 2020 at the Hospice of the Valley in Gilbert, AZ. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Oct.16 at 1 p.m. at        Mason Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the Winner city cemetery.     Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.    

Carme was born on Sept. 14, 1931 to Leonard and Irene Lucas. She lived the majority of her life in Winner. She attended school in Winner and graduated from Winner High School in 1949. After high school she attended nursing school in Omaha, NE. She married Shannon P. O’Malley from Yankton South Dakota on March 3, 1950. Out of this marriage came two sons, John O’Malley of Phoenix, AZ and Marty O’Malley of Las Vegas, NV.

Carme was an avid sports fan and followed her boys to sports that they competed in whenever possible. She followed them (with Shannon) to events all over South Dakota, the U.S. and the world. Carme was also a lifetime New York Yankee’s fan. She saw them play many times even in two World Series. She also attended the Kentucky Derby and many other World Class Events.     

She loved to play bridge and dance with S.P. One of her many joys was reuniting with her famous class of 49.She was a long-time member of the Episcopal Church. She enjoyed politics, traveling, and flying in the family airplanes.    Carme was preceded in death by her husband Shannon

O’Malley, her grandparents John & Molly (Pa & Ma) Jorgenson, her mother Irene and her husband Cecil Dreyer, and her father Leonard Lucas.    She is survived by her sons John O’Malley Phoenix, AZ, and Marty O’Malley, Las Vegas, NV. Her three grandchildren John M. O’Malley (Payton), Shani O’Malley Phoenix, AZ and Kate O’Malley Scottsdale, AZ. She has 6 great grandchildren who she referred to as her greats.

She will be sadly missed by her family and friends.

Rickey Nelson died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, at the VA hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 66.   

Rickey Lee Nelson was born on May 1, 1954, in Winner, South Dakota to Lee and Delores (Sterling) Nelson. He grew up on a dairy farm near Lucas, South Dakota. Rickey graduated from Burke High School in 1973 and enlisted in the US Navy immediately after.

Rickey Nelson died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, at the VA hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 66.   

Rickey Lee Nelson was born on May 1, 1954, in Winner, South Dakota to Lee and Delores (Sterling) Nelson. He grew up on a dairy farm near Lucas, South Dakota. Rickey graduated from Burke High School in 1973 and enlisted in the US Navy immediately after. On Jan. 21, 1984, he was united in marriage with Martha Dueck in Winner, South Dakota. In Winner, the couple purchased their first home and later adopted their daughter, Samantha. Rickey also worked as a local police officer and EMT before he and his family moved to Sioux Falls.

Rickey was a member of First Evangelical Free Church, NRA, VFW, DAV, and American Legion. He was a talented woodworker, gunsmith, and leatherworker. He enjoyed being involved in his church, traveling, fishing, and, most importantly, being a dad. Rickey loved being a part of Samantha’s life and spent every moment he could playing outside with her, taking her to movies, and challenging her to a game of Clue.     

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Martha; daughter, Samantha, Sioux Falls, SD; brother, Ron (Sylvia), Pierre, SD; sisters, Loryece Handwerk, Marion, SD and Marcy Nelson, Peoria, AZ; and several nieces and nephews.      

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Randy Nelson.    Funeral service was held    11 am Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, at First Evangelical Free Church.    Rickey will be laid to rest at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD.