Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

Leo Westendorf, 66, of Winner, SD passed away on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020 at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.    

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020 at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. Burial will be held at 2 p.m.    at the Pleasant Long Cemetery in Geddes, SD. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. vigil service on Wednesday, Sept. 30,2020 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner.

Margot Elizabeth, 1 month old from Spearfish, South Dakota, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2020.

Margot blessed us with her birth on August 14,2020 to Hanna Harmon and Matthew Spear. Everyone who saw Margot immediately fell in love with her, and many who did not yet get the chance to meet her, feel the same way. Her time with us physically may have been short, but the impression she made on our hearts will last forever.

Margot is survived by her loving parents, Matthew and Hanna; Grandparents Bruce and Michelle Harmon of Spearfish, Kendra Spear and Lorenzo Briseno of Sturgis, Chad Spear of Spearfish and Sheila Niles; Great Grandparents, Allen and MarvelynSpear of Ashton SD, Bonnie Hartpence and Louis Henderson of Custer SD, Ray and Janna Pravecek of Winner SD, Cathy Perik and Larry Rodgers of Belle Fourche; Great-Great Grandparents, Rodger and Elvera Bierman of Aberdeen SD and Margaret Harmon of St. Petersburg FL; aunts and uncles Jeremiah Harmon and special friend Cally Nutting of Billings MT, Gavin and Emma Spear of Sturgis, and numerous great aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Burial will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 18, 2020. Fellowship and lunch will be held afterwards at the Spearfish City Park Center Shelter.

Arrangements are under the care of the Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish.

Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com

Myrna Pravecek, 83, of Winner, SD passed away on Sept. 19, 2020 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Facility in Winner, SD.   

A private family service was held on Friday Sept. 25, 2020 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Winner SD. Friends were invited to join the family at the burial in the Winner Cemetery following the service.    

Myrna Lou Knittel was born June 23, 1937 to Ed and Ola Knittel. Myrna attended Gregory Rural Schools and graduated from Gregory High School in 1956. During her school years Myrna was very involved with her 4-H club.    She loved the baking, cooking, and sewing she learned there. She also was the record keeper for the club; her attention to detail helped keep the club well organized!  Upon graduation she moved to Pierre with a friend and worked as waitress. Myrna missed her friends and family back home; she moved to Winner and took a job at Northwestern Bell.    

At her sister Lois’ wedding, Myrna met the love of her life Jim Pravecek.    Jim was serving in the Army and was sent to Germany for two years. After two years of dedicated weekly correspondence, Jim returned home and the two were married Sept. 10, 1960. The couple lived on Jim’s family farm south-east of Winner and took over farming operations from Jim’s parents in 1965. The couple was blessed with four sons, Tim, Greg, Kelly and Todd. Myrna was a very devoted mother and her life centered around her family.   

The skills she learned in 4-H were instrumental in caring for her husband and boys. She kept them well fed with her large garden, her chickens as well as using her cooking, baking, and canning talents. Myrna’s boys were involved in football and wrestling.  She was always in the crowd cheering them on while trying to keep Jim from getting ejected from the stands!   

Myrna was very generous with her time and talents. Heavily involved with the Tripp County 4-H’ers, she volunteered her time, passing on her extensive knowledge to future generations. She received the 4-H Alumni award for her efforts.   

She was an active member of the Catholic Daughters of America, helping with many various church and community projects. Not born into Catholicism, Myrna converted when she married Jim. Her faith was strong, she remained a steadfast and dedicated member of the church throughout her life.   

In retirement, Myrna and Jim enjoyed traveling and visiting family throughout the country. Myrna’s personal interests included gardening, sewing, crafting, and playing cards. Her main attention was centered around spending time with her grandchildren. She continued to be a sports booster to the next generation of athletes in her family attending as many of her grandchildren’s games as she could.   

Her love of sports manifested the most in her enthusiastic support of the Minnesota Twins.    She rarely missed a game on TV or the radio. One of her favorite memories was a trip she took with her family to a Twins game where she caught a foul ball!   

Myrna will be fondly remembered by her family and friends for her selfless dedication and love for her large family; she was so proud of her boys and grandchildren! She always kept close track of what was happening on the farm as well as the adventures of all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She will also be remembered for her strong Catholic faith, hard work, volunteer efforts, and her enthusiasm for the Minnesota Twins!   

Myrna was peacefully called home to be with the Good Lord on Sept. 19, 2020.

Survivors include her sons Tim of Winner, Greg (Rita), Kelly (Charlene), Todd (Korie) all of whom reside on the family farm, brother Merlin (Gen) Knittel of Sacramento CA, sisters Lois Besmer of Rapid City, SD, Judy (Neil) Lantz of Winner, 13 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.    Myrna was preceded in death by her parents Ed and Ola, husband Jim, sister Carol, and granddaughter Shauna.

Alvina Frieda (Lindwurm) Wonnenberg was born to William J. and Lena (Kahler) Lindwurm near Carlock, South Dakota on Dec. 30, 1923. She died in Gregory, South Dakota on Sept. 19, 2020, succumbing to Covid 19. She had been the last surviving member of her parental family of eleven.

On the farm, they pitched together and despite hard times enjoyed many good times. Amid grasshopper plagues and the Dirty Thirties, they learned early in life to work hard and trust in the Lord. As little girls, Alvina and younger sister Esther had a special chore. They were sent into the pasture, carrying a pail and a hoe. The hoe was not just to help pick up cow chips for fuel, but to clobber a rattlesnake if need be. Once, they were curious and neared a big fuzzy baby bird. A mama hawk swooped down and squawked. They screamed and made tracks! 

  Following eight years of study in a country school, Alvina often hired out as a live-in maid. She fought homesickness by studying her catechism. On the first page is written, “Jesus became a man because He had to become our substitute,” followed by, “My Confirmation Book. I memorized many Bible passages in this Book, finished in Oct.1936.” Many Bible passages!–her sons know!

Alvina married William (Bill) Wonnenberg at Carlock Peace Lutheran Church on Sept. 12, 1943. After honeymooning in Yankton, they settled down to farm near Paxton, South Dakota. They’d raise their five sons and together enjoy farm activity, milking cows, raising livestock and poultry.   

Alvina was committed to her Lord Jesus in all she did, as farm wife and homemaker, mother and Sunday School teacher. She enjoyed her flowers and reading books. She recited charming poems by heart. Her family was made happy when KWYR Radiomread over the air her prize-winning essay, “Why I am Thankful” and won a turkey!

Alvina sang a lot, while washing dishes or scrubbing floors, during good and not-so-good times–“better than complaining,” she’d quip. She had a knack for organizing events and parties. She had a reputation as good cook and hostess, and Sunday School students especially knew her as a lady who “knows her Bible.” She was a fervent prayer intercessor. In the 1970s she helped start a neighborhood Bible study; when a drought came a fast was called, soon followed by downpours of rain!   

In 1995 Bill and Alvina moved off the farm to Gregory, South Dakota. Alvina was active in the American Legion Auxiliary. She joined the choir of Union Congregational Church where she and Bill loved to worship. They enjoyed their grandchildren and “taking it easy.”

Alvina leaves behind five sons: David (Quyen) Wonnenberg, Gregory; Kenneth Wonnenberg, Tea; Charles (Diane) Wonnenberg, Wakonda; Steve (Joan) Wonnenberg, Dallas; Roger (Jacqueline) Wonnenberg, Winner; 16 grandchildren and29 great-grandchildren.

Loved ones preceding Alvina in death include her husband Bill; parents William J. and Lena Lindwurm; all siblings: sisters Christina Neuharth, Elsie Fode, Ella Hanson, Rose Sengelmann, Esther Braun; brothers William Lindwurm, John Lindwurm,Philip Lindwurm; daughter-in-law Diane (Ken’s late wife) Wonnenberg; and two grandchildren: Edward Wonnenberg and Joseph Wonnenberg.

William Westcott Tuttle, 88, went home to the Lord on Sept. 24, 2020.   

He was born on March 1, 1932 at the Anderson house near his family homestead near Mosher, South Dakota. He was the seventh child of Jesse and Bertha Tuttle. William was brought home to a sod house where he and his family lived until he was 9years old.   

William attended a country school for 8 years then to Winner High School where he graduated in 1949. William was a hard-working Christian man who made his living as a farmer, tire technician at Belle Retread/West Tire, and truck driver for Hubbard Mill, Schneider Transport, Croell Redi-Mix and Watson Sand & Redi-Mix until retirement.    

William was joined in marriage to Carol Week in 1966 and lived in Winner South Dakota with their son Bill, moving to Belle Fourche in 1971.   

He was a long-time member and trustee at the First Baptist Church of Belle Fourche where he enjoyed maintaining the lawn, singing praises to God and welcome all that came for fellowship.   

He also enjoyed his membership to the Belle Fourche Recreation Center and Senior Citizen Center where he could continue to expand his exceptional social skills.   

Survivors include his wife, Carol Tuttle; son, Bill (Shelley) Tuttle; daughter, Ellen (Al) Margheim; son, Lester (Garnet) Tuttle; daughter, Bev Tuttle; 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Bertha Tuttle; siblings, Bernard Tuttle, Kenneth Tuttle, Bernice Gustafson, Harold Tuttle, Beulah Salem, and Clyde Tuttle.

A Ceremonial Tribute was held at First Baptist Church in Belle Fourche on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 11 am.

An online guest book and video tribute can be viewed at klinefuneralchapel.com