Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

A prayer service for Ilene Hickey age 88 of Burke, South Dakota (formerly of Iona, SD) will be held on Wednesday, July 29 at 7 p.m. at Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, South Dakota.

Visitation will be from 5:30 to 8:30 the night of the prayer service. A private burial will take place at a later date.

Phyllis Lucille Leach was born on July 3, 1928 in Winner, SD to Joyce E. Taylor (Goodsell) and Ned D. Taylor. Phyllis died on July 14, 2020 at her residence in Austin, TX, at the age of 92 years.

Phyllis grew up and attended school in Winner, SD. After high school, she attended Northwestern University where she graduated with honors.

One of the highlights of her college years was being part of the debate team that won the Big 10 Debate tournament and she was then named to the all-Big 10 debate team.

She married her husband and best friend for life, Robert (Rusty) Leach on December 27, 1951. Their first son, John was born in 1955. Phyllis and Rusty moved to Pierre, SD in the late 1950’s. Mark, their second son, was born in 1959. Phyllis worked as a teacher (Spanish, English and Drama) in Ft. Pierre for several years before joining the Pierre school system as a Spanish teacher.

After retiring from teaching she joined a travel agency (AAA Travel) which helped her share her love of travel with scores of clients. When Phyllis retired from the travel agency, she joined the South Dakota History Center as a volunteer and enjoyed meeting people and sharing a love of SD history.

In 2009, Rusty and Phyllis moved to Austin, TX to be closet to their sons’ families and their grandchildren. They embraced the challenge of starting a new life in their early 80’s and greatly enriched the lives of their extended family in the process.

They made many new friends in Austin and that continued, when after Rusty passed in 2017, Phyllis moved to the Brookdale Senior Living facilities.

Phyllis loved to read and travel and learn about other cultures. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was very proud of her 65+ year marriage to Rusty and loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents and brother and her husband Rusty. She is survived by her sons John and Mark, and her numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, sister in law Jean (Gary) Stickland, several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

While current circumstances present challenges to having a gathering or memorial service, plans are being made to honor her life at the appropriate time in the future.

Terry Jorgensen passed away Sunday, March 29, 2020 at the Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville, SC.

Because his mother, Marian Jorgensen, passed away on May 17, 2020, a joint “Celebration of Life” funeral service will be held for them at First Christian Church in Winner, SD, at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, 2020.

Terry was born May 18, 1946 in Winner, SD to Fred Schwenkner and Marian (Applegate) Jorgensen. Fred passed away July 4, 1953.

Terry graduated Winner High School in 1964 and joined the US Navy in 1967. He married Donna (Kingsbury) Lucas and had their daughter Teresa (Jorgensen) Gross on Aug. 21, 1969.

After divorcing, he joined the Navy again and when discharged moved to Omaha, NE, where he worked for IBM.

He overcame his battle with alcohol, became a drug and alcohol counselor and moved to Baton Rouge, LA. He had a passion to help people with addictions by sharing his journey with others.

He married Diane Jorgensen in 1983 and moved to Oklahoma City, OK. On September 29, 1984, they welcomed their daughter Alexis (Jorgensen) Sprogis. In 1987 they moved to Charleston, SC. He loved South Carolina and called it home.

Even after two divorces, a liver transplant and other health conditions, Terry didn’t stop living. He continued his education and by the time he was 60, he had two degrees in business and accounting, including his Master’s in Business Administration. He was also a Certified Public Accountant.

Due to his failing health, he retired from his job at MSU. He moved to Taylors, SC to be near Alexis, her husband Brandon, and his granddaughters Bailey (11) and Avery (7).

He loved his family, and especially his mother, daughters, and grandchildren.

Besides his mother, Terry is preceded in death by his father Fred Schwenkner, his adoptive father Harry Jorgensen, and his grandparents.

He is survived by his daughter Teresa (Scott) Gross, daughter Alexis (Brandon) Sprogis, sister Nancy Jorgensen (Dennis Barnhardt), sister Mary Ann Schroeder, brother Tony (Jane) Jorgensen, and his grandkids Hannah, Ramsey and Harrison Gross; Bailey and Avery Sprogis (and baby Ezra due October 30).

Ronald Eugene Derry, 54, of Wellington, Ohio, died unexpectedly on March 29, 2020, at his home.

Ron was born May 14, 1965 in Winner, South Dakota to Claude and Judy (Harter) Derry. He graduated high school in 1983 at Wood, South Dakota.

Following high school, he attended the University of Springfield, Springfield, South Dakota for auto mechanics. Ron also received an associates degree in accounting from DeVry University in July 2017.

On April 8, 1988 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he proudly served his country until his retirement on April 30, 2008. He retired as an Aviation Structural Mechanic First Class Petty Officer (E-6). During his active duty service, Ron was highly decorated with a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal (6); National Defense Medal (2); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal and the Navy “E” Ribbon. Ron achieved his Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS) wings.

He was also forward deployed to Bahrain, Japan and Diego Garcia and served in the Persian Gulf, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Ron married Susan (Nicoll) on July 6, 2001 in Angleton, Texas, Ron and Susan resided in Oak Harbor, Washington where Ron was stationed at NAS Whidbey Island for several years while working on P-3 Orions.

Prior to NAS Whidbey Island, Ron was stationed at Point Mugu, California where he worked on F-14 Tomcats. Ron was transferred to NAS Norfolk for his last 2 years of his 20-year service.

Ron is survived by his wife Susan; his canine companion Chloe; parents Claude and Judy of Winner, SD; brothers Craig and wife Cassie of Freeman, SD; Neil and wife Laura of Sioux Falls, SD; Niece and Nephews, Tyler Derry, Cory Derry, Laine Derry, Ashley Schumacher and Tegan Derry; 1 great-niece Raelynn Derry; grandmother Gladys Harter of Winner, SD; mother-in-law Maura Nicoll and sister-in-law Marian Nicoll both of Medina, OH; and numerous uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by grandparents Robert R. and Loraine Derry, grandfather Merle Harter and father-in-law Eric Nicoll.

Due to the corona virus, a memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. Burial will take place in South Dakota with the Wood American Legion Post 19 taking part in the service.

Arrangements by Norton-Eastman Funeral Home, 370 S. Main Street, Wellington, Ohio 44090, Online condolences may be expressed at HYPERLINK “http://wwyv.norton-eastmanfuneralhome.com/” \h wwyv.norton-eastmanfuneralhome.com

Lenore Antonia Sutton was born to Billie and Kelsea Sutton on July 8, 2020, at 11:01 a.m.

She weighed 5.5 pounds and was 19 inches long. She delighted everyone with her head full of dark hair and her sweet spirit.

She honored us with one week of memories and died peacefully in her mom and dad’s arms on July 15, 2020. She got to meet and be held in the arms of grandmas, grandpas, aunts, and brother Liam.

She was held in the hearts and prayers of countless others.

Funeral service was held July 21 at 11 a.m. at the Sutton Ranch, Bonesteel with Rev. Mark Tuttle officiating. Burial was at the Sutton Cemetery, Bonesteel.

Rather than flowers, please consider a donation in her honor to the Burke Community Foundation (PO Box 376) because we love this place where we planned to raise our daughter Lenny.

Lenny is survived by her parents, Billie and Kelsea, and her big brother Liam. Her grandparents Bill and Renee Sutton and George and Laurie Kenzy. Her aunts and uncles Katelyn, Alec, Chloe, Rehme, Tayler, Dee and Tyler. Her first cousins Landry, Arina, Blaisely, Maris, Maysa and Cru. And her great grandmothers Ruth Sutton, Betty Kost, and Linda Lillibridge.

She was preceded in death by her great grandfathers Kenny Kenzy, John Lillibridge, Anton Kost, and Billie Sutton, and her great grandmother Eleanor Kenzy. Both Eleanor and Anton were her namesakes.

Rosemary Hartland, 83, passed away Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at home in the Clearfield area of rural Winner, SD.

Funeral services were held on Monday, July 27, 2020 at 2 p.m. at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery.

Rosemary McCollam was born March, 11, 1937 to Ben and Esther McCollam. She attended and completed her eight-grade education at the Lincoln School in rural Gregory County.

It was a daily 2-mile walk (one way) to school, she voluntarily helped the teacher tutor the younger students. She graduated from Winner High School in 1955. While attending high school she became friends with Effie Hartland. Effie invited her to a non-denominational gospel meeting. She made her choice to serve the Lord and kept true to the end.

She also met Effie’s brother William (Bill), the love of her life as they celebrated their 65th anniversary this year. They were married June 15, 1955 and to this union five children were born, William, Debra, Douglas, Daniel, and Richard.

Rosemary spent many hours doing custom sewing and sewing for her family, this included many wedding dresses. She was a superb cook and loved to bake pies to share with everyone. She loved gardening, especially raising flowers. She quietly gave it all.

She loved to share a smile, hope, encouragement, advice (if you asked) and most of all – love. Anyone who spent time with her would never go away empty-hearted. Relatives and neighbors appreciated her nurturing spirit and she spent many hours babysitting for them.

Rosemary was preceded in death by parents Ben and Esther; son, William; brothers, Philip, Steve, and Delano McCollam; two sisters, Dortha Wheeler and Virginia Huettmann.
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he leaves to mourn her husband, Bill; four children, Debra, Douglas, Daniel, and Richard (friend Judy Bahm) all of Winner, SD; brothers, John McCollam of Gregory Co., David (Joyce) McCollam of Rapid City and Floyd McCollam of Gregory Co. Grandchildren; Casey (Loni) Colson, Megan Fisher, Jamin (Sarah) Hartland and Deven Fisher; great grandchildren, Aaliyah, Olivia, Emily, Silas, Kaden, Jaxon, and Novella; and many nephews, nieces, and friends.