Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

Betty (Steffen) Kirwan, 87, passed away at Bethany Lutheran Home in Sioux Falls, SD on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020.

Rosary will be Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 at 10 am at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Lake Andes, SD with visitation following. Memorial service will be Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 at 11 am at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Lake Andes, SD following the visitation. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Spencer, NE at a later date. Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home.

Betty Ann Steffen was born Aug. 24, 1932 at her parent’s farm south of Colome, SD. She was the fifth of eight children born to Friederich and Josephine (Schroeder) Steffen. She attended rural school and then graduated from Colome High School in 1950.

Betty then attended Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, SD. In August 1951, she started teaching rural school by Colome, SD. Her yearly salary was $1,557. On April 24, 1954, she married Daniel Duane Kirwan.

They farmed in the Randall Valley and she taught rural school south of Lake Andes. They moved to Pickstown, SD in 1970. Throughout her life she enjoyed tending her plants (she had a green thumb) and gardening, canning and baking, word finds and a good game of cribbage or scrabble. She was a member of St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, a 4-H leader and VFW Auxiliary.

Betty is survived by her two children: Fred (Sally) Kirwan of Pickstown, SD and Nancy Kirwan of Sioux Falls, SD; grandson Austin (Natalie) Donley of Sioux Falls, SD, brother Jack ‘Fritz’ Steffen of Winner, SD and sister Doris Zimmerle of Huntsville, Ala.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, three brothers: Leonard, Bob and Vic Steffen, two sisters: Helen Steffen and Stella Doty.

Martha Peters, 89, of Winner SD, passed peacefully into her eternal life on Wednesday Aug, 12, 2020 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Center.

A private mass of Christian burial was held on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. A private Rosary was held on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020 at 5 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Martha was born on Jan. 25, 1931 to George and Margaret (Gierau) Mullen in Wewela, South Dakota. She attended a one room school house there for grades 1 through 8. From there she went to St. Mary’s Academy in O’Neill, Neb., from 1944 to 1948.

After graduation from high school she worked at Marty Mission School in Marty, South Dakota. She then moved to Bloomfield, Neb. and worked at Mullen Market, the family grocery store. She met Jack Peters at a dance in Wewela. They were married on June 7, 1951. They started their married life in Colome, SD, and later moved to Winner.

To this union, four sons were born. Martha is survived by her sons and their families. Pat (Marjo), Larissa (Josh Luther), Hallie, Marrie, Ainsley, Travis (Lyndsey), Camden, Bo, Tyler (Brittany), Cavan; Kevin (Cindy), Dale (Jacey), Kelby, Karley; Steve (Darcie), Sydnie, Trevor, Jack, Hudson; Laura Root (Jamie) , Addy, Rylee, Gracie; Dan (Lenore) John, Beth (Bobby Bruinsma), Wesley; Brad (Joan), Katie (ErikPedersen), Kelli, Kasey (Keith Miller), Ava, Nora, Case, Kami (Ryan Trainer). Her sisters Marcella (Jess)Wills, Bernadette (Bill) Skrivan, and brother Bernard (Nona) Mullen.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jack, great granddaughter Esther Grace, brother-in-law Chuck Bohart and nephew, John Mullen. Martha exemplified what a true Catholic Christian is. Her faith was a strong foundation for how she lived her life. She was a faithful member of the Immaculate Conception Church choir, sharing her beautiful soprano voice.

She was a 50 year member of the Catholic Daughters. She was active in supporting St. Mary’s School in Winner. She was a regular volunteer serving dinners at the church. Jack and Martha along with close friends, Bill and Betty Pistulka, headed the annual Fall Festival when Father Arnie Kari was pastor back in the 1980’s. Martha could strike up a conversation with anyone. She loved to visit.

Martha always made sure friends and family never left her home without a meal. That squeaky back door was always a welcoming sound. And the people she cared for stretched far and wide. Martha kept an incredible network of distant cousins and old friends who would visit frequently. As her mind began to fail her, she shared stories and old memories of her childhood.

Perhaps she embellished the details where she drew a blank. But we didn’t care – we were grateful for the stories and “the visit”. Martha was a golfer – and had the tan lines to prove it. And when she couldn’t golf, she filled her time with bridge club.

She loved to spend time with her grandchildren, and was always grateful that so many of them were close by as they grew up. Martha – thank you for dedicating your life to making sure everyone around you was taken care of, well-fed and entertained.

You’ve set an incredible example for the rest of us. You were, and will continue to be, a bright light in our lives.

Marion “Big Mike” Dreyer, 87, of Winner, SD passed away on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Facility in Winner, SD. Funeral service was held on Friday, Aug.7,2020 at 2 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Marion Delano “Mike” Dreyer was born on Feb. 28, 1933 in the northeast bedroom of the family farmhouse to Edward and Marie Dreyer of Carter South Dakota. He was the new baby brother to Harold, Howard, Lorraine and Milton. Life was never dull with four boys and only one girl to keep them in line. Mike followed his siblings and graduated from Witten High School in 1950.

In the fall of 1951, he married Dola Tucker and they were married for 67 years. Clifford, Julie Ann and Lonnie Lee were born to this union. After a few years of working and living on the farm Mike and Dola purchased the farm from his parents and added a trucking business. In 1971 Mike rented out the farm, moved the family to Winner and began his construction business, trenching and backhoe work was also added to the business.

In the mid 90’s they moved back to the farm where they lived for the rest of their lives. Building up a cattle heard and putting up hay kept Mike busy. He loved the haying season “just how big can you make a bale?”

Mike loved pheasant hunting season with his Tennessee hunters, playing cards with the couples card club which they had belonged to for many years, bowling, fishing and of course dancing.

He would dance every dance until the party was over. Yes, he out danced all of us.

Grandpa Mike and Grandma Dola would travel to all the activities and sporting events of their children and grandchildren. Mike was a member of the UCC Church ofWood, SD.

He was a 32-Degree Master Mason for 52 years, Naja Shriner for 50 years, Mason for 63 and an Eastern Star member for 61 years.

Mike is survived by sons Clifford and Lonnie (Pam) Dreyer, seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Darci (Matt) Dailey and Jack, Maggie and Mick; Michael Dreyer; Stacy and Elena Dreyer; Sid (Amanda) Dreyer and Isaac, Emily and Ian; Sara (RJ) Petersek and Linkyn, Libbie, and Preslie; Kristin and Victoria Dreyer; Jake Dreyer and many nieces and nephews.

Mike is preceded in death by his wife Dola, daughter Julie, parents Edward and Marie Dreyer, brothers Harold (Kay), Howard (Bonnie), Milton (Clarice) and sister Lorraine (Paul) Kauer.

Betty (Steffen) Kirwan, 87, died at BethanyLutheran Home in Sioux Falls, SD on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Rosary will be Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 at 10 am at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in LakeAndes, SD with visitation following.

Memorial service will be Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 at 11 am at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Pickstown, SD following the visitation. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cathlic Cemetery in Spencer, NE at a later date. Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Lake Andes.

Bev Engelmeyer passed away at the age of 66 years on Friday, Aug.7, 2020, after a lengthy battle with colon cancer. Funeral services were held Aug. 13 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke. Burial was in Graceland Cemetery in Burke.

Bev was born Sept. 28, 1953 in Valentine, Neb., to Lester ‘Gus’ and Evelyn (Schipporeit) Bain. Bev’s family lived and worked on various ranches and farmsteads until they purchased their land north of Burke, South Dakota in 1963.

Bev graduated from Burke High School in May 1971 and went on to obtain atwo year degree in accounting and medical transcription at National College. She returned to Burke and worked for Dr. Nemer, as well as Wilhelmsen Feed Service, utilizing her college degrees.

She was united in marriage to Dave Engelmeyer on June 21, 1974. Dave and Bev spent the majority of their marriage as owners and partners of Jungle of Flowers, along-standing small town business established in 1978, from which they fully retired on May 31, 2020. Through her affiliation with the floral industry, Bev servedas the South Dakota FTD Board Treasurer and a South Dakota Florist Association Board Member.

Bev endured raising three daughters who share her same qualities of tenacity, strong-will and hospitality. All three girls excelled in academics and were heavily involved in extracurricular activities. Their house was a gathering place both before and after activities. Her girls and their roommates were regularly shipped college care packages full of homemade goodies.

Bev was raised with 4-H, both rodeoand livestock, and enjoyed anything with her horses. Bev served as the girls’ Willing Workers 4-H Club Leader and shared her expertise with their cooking, speeches, sewing and countless craft projects. An annual trip to the South Dakota State Fair was the pinnacle of everyone’s hard work.

Bev was blessed with seven grandchildren who were her pride and joy. She delighted in hearing about their activities, even better was when she could attend in person and take them for treats afterward.

She is a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a past president of the Altar Society.

Bev is survived by her husband, Dave, and three daughters: Michelle (Bill) Schenkel, Colette (Matt) Dick and Tasha (Shaun) Rausch, and seven grandchildren: Dillon and Allie Schenkel, Madison and Cooper Dick, Brooklyn, Addelyn and Hudson Rausch; along with her brother, Don (Deb) Bain.