Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

Robert Henley, 89, of Winner, SD passed away at his home in Winner on Monday, July 20, 2020.

Graveside service will be held at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD will be held on Friday, July 31, 2020 10 a.m. MT.

Robert D. “Bob” Henley was born Sept. 2. 1930 in Heil, ND to Estol and Martha (Moos) Henley. Bob grew up and graduated from high school in Hardin, MT. In 1948 he enlisted in the Army and served in Korea including the battle at the Chosin Reservoir.

Bob was awarded the Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal and the Bronze Star and was honorably discharged in 1952.

Robert and Geraldine (Torske) Henley were married June 21, 1951 in Hardin, MT. They later moved to Chamberlin, SD and then to Winner, SD in 1965 where they were in the construction business for over 35 years.

Bob is survived by two children Jeanette (Roger) Letcher, Alexandria, SD and Scott (Marne) Henley of Rapid City, SD. He is also survived by two grandchildren Joseph Pejsa and Janelle Pejsa and four great grandchildren.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, parents, a sister and a brother as well as his elder son Tom.

William K. “Willie” Kyler passed away at home surrounded by family on July 13, 2020 at the age of 77 after battling cancer.

Willie served in the Army for 4.5 years.

Visitation following CDC guidelines was Saturday, July 18 from 9 am to 10 am, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (2110 S. 32nd Ave.), Omaha, Neb., followed by memorial service at 10am with military honors by So. Omaha American Legion Post 331.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Judie Kyler; son, Richard (Tracy) Kyler; daughter, Christine Kyler all from Omaha, NE; four grandchildren: Matthew (Katheryn) Kyler, Shelbi Kyler, Justine Humphrey, and Tre Humphrey; two great-grandchildren, James and Juliette Kyler; sisters: Elsie Saunders, Eunice Cole, Sharon Totten (Don Etherington), Carol Zvorak, and Nila (Dave) Lively; and brother, James (Gina) Kyler.

Preceded in death by parents, Lyle and Hazel Kyler of Winner, SD; two brothers, Leroy and Roger Kyler; one sister, Vada Kyler; and three brothers-in-law: Tom Saunders, Sam Cole, and Darrel Orel.

Loved by many nieces, nephews, extended family, and longtime friends.

Marian Ruth Jorgensen went to be with the Lord on May 17, 2020. She was 95 and a resident of Golden Prairie Manor in Winner, S.D., and passed away because of a stroke and heart complications.

Memorial service will be held on Monday, August 3, 2020 at 11 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation will be held one hour prior to memorial service.

Marian was born on March 26, 1925, in Great Falls, Mont. When she was five weeks old, her mother Mary Struble Applegate (later Fredricks) took Marian, her brother Frank and sister Merlyn by train to Nebraska where her father, William, met them and took them to Winner, where he had found employment as a mechanic.

Marian lived in Tripp County most of her life, graduating from Winner High School in 1942. She attended Springfield Normal School and taught for a year near Hamill.

She married Fred Schwenkner, who passed away in 1953, and married Harry Victor Jorgensen in 1955, who passed away in 2001.

Harry always referred to Marian as “the Little Flower.” They had two sons, Terry Jorgensen and Tony Harry Jorgensen (Jane), Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; and two daughters, Nancy Jorgensen (Dennis Barnhardt) of Pomerene, Ariz.; and Mary Ann Schroeder of Pierre.

The Flower loved to play cards and talk with friends and family. Her life’s mission from 2001 to 2018 was to finish the beautiful home on the hill that Harry had been restoring for more than 30 years—and she did.

Marian was also thankful to have shared her life with granddaughter Teresa Gross (Scott) of Newcastle, Wyo, and their children Hannah, Ramsey and Harrison. She viewed Terry’s former wife and Teresa’s mother, Donna Lucas (Kevin) of Sioux Falls as a dear friend and daughter. She was also survived by granddaughter Alexis Sprogis (Brandon) of Taylors, S.C., and their daughters Avery and Bailey. Marian was also close to grandniece Lovelyn Abbey of Phoenix.

One of 10 children, Marian’s surviving siblings include Deanna Croston (Allen) of Winner; Gene Fredricks (Donna) of Phoenix; and William Applegate (Mary) of Albuquerque. Special thanks go out to her niece, Sandy Croston, as well as Deanna and Allen Croston and others who helped Marian in her final years.

For 25 years, Marian worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and then became an independent crop insurance agent, retiring in 1995.

Active in community service, she was a leader in the First Christian Church for more than 85 years. She was also in the GFWC Winner Woman’s Club, VFW Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary, Friends of the Library, Tripp County Historical Society, RSVP, the Democratic Party and other organizations.

Memorials may be sent in Marian’s name to the First Christian Church, 326 Madison St., Winner 57580. Marian’s husband Harry built the church and many other landmarks in Winner. Memorials may also be sent in her name to the Winner Regional Hospital, 745 E. 8th St., Winner.

Donald Hanig, 99, of Winner, SD passed away on Friday, July 17, 2020 at the Lake Andes Nursing Home in Lake Andes, SD.

Funeral Mass services were held at 10 am, Friday July 24, 2020 at Winner Catholic Church. A private viewing and rosary for the family, was held prior to the funeral service.

Interment followed the Mass at Winner Cemetery, with a lunch to follow at Winner Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the South Dakota Knights of Columbus Foundation in the name of Donald Hanig.

Uncle Donny, 99, passed away peacefully on July 17, with his wife at his side. Don is survived by his wife Eleanor Hanig, In-laws Dolores Smith of Winner, Jim and Lavon Smith of Phoenix, Nieces and Nephews: Gary (Fritz) and Ruth Ann Hanig of Rapid City, Jean Hanig Beckman of Chamberlain, Ann (Hanig) and Boyd Thiel of Chamberlain, Tony Hanig and Terami Frantz Nespor of Winner, Jim and Betty Hanig of Pukwana, Steven Klima of Sturgis, Mark, Tim and Pat Smith of Phoenix, with many more great nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, brother John A. Hanig, sister in law Orvilla Hanig, nephews Mark Hanig and John M Hanig and nieces Cleo Binder and Joyce Olson.

Don was born on Feb. 17, 1921 in rural Hamill, South Dakota, and has joined his beloved parents John and Katheryn in heaven. Don was an 80-year honorary member of the Chamberlain Knights of Columbus and member of the Winner, SD Catholic Church.

He spent a lifetime doing the things he loved most, farming and truck driving. He would also want you to know he loved Notre Dame football. But most of all, he was deeply devoted his lifelong partner and wife of 73 years Eleanor Hanig.

He always had a great story to tell regarding one of his many life’s adventures. His lovable smile and laughter were contagious and made people want to be in his presence.

He will live on forever in the hearts of those that loved him and will forever be remembered as the amazing man that he was.

He will be dearly missed.

A memorial service for David Moore was held July 25 at the Vivian Auditorium.

The oldest of five children born to Lowell John and Myrtle (Dunlap) Moore, David Murray Moore was born May 26, 1925 at their home two miles north of Vivian. After several moves, his parents bought their ranch in 1942 on the White River south of Vivian. Today, it is where Terry and Kay Moore live.

Dave graduated from Vivian High School in 1942, then “Uncle Sam” called and he enlisted into the Army in 1944 shipping out to Europe. He was a half-track driver in the 6th Armored Division under General George Patton.

After his term ended with the war in 1945, he worked for Leo Booth, Rich Oller and Lyle Hulce. When he was employed by Leo Booth, he took notice of a blonde, blue-eyed Oscar Selland’s daughter. A relationship bloomed and he married Janice Selland on June 17, 1949. To this union, four children were born: Donna, Leslie, Larry and Della.

In the early 1950s, he began his banking career with the Callanan Family who owned Vivian State Bank. Chuck Tomhave asked Dave, “How would you like to work here?” Dave replied, “Well, I need to check with my boss (Lyle Hulce).” Chuck replied that he had already cleared it with Lyle. Dave took pride in the fact that he never had to make a resume or interview for a job, he was always asked.

After Chuck passed in a car wreck, Dave became the bank manager. After 36 years, he retired and began his own insurance agency.

Besides working on crossword puzzles daily, Dave’s hobby was mowing lawns. He enjoyed mowing for many people and taught his sons and Erikson grandsons to mow.

He oversaw them as they began to mow for others in town. In his retirement years, he was grateful to Mike Sprenger who hired him as an insurance agent. Then, Keith and Marge Hayes family hired him for their insurance agency out of the Draper State Bank.

His last and probably proudest job was working for the Delmer and Delores Volmer family at Presho Livestock handing out buyer card numbers. Dave loved the social aspect of working at the sale barn visiting with buyers and sellers and seeing the livestock. He loved to keep active and these three jobs added years to his life.

Dave was very community minded and was willing to be involved in all Vivian town activities. He served as a Vivian Volunteer Fireman and was an active member until just a few years before he moved to the Elder Inn, Winner, SD. He was a proud American Legion member and received his 70-Year plaque in 2017. Dave was handy with numbers and helped folks with their income taxes while he worked in the bank. He kept books for the Vivian Fire Department and Hilmoe cemetery.

Gone with Dave’s passing is a voluminous history of Lyman County. He had a superb memory and could guide people to old family homesteads and recall dates, events, people’s names and who they were related to, plus he loved to memorize license plates.

Dave had a great love for sports and was a lifelong Cubs and Bears fan. He attended countless ball games following three generations of kids, grandkids and great grandchildren. The grandkids always knew they could look in the stands and grandpa and grandma would be there cheering them on!

He looked at life through the lens of being a proud Patriot whether raising his family, serving his community, being a businessman or being a grandpa. He loved his country and loved the flag evidenced by the many, many color guards he marched in. For years, he raised and lowered the flag at the Vivian Post Office for Linda Perry.

He also loved to share his “dirty thirties” and WW II experiences with students by speaking to classes at Lyman and New Underwood (where Della taught) Schools.

While on a trip to Germany revisiting his WW II travels, he was invited to speak at a German school. He remembers that they flew an American flag the day he was there.

A highlight of Dave’s life was being a member of the first Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in May 2008. Accompanied by brother Terry, it was a special, memorable trip for both of them!

He was a life-long member of the Vivian Lutheran Church and served in many church offices. He also served several terms on the Vivian School Board.

Since August 2016, he has resided at the Elder Inn Assisted Living, Winner, SD. He always remarked, “If I can’t be home, this is a really good place to be!” We greatly appreciate the kindness and support that Tammy and the Elder Inn staff gave Dave.

Dave passed peacefully in Winner, SD on July 18, 2020 surrounded by his children.

He is survived by daughters, Donna Erikson (Ron) Kinsley; Della (Jerry) Mader; and sons, Leslie (Shelli); Larry (Lezlie); grandchildren, Karsten (Dixie) Erikson, Clint (Tessa) Erikson, Beth (Trusty) Mertens, Courtney (Michael) Gould, Chris (Alicia) Erikson, Casey Hupp, Lex & Lane Moore, Zach (Kenzie) Mader and Lindsay Mader; great grandchildren, Grace Erikson, Josie & Amber Mertens, Ellie, Aaron, Miley & Owen Erikson, James Calhoon, Carter & Evan Erikson, Ruby & Beck Gould, Camden, Archer & Renner Erikson, Zylah & Zaydin Mader, Nolan, Maggie & McKenna Hupp; brother Terry (Kay) Moore and brother-in-law Darrel Lintvedt; sister Margaret Juhnke and sister-in-law Bernice Moore; plus, numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lowell and Myrtle Moore and in-laws Oscar and Jeanette Selland; wife, Janice; siblings Jack Moore and Mary Lou Lintvedt; brother-in-law Ronald Juhnke and son-in-law Daryld Erikson.

Online condolences may be written at: www.isburgfuneralchapels.com

Connie R Baedke, 76 of Scottsdale, Ariz., passed away on July 16, 2020 at Mimosa Springs in Scottsdale.

Celebration of her life was held at Thursday, July 23, at Red Mountain Funeral Home, with Scott Brown of New Valley Church officiating. Burial followed at city of Mesa Cemetery.

Connie was a leap year day baby born in Winner, SD to Stuart and Eva Hossle on Feb. 29, 1944. She lived on a farm in Hamill, SD during her childhood with her parents and younger sister Pat.

She attended the little country school that was close to their home. She went to high school in Winner where she met Eugene Barnes and they married on June 14, 1959. They had 3 children, Mike, Todd and Candy. In 1978 they moved to Chandler, AZ as Connie decided that winters were not her cup of tea.

Her talents led her into restaurant management, furniture sales, bookkeeping and her final and most enjoyed job was providing childcare for many of her grandchildren, neighborhood children and children of her friends.

On Dec. 23, 1989, she married Larry Baedke and was blessed with 2 stepsons, Sean and Jason.

In April 2016 Connie suffered a brain aneurysm that affected her short-term memory and caused the decline of her life. Prior to the brain aneurysm, Connie had unending energy.

Her creativity included interior decorating, tole and ceramic painting and cross-stitching to name just a few. She also enjoyed reading and was a level 4 Sudoku player.

Connie is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents and several aunts, uncles, cousins and her nephew.

Connie is survived by her husband, her 5 children and their spouses, her sister, along with 17 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and another on the way.

Red Mountain Funeral Home in Mesa, AZ was in charge of arrangements.