Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

Lois Besmer passed away quietly on Dec. 3, 2022. She was sustained in life by an abiding faith in God.

Lois was born on June 9, 1939, the fourth of six children to Edward and Ola Knittel (Steppat Warden), in South Dakota on the Rezac place south of Dallas. Lois spent a happy childhood on the family farm near Gregory, SD. Initially attending a one-room schoolhouse with siblings and neighbors, Lois later boarded in town while attending Gregory High School from which she graduated in 1957. While in high school, she was a 4H leader their name was The Ramos Ramblers. The group sang “The Cattle Call” at the State Fair in Huron, SD, and took first prize. The group then then went to Kansas for another performance. While in high school at Gregory High her interests were bookkeeping and home economics. Lois kept the books at Newsam Chevrolet and loved to go polka dancing and waltzing at Colome on Saturday nights.

Lois married Alvin Besmer and they had three children. Lois became single and continue to raise their children.

After the birth of her third child, Lois went to work as a secretary at the 1st National Bank of the Black Hills in Rapid City. From that position, she worked her way up to vice president of business banking at Norwest Bank in Sioux Falls. She retired from banking in 1998. During her banking career, Lois was in the vanguard of women entering higher levels of professional careers. Known as a hard worker and a dedicated mentor to younger professional women, Lois held leadership positions in various social organizations such as Kiwanis, Toastmasters, and Business & Professional Women (BPW). After retirement, she re-located to Mesa, Arizona, returning to Rapid City in the final years of her life.

Lois was a dedicated and loving mother to three boys. She enjoyed attending little league baseball games, wrestling matches and football games.

She is survived by her brother, Merlin Knittel, a sister, Judy Lantz, her three boys, Doug, Scott, and Kirk, as well as numerous grandchildren.

 There will be memorial service and a celebration of life event planned for the summer of 2023. She will be interned next to her mother, father, brother and sister in the Gregory Cemetery.

Edna Bicek, 102, of Winner, SD passed away on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Center in Winner, SD.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023 at 11a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, SD. Visitation will be held on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023 from 6-7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, SD. Private family burial will be held at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery.

Edna Dorothea Walker was born on March 6, 1920, in her parents’ home near Clearfield S.D. in Tripp County, to John and Lydia (Hermann) Walker.  She was baptized and confirmed into Christ’s Holy family at Jerusalem Lutheran Church south of Carter S.D.  She lived her childhood years at her parents’ home and attended elementary school until the 8th grade.

At the age of 13, Edna had her first job traveling to country schools, cleaning and erasing the textbook scribbling from their pages.  She then worked as a hired girl for Bill and Minnie Patmore, doing housework and farm chores.  She then worked for Ren and Nettie Wilcox at their farm north of Winner. She assisted Nettie with all household duties, including meal preparations for hired men and large thrashing crews.  She then went to work at the Phillips Hotel in Winner, doing laundry and cleaning. During this time, (late 1930’s) she met the love of her life, Ernest Bicek.  They dated approximately 3 years and were united in marriage on Aug. 22, 1942, in Valentine Neb.

They moved onto the Bicek farm south of Colome to begin their life together.  To this union, they had three children, Daughter Marvellyn, Stanley, and Perry.  Edna was an excellent wife and mother, a devout Christian, inspiring and teaching her husband and children to study the teachings of the Lutheran Catechism.   All being confirmed in the Lutheran Church Doctrine.

Edna was a typical farm wife. She had big gardens in which she canned produce, raised chickens, helped Ernie butcher and process pork and beef for the family. She also worked side by side with Ernie planting and harvesting crops. She helped with all the fencing, digging post holes by hand. People always commented on the fantastic meals she prepared.

She attended the Lutheran Church her whole life. She taught Sunday school, was a member of the ladies’ aid and attended Bible studies.  In 1996, she moved to Winner and lived there for 18 years, moving to Winner Regional Nursing home in 2014.

Edna is survived by daughter Marvellyn (John) Willcockson of Cave Creek Arizona, children Lynn (George) Young, Donnie (Tammy) Robinson, and Pam (late Dennis) Zeebe. Son Stanley (Connie) Bicek of rural Colome S.D., children Tony (Tina) Bicek, Sandy (Doug) Beck, and Karey (Craig) Thieman. Son Perry (Lorie) Bicek of Rapid City S.D., children Neil Bicek, Julie (A.J.) Alexander, Kim Barnes and Miranda Bicek, along with 20 great grandchildren and 20 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded  in death by her parents John and Lydia (Hermann) Walker and husband Ernest Bicek, half-brother Emil Hauck, brothers Chris Walker, William Walker, and Johnny Walker.  Sisters Adeline Holcomb, Alma Hutchison, Amanda Janas, and Hertha Elliot.

Shirley Lavon Moses Hart went to be with Jesus on Dec. 28, 2022 at the age of 87, she was surrounded by her family.

Shirley was born on June 10, 1935 in Winner, SD to Carl and Emelia Moses.  She was the seventh of ten siblings.  She had five brothers and four sisters.

She graduated from Winner High School in 1953 and soon after moved to Denver, CO where she worked as a secretary.  It was in Denver that she met and married her husband, Dewitt Lew Hart also known as D.L. in 1960.

 Together they had two children Heather and Chris.  They loved to spend time as a family traveling in their motorhome, spending time in the mountains and visiting family and friends around the country.  They were also big Bronco fans and spent many seasons at football games.

They eventually moved and retired in Phoenix, AZ where they enjoyed spending time with family and friends and watching their four granddaughters grow up.  Shirley enjoyed reading and doing crosswords.  She liked to cook for family and experiment with new recipes.  In more recent years she loved using Facebook to keep up with family and friends all over the country.

She had a positive attitude and always tried to make the best of situations.

Her family and faith were very important to her.  She leaves behind her husband of sixty two years D.L. Hart, daughter Heather Mosbaugh (Michael), son D. Christopher Hart (Christine), granddaughters Jenna Hart, Michaela Bell (Brantley), Makenzie Bustos (Christian), Claire Hart, and her great grandson Brady Bell.

She is also survived by her sister Bernice Weickum , sisters in law Evelynne Moses and Beverly Moses, and countless nieces and nephews.

She is now safely home in the arms of the Lord.  She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at The Grove Church in Chandler, AZ on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 11a.m.

John T. Hofer, age 71, of Huron, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, at the Huron Regional Medical Center.

His memorial service was held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 7, at the American Lutheran Church. His service was live-streamed through the Kuhler Funeral Home website.

John T. Hofer was born July 21, 1951, to Herbert H. and Elsie M. (Barber) Hofer at Huron. He grew up and attended school in Huron and graduated from Huron High School in 1969. During his high school career, John was on the wrestling team and played in a rock and roll band around central South Dakota. John attended Huron College, continued to play in his band and worked at the college cafeteria. He later became the assistant manager at the college cafeteria.

From 1972 to 1977, he was the food service manager at Dakota Wesleyan University at Mitchell. He transferred to Avila College in Kansas City, Missouri. In December of 1977, he started as the school nutrition director for the Huron Public Schools.

Shortly after returning to Huron, he went back to college to finish his degree. On July 8, 1980, he placed second in the nation in the Business Administration contest at the Phi Beta Lambda National Convention in Washington D.C. In 1983, he graduated from Huron College with a degree in business administration.

On July 9, 1988, John married Karen J. Willuweit at Huron.

He was the editor of the South Dakota Food Service Association newsletter for ten years. During his years at Huron Public Schools, he helped design the kitchen at the middle school.

John was a member of the American Lutheran Church, South Dakota School Food Service Association, American School Food Service Association, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and Handgun Control.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one nephew, Philip Inskeep.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Karen of Huron; his brother, Herbert C. Hofer of Brandon; his sister, Dorothy Inskeep of Mitchell; five nieces and nephews; eight great-nieces and great-nephews; and one great-great-niece.

Visit www.kuhlerfuneralhome.com

Avis Hansen, 91, of Winner, SD passed away on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Center in Winner. 

Funeral service was held on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Winner Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Winner, SD.  Burial  followed in the Winner City Cemetery.  

Avis was born at her grandparent’s home in Tripp County on March 18, 1931, to Lela (Hopkins) and Oscar Papke.  She was the oldest of her 7 siblings and the first grandchildren born into the Hopkins family.

She attended various country schools during her grade school years.  While attending high school in Winner she boarded at “Grandma” Olsen’s with other high school girls, many who became life-long friends.  But Avis had to work after school to earn her board and room.  One of the after-school jobs was for Dailey’s Variety Store where her boss, Don Dailey, taught her to figure how much paint or wallpaper was needed to refinish a room.

After graduating in 1949 she married Arthur E. Hansen on Sept. 15, 1949.  Their marriage was blessed with four children who became her new “job”.

During the 1960’s Avis was volunteered by Art to make pies for the bowling alley, then owned by Stan Ainsworth and family.  The ladies’ leagues were recipients of some tasty lemon meringue pies.  In the 1970’s Avis worked with Roy (Jack) Kelley and his Captain Clean Service, doing tons of fire and smoke insurance jobs.

After Art passed away, she spent her days working with her daughter at the Sewing “B” in the same Main Street building which had housed Dailey’s Variety in the 1940’s.  When that building was sold, the fabric store was moved up the street to a new location which, ironically, the same building she had delivered pies to in the 1960’s.

Avis was a charter member of the Winner Orthodox Presbyterian church and raised her family in the church.  She helped in every way possible and was told by the first pastor she would teach Sunday School.  She taught both Sunday School and Vacation Bible School until she couldn’t keep up with the youngsters.  She so wanted to introduce the children to Christ as their Savior, but she left them converting to the Holy Spirit.

Avis was preceded in death by her parents, husband Art, daughter Cheryl, two sisters, Neva and Janis, and one brother-in-law, Darrel Bettcher.

She is survived by daughter Sandra (Charles) York, sons Mark Hansen and Jon Hansen, sisters Peggy Bettcher, Merva (Phil) Cobb, Judy Papke and brothers Bill (Donna) Papke and Larry (Ruthellen) Papke, 6 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Darrel Joseph Struck, 67, of Pierre, SD passed away on Jan. 2, 2023 at the Avera St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, SD.

 Funeral services were held on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023 at noon at the Winner Ideal Community Hall in Winner, SD. Burial  followed in the Ideal Cemetery in Ideal, SD. Wake services were  held on Wednesday and Thursday  at the Winner Ideal Community Hall in Winner.

Joe was born to William and Anastacia (Struck) Foote in Rosebud, SD on Sept. 20, 1955.

He attended schools in Winner, SD and Todd County High School in Mission, SD. He then enlisted in the Navy in 1975 and was Honorably Discharged in 1977. Joe enjoyed spending time with his children, family and friends.

Joe leaves behind his wife Melda (Peneaux) Struck, Pierre, SD. His siblings Gerrit Foote, Ideal, SD; Dewey (Leona) Foote, Ideal, SD; Donald (Marvene) Foote, Sioux Falls, SD; Carla Reed, Ft. Pierre, SD; Janell (Frank) Millian, Winner, SD; and Janice (Art) Halfhide, Chadron, NE. His children Dara Nelson, Albuquerque, NM; Darwin Nelson, Mitchell, SD; Jackson Struck, Pierre, SD; Leighton Foote, Darcie Struck, Juliana Struck all of Minneapolis, NM; and Elsie Foote, Pierre, SD; stepchildren Renee Foote, Hermosa, SD; Nathan (Angie) Foote, Sioux Falls, SD; Nicole (Larry) Foote, Pierre, SD and Beau Dean Foote, Sioux Falls, SD. 19 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Preceded in death by his parents William Foote and Anastacia (Struck) Reed. Grandparents Stephan and Martha (King) Foote, Henry Struck and Cora Shields. And one brother Bernard Foote.