The Winner Church of the Nazarene celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 9.
There was music, singing and persons sharing memories of the 50 years of the church.
Early in the 1970’s Rev. Robert “Bud” Hockett, who was pastoring in White River at the time, would travel through Winner selling advertisements for the radio station where he was employed.
During his travels to Winner, he began to feel the call of God to start a Nazarene church in Winner. Ken Remmers, a layman living in Winner, had started a bible study with a group of like-minded people with the hope of a Nazarene church moving to Winner.
One of the first persons Remmers contacted was Doris Kelly, Gregory. She also had been praying for a Nazarene church to open nearby.
Shortly after arriving in Winner Remmers decided he needed to complete his education and he moved to Colorado Springs to attend Nazarene Bible College.
In 1972, the Dakota District Church of the Nazarene voted to open the new “church start” in Winner and appointed Rev. Hockett to become the first full time pastor in the summer of 1972.
On Dec. 17, 1972, the church was officially organized with 33 initial charter members with a few more added in the months to come.
At that time the church was meeting at the Odd Fellows Hall at 321 S. Madison St but in 1973 they purchased a store front building at the corner of Main and 2nd St which they repaired and renovated to make it their church home for the next 14 years.
Early on Rev. Hockett had a dream to build a church on the east side of Winner on Highway 44. In 1979 the church purchased two acres of land just east of bowling alley.
Rev. Hockett never realized his dream of building on the two acre plot, but he laid the foundation for the church that exists there today.
In 1980, because of declining health, Rev. Hockett had to step down from the pastorate and his son, John Hockett filled the pulpit for the next year until he was called to pastor the White River Church of the Nazarene where his father had previously pastored.
In 1982. Rev. Dan Turner was called to come to Winner and he served as pastor until he moved to Oklahoma to continue his ministry there. Turner was a carpenter and during his ministry the church did extensive remodeling both inside and out.
In 1987, the church bought the vacant Catholic Church in Hamill and moved it to the two acre plot because of Rev. Hockett’s dream. In 2008, the church built a sanctuary addition with church member Clint Black as the head contractor and volunteers from the church helping in the building process.
To show you how God sometimes works in mysterious ways, when the Winner Church was first organized in 1972 one of the families in that organizational service was a young 15 year old teen Ronald Snethen. Twelve years later he was called to become the fourth pastor of the church.
This fall Rev. Snethen celebrates 38 years of ministry to this church that became a lighthouse for his childhood family and hundreds of families in the years that followed.
Joyce E Lund was born Sept. 18, 1936, passed away at age 86 on Sept. 29, 2022, peacefully at home.
Joyce attended college at Baker University, where she met and fell in love with her husband of 66 years, Orville Lund. On any given day you could find Joyce in the kitchen cooking delicious meals for her family and friends—this was her happy place. Her other hobbies included crafting, painting, sewing, and being involved in the community. Joyce was an Alpha Chi Omega at Baker University, a member of the Red Hat Society, and a member of the Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority in Winner, South Dakota.
While Joyce was a woman of many talents, her true passion in life was family. She was a loving wife, an incredible mother to her two sons, Orville II and Leo, and a beloved grandmother and great-grandmother.
Joyce is survived by her husband, Orville Lund; her son, Orville II; her grandchildren, Orville III, Luke, and Muriel; and her sister, Deb Lawhon.
Joyce was preceded in death by her son, Leo; her parents, Leo and Ellen Pennington; her father-in-law Arthur Lund, and mother-in-law Annabelle Lund.
There will be no public funeral at this time, but she will be laid to rest at Floral Hills Funeral Home and Cemetery. A true celebration of her fantastic life will be held at a later date.
A funeral service for Jack Wenger, 72, Gregory, was held on Oct. 3 at St. John Lutheran, Gregory. Burial was at Olive Branch Cemetery in Mills, Neb.
Jack Allen Wenger was born Nov. 26, 1949, barely making it through the snowstorm to the hospital in Ainsworth, NE, to Norman and Lorraine (Donason) Wenger. Jack was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Burton, NE, and was later confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Jameson, NE.
Growing up on the north side of the Keya Paha River, Jack and his siblings went to the Mills District #3 School House. Jack rode his family horses, Silver King and Silver Queen; at times, he would even ice skate down the river to the Mills Bridge on his walk to school! He spent his summers putting up hay and participating in 4-H, actively involved with livestock.
Jack attended Gregory High School, graduating in 1968. Jack was selfless and musically talented; throughout school, he sang in high school choir, acted in a few plays, enjoyed playing football, and taught himself to play his guitar. Jack moved back home to the family farm in Mills, NE, after studying at Denver Automotive Technological College in Colorado, graduating in 1969, where he walked 10 miles to classes and work each day.
Jack farmed more than 20 years on the Donason Homestead where he began his love for farming and ranching, custom farming for neighbors and looking after his own successful dairy farm. Jack sustained a family with his wife, (the late) Gloria Stevicks, wed on March 11, 1972. To this union, three children were born: Jack (Jackson) Allen, Jr., Shelby Lynn, and Jerrod Norman.
While Jack was on the family farm, he and his brothers, Mark and (the late) Steve, played fast pitch softball for their community team, 4-Corners, with surrounding neighbors in the area. Jack excelled at being one of the top fast pitchers in the region. Being a well-known softball pitcher, Jack was frequently asked to play for other teams.
In the early 90’s, Jack worked alongside his brother, Mark, for a bit before moving to Gregory, SD, working as an associate at Runnings before working for the City of Gregory, going on some 18 years. During this time, Jack married Valerie Kolbe on July 3, 1999. They welcomed two daughters: Lindsey Nicole and Haley Rae.
Jack was a loving father, proud family member, caring friend, and active community member. He was known as someone you could count on, a man who was humble, faithful, honest, and hardworking. His outgoing character could bring a joyful smile to your face.
He continued his love for sports playing slow pitch softball for the Carlock Coons. Jack was a passionate bowler, accomplishing a 300 game and attending many national tournaments with his buddies. Jack enjoyed many years playing league golf in Gregory and Burke with his many friends and family. He also played baseball for the Gregory Town Team, was an avid fan of all Nebraska Huskers, enjoyed fishing, gardening, and completing puzzles alongside his many years as a baseball, softball, and t-ball umpire.
Jack served as a Gregory volunteer fire fighter for 15 years, and he was a football and basketball referee for several years before reaching (semi) retirement. Jack had just bought a fishing boat, looking forward to connecting back to his roots, of fishing with his friends and family, most especially his Uncle George and his future son-in-law, Israel.
Jack was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February of 2021. He had just completed his nine-week journey of radiation treatment in Sioux Falls, SD, on Aug. 16. Throughout his treatment, he did his best to stay positive and be active in the lives of his children; he was abundantly appreciative of the wonderful staff, nurses, and doctors who aided in his treatment process.
Jack Wenger passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 27 while in Sioux Falls at the age of 72. He is dearly missed by all those he touched, and his legacy lives on throughout his family.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, sister Debra Lauer, brother Stephen Wenger, nephew Scott Wenger, aunt Arlene Kuechler, and dearly missed furry friend, Carter.
He is survived by three daughters: Shelby and Allan Bertram of Sioux Falls, SD; Lindsey Wenger and Israel Perez of Sioux Falls, SD; Haley Wenger and Dylan Borszich of Aberdeen, SD; two sons: Jackson and LeAnn Wenger of Rapid City, SD; and Jerrod and Cassidy Wenger of Rapid City, SD; ten grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one sister, Judy and Mark Moebeck of Webster Groves, MO; one brother, Mark and Teresa Wenger of Mills, NE; a sister-in-law, Kathy Wenger of Mills, NE; one uncle, George Wenger of Gregory; a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins; a countless number of friends, and his beloved puppy, Panda.
The local Pheasants Forever banquet will be held Oct. 21 at the Winner Community Center from 5:30 to 10 p.m. The community center is the former middle school gym.
There will be games, raffles, live auction. It is estimated that 70 guns will be given away.
This year the meal will be catered by County Fair Foods.
Among the auction items will be an outdoor fire pit and a neat welcome sign.
There will be the usual Pheasants Forever hat and jewelry auctions.
Mike Scott is the president of the local chapter of Pheasants Forever. Other officers are Jeremy Clay, vice president; Tom Kauer, treasurer and Tom Mathis, secretary.
James Mathis is the youth coordinator. The chapter held it youth pheasant hunt on Sunday, Oct 2.
There are 480 members in the local chapter.
All are welcome to attend the banquet and tickets can be obtained from Pheasants Forever members.
Scott anticipates a large crowd at the banquet.
The Winner Volunteer Fire Department will have an open house on Sunday, Oct. 16. The open house will be from 1-3 p.m. at the fire hall.
There will be rides on fire trucks for kids.
The open house is in honor of fire prevention week.
Government offices in Winner will be closed on Monday, Oct. 10 in observance of Native American Day.
The Tripp County Courthouse will be closed as well as the Tripp County Library on Monday.
The Winner city office will be closed on Oct. 10.
All state and federal offices in Winner will be closed on this date.
Also, the Winner Post Office will be closed and there will be no mail service.
Financial institutions in Winner and Colome will be closed for the holiday.
There will be no noon meal served at the Senior Citizens Center on Oct. 10.
Southern Plains Behavioral Health Services will be closed on Native American Day.
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