Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

Richard (Cody) Lloyd McKenzie, 45, longtime resident of Winner, SD, passed away on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at the Avera Gregory Hospital in Gregory, SD.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at 10 a.m. at the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery in Winner. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at the Winner United Methodist Church from 6-7 p.m. with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m.

Cody was born on June 20, 1977 in Winner, SD to Richard (Dick) and Vicky (Debus) McKenzie. Cody was the second oldest of four children. Terri, Cody, Wade, and Dusty.

He attended school in Winner where he graduated in 1995. Cody was involved in wrestling and baseball. In 1996, he met his wife LaCosta (Koth) and in 1998 they got married and in union three children were born; Haley, Natalie, and Carter. In 2000, Cody started working at Harry K Ford where he worked right next to his dad. He was constantly talking about how Dick would never get any work done with all the old tools he had and how they were constantly arguing about which radio station they were going to listen to.

Anyone who knew Cody, knew that he loved to have a good time. In his toolbox he had a box full of firecrackers and he was always shooting them across the shop. Along with loving to have a good time, Cody’s other favorite thing was helping people. He was always the first one to show up and was the last one to ask for help himself.

In 2001, Cody joined the Winner Fire Department and became one of the assistant chiefs in 2016 till 2021. He devoted a lot of his time doing maintenance on trucks, preparing for steak nights, and serving his community through firefighting. It truly was his home away from home.

Cody was a busy body. He was always hunting, fishing, bowling, golfing, cooking something, or simply just sitting around with his friend’s drinking beer. Cody has two grandkids, that were the light of his life. The happiness they brought to him was very obvious when he would talk about them. Baseball also played a very important role in his life. He loved spending his nights and weekends watching Carter do his thing on the field. When Cody got sick, there were many days he didn’t feel well but he never missed a game.

He is preceded in the death by his dad Richard (Dick) McKenzie, Kevin Debus, his grandparents Vern and Joyce Debus, Floyd and Ila McKenzie and his great uncle, Larry Debus.

He is survived by his wife LaCosta (Koth) McKenzie, his three children, Haley (McKenzie) Paulson, her husband Jordan Paulson, their two kids, Berklee and Madden Paulson; Natalie McKenzie; Carter McKenzie, his mother Vicky (Debus) McKenzie, his siblings, Terri (McKenzie) Tracy, her husband Darrel Tracy, their kids Tori (Tracy) Melius, Blake Tracy, and Destiney Tracy; Dusty McKenzie and his children Kayden and Slade McKenzie; Wade McKenzie and his children Riley, Phoenix, Payton, and Aria. As well as many extended families.

Funeral services for Margie Ann Klein were held July 25 at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery, Burke.

Margie Ann Klein was born Jan. 2, 1934 at Chamberlain, South Dakota to William and Erma (Girton) Mlady and she died July 19, 2022 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Burke, South Dakota at the age of 88 years.

She attended Eagle Center Grade School in Brule County, South Dakota, graduating from Chamberlain High School.

She married Norman Klein in August of 1951at Chamberlain, where they resided until 1954 when they moved to Corvallis, Oregon.  In 1958 they moved back to the family farm south of Burke, South Dakota.   Norman passed away in 2007 and Margie continued to live there until her passing.

Margie kept very busy raising her four children.  She milked cows and always had a large garden, from which she canned.  She also raised chickens, ducks and geese.  Then later in life, she also worked as a bookkeeper for the Rosebud Cheese Plant in Burke.  And also as an aide at the Gregory Nursing Home and The Burke Hospital.  She enjoyed many hobbies including her flower gardens, sewing, crocheting, knitting, tatting, making quilts, pictures painting, stained glass and puzzles.  She made crocheted blankets for each of her grandchildren with their favorite football emblem on them.  She was an excellent cook, you never left her table hungry.

She loved family gatherings with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved spoiling them all.

Margie was preceded in death by her husband, Norman; her son, Brad; her parents; her sister, Francis Schauss; sisters-in-law: Becky Mlady and Denise Mlady; and her brother-in-law, Shorty Schreiber.  

Margie is survived by her children: Doug (Joyce) Klein of Winner, SD; Deb (Pat) Walker of Chamberlain, SD: Kelly Klein of Rapid City, SD; her grandchildren: Cody Klein and fiancé Michaela, Dustin Klein, Casey Klein, Aaron Vomacka (Chrystal), Kary (Justin) King, Carleigh Klein and Bryce Klein; her great-grandchildren: McKenzi, Avaya and Chester Vomacka, Tyler Beutz, Quade and Brynlee King; her siblings: Norma (Jim) Kerr, Bill Mlady, Saundra Schreiber and Dennis Mlady.

Margie will be greatly missed by her family and friends and her furry pet “Miss Kitty”.

Gloria Rowe, 83, of Carter, SD passed away on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at her home surrounded by family. 

Funeral service will be held on Friday, July 29, 2022 at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Winner, SD.  Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery.  A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at the First Baptist Church from 6-7 p.m. with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m.

Gloria was born to the late Melvin Eugene Nelson Sr. and Vivian Jager Nelson, in Winner, SD on Dec. 11th, 1938.  Gloria was a homemaker while working alongside Keith on the family farm/ranch.

Gloria was blessed with a loving family.  She married her best friend and fellow classmate, Keith Larry Rowe on July 4, 1957.  To this union they had two sons, Mickey Larry and Douglas Lee.

Some of the best times for Gloria were “When we worked together as a family combining, meals in the field, and working with the cattle.”  Gloria said “working with the hogs-not so much!!!”  Gloria loved Christmas Eve with all her family.  Gloria enjoyed going to all of the activities that her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids were involved in.  She would say that one of her fondest memories were the wiener roasts outside the old house that her boys grew up in.  Gloria enjoyed flower appreciation with her family before breakfast every morning.

Gloria’s hobbies included golfing, traveling, her flowers, sewing and making buns.  She also loved being involved in her church, Wednesday morning church group, Treddle Trippers, Sisters and Survivors, and her coffee gatherings with her 1956 classmates.  Gloria was very strong in her faith.  As an adult Gloria was baptized in the Missouri River joining the Baptist Church in Winner.

Gloria is survived by her sons, Mick (Betty) Rowe and Doug (Bonita) Rowe; grandchildren Amber (Christian) Moody, Michelle (Judd) Alberty, Autumn (Mark) Tucker, Kip (Lea) Rowe, Ryan (Shaneyl) Rowe and great-grandchildren Gavin and Gage Tucker, Ashlynn McPhee, Sid and Max Rowe, Kane and Wren Rowe, Vivian and Lauren Alberty.  Brother Melvin Jr. (Donna) Nelson and sister-n-law Jeanne Rowe-Hansen and other family members.

Gloria is preceded in death by her loving husband Keith Rowe, parents Melvin Sr. and Vivian Nelson, in-laws Frank and Edith Rowe, brother-in-law Gay Rowe, sister-in-law Helen Zemina, and grandson Nathan McPhee.

Wade Nieman, age 62, of Pierre, South Dakota, died on Saturday, June 18, 2022 in Philip after a courageous battle with cancer.

Wade Allen Nieman was born May 18, 1960 to Leonard and Thelma (Evans) Nieman in Winner, South Dakota. The family lived in Winner, Murdo, and Pierre. Wade enjoyed buying and trading cars and hunting with his dad and brother Brett. Wade always had a dog or two or three.

Wade is survived by his mother Thelma Hardt of Philip; two sisters Deborah (Mark) Hiatt of Pierre and Valerie (Roger) Williams of Philip; brother Brett Nieman of Philip; nephews Dan (Melissa) Hiatt, Justin (Morgan) Nieman, Karson Nieman, Colter Nieman, and Kaden Nieman; nieces Erica Williams and Katie (Mike) Schultz; seven great-nieces and one great-nephew; good friends Vic Baker and Goldie Kelly; his dogs Bud and Morgan.

He was preceded in death by his father Leonard Nieman, niece Rebecca Hiatt, and great-niece Bethany Schultz.

Memorials may be sent to Val Williams P.O. Box 74 Philip, SD 57567.

Interment with his father Leonard will be held 9:30 a.m. CDT Saturday, July 30, 2022, at the Winner Cemetery in Winner.

Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.

Funeral services for Donald Brickman age 80 of Carter, SD were held on Monday July 25 at 11 at the United Methodist Church, Winner, SD.  Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Donald LeRoy Brickman, 80, of Carter, passed away on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Winner, SD.

Don was born on Aug. 4, 1941, to Robert and Alma (Brost) Brickman in Gregory, SD.  He joined brother DeWayne and sister Geraldine. 

Don grew up in Winner and attended Winner High School where he met the love of his life Eva Jean Hansen.  While in high school, he played football and was very good at it.  His senior year he was voted Most Representative and was on the 2nd Team All State squad as a fullback.  In recent years, Don and Rocky Jones reconnected and they would frequently reminisce about their football days.  Don would say, “We got better every time we talked, we could probably even beat the Green Bay Packers.” Also during his high school days, he drove truck, usually hauling livestock.

Don and Eva Jean got married on Sept. 16, 1961.  They moved to the Denver area for a couple of years before moving back to South Dakota.  They moved back to the farm that Eva Jean was raised on and Don would be a farmer/rancher from that time on.  He worked side by side by his father-in-law Elvis Hansen, son Brett and his grandsons, Carter and Coy.  In 1963, they welcomed Bryan to the family and then in 1966 Brett.  Don was a very hard worker, if it would have been physically possible, he would have worked 24/7.  He actively participated in the daily operations of the farm until 2010 when his hips and knees gave him issues.  Though he was physically slowed, he was NEVER not involved in the day-to-day operations, even up to his last days.

Though work was an important part of his life, he did have other interests.  Don and Eva Jean were very good dancers.  He also liked playing cards, particularly pitch.  There was a time when a few of the neighbor men would get together once a month, taking turns hosting a hot poker game and the stakes were HUGE – nickel, dime, quarter!  There were probably more stories and ribbing than actual card playing.  He also enjoyed going to the horse races in Fort Pierre and he still enjoyed watching horse races on TV up to the end.

In the 70’s, he raced a hobby stock car in Winner, and he was pretty good.  He was always at or near the top of the points standings and there is a basement full of trophies to prove it.  He also helped coach Bryan and Brett’s basketball teams when they were in grade school.

Don and Eva Jean really enjoyed to bowl, but that came to a halt when the boys got into high school.  They would RARELY miss any of their sporting events, home or away and some of those trips were to Flandreau, Eagle Butte, Mobridge and Pine Ridge.  After the boys graduated, they resumed their bowling.  They also played golf for a number of years.  He always liked to have one cold beer at the end of the day.

Don is survived by his son Bryan (Julie) of Harrisburg, SD; daughter-in-law LaVonne of Carter, SD; grandchildren Brandon, Brittany (James Woods), Bryanna, Carter, Coy Brickman, Cassie Rogers and Matthew Reu; great grandchildren Jonathan, Nora Brooke and Kaya Bailey; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law Sharon Hansen, Betty and David Porter; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife Eva Jean, son Brett, his parents, siblings, and mother and father-in-law Betty and Elvis Hansen.