Author Archives: Rita Pravecek

George Anthony Howard, 84, of Winner, SD made his journey to the spirit world on Jan. 14, 2022 at his home in Winner, SD. 

 Funeral service was held on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022 at 2 p.m.  at the Winner Ideal Community Hall in Winner, SD.  Burial will follow at a later date. 

Wake services was held on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 22 and 23 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Winner Ideal Community Hall.

George was born in Bad Nation, SD on Dec. 14, 1937 to Nora (McLean) Clairmont and Robert Howard.  George was the last surviving sibling and the only son of six children.

George lived a solitary existence and was an exceptionally private person, very few knew little about his life, nevertheless you could always count on him to be there and support his family in time of need.  He sometimes came across as a “grumpy grandpa” yet he had a special bond with his Great Niece Jennifer DuBray as she was the only kid he would allow to visit him.  They enjoyed their time watching cartoons, eating snacks and drinking pop.  This special bond carried onto Jennifer’s youngest daughter Taya as they enjoyed their weekly run-ins at the store.

George spent his later years up until the day of his passing living his peaceful daily routine which included trips to the post office and Lil Feller.  He overcame many obstacles in his life which included changing his lifestyle for the better, surviving cancer and improving his health.  He liked to stay fit by lifting weights.  He was  a hard worker and loved carpentry of any kind.  George worked and lent a helping hand to many of the local farmers and in the 50’s he helped build the interstate.

For those of you who knew George when he told you he would come by to visit that often meant a slow drive past your house.  George didn’t usually have much to say, but when around his family the pride in his eyes and content smile on his face said it all.

George is survived by many nieces and nephews, his grandchildren and countless great nieces and nephews who are considered grandchildren in the traditional Lakota way.

Maternal nieces and nephews of George Anthony Howard are Fern DuBray, Molly DuBray, Ethel Sharkey (DuBray), John DuBray, Kathy Peneaux (DuBray) Andy DuBray, Janice DuBray, Jason DuBray, Bernadette Howard, Sandra Rouse, Cleo Rouse, Gail Rouse, Cynthis Odegard, Charlotte Rouse, and Rusty Odegard.  Grandchildren are Laura Basaldua, Shaun Klinger, Brent Klinger, Summer Klinger-Van Wagner, Jolynn Thalman, Amber Thalman and his son Craig Night Pipe.  “Family are like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one.”

George is preceded in death by his Mother Nora, Father Robert, his daughter Maxine, his sisters Dorothy, Betty Jane, Wilma, Arlene and Mary Lou, his niece Mona DuBray, nephew Michael Odegard, Henry Odegard, Billy Rouse, JR Rouse, great-grandchild Netaya Dream and numerous other loved ones.

“But as God calls us one by one the chain will link again.”

Marian Elaine Schroeder, 83, passed away peacefully at the Winner Regional Health Care on Jan. 21, 2022 surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services were held  Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, South Dakota. With Visitation on Monday, January 24, 2022 starting at 5:00 concluding with the Vigil at 6:00. Burial will be on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Remsen, Iowa.

Marian Bowker was born Aug. 23, 1938 in Villa Park, Illinois. Marian grew up in several small towns in Illinois and completed high school in Dekalb, Illinois. She met her Iowa farm boy, Jerry Schroeder, in California and three months later their epic love story began on Sept. 7, 1957. Unbeknownst to Marian, her future husband was from the same small town in Iowa that her mother, Adeline Singer, was from. Luckily the Singers were one of the few families in that small town Jerry was not related to.

Marian and Jerry raised their five children on a farm near Remsen. They moved to Colorado in 1985 where they worked in ski country and eventually built their dream house. They retired to Lakeview, Arkansas. They lived there until Jerry’s death in 2019. Marian has spent the last few years in Winner, South Dakota with eldest daughter, Marie.

Marian enjoyed many hours of playing games with her family and friends. Those who knew Marian knew she had the most outrageous luck at cards and bingo. She would always laugh and say “But what can you do?” Her dedication to spending time with the lord praying for those on her extremely long prayer list was an inspiration.

Marian is survived by her children Marie (Dave) Fisher, Kim (Dave) Bedel, Joan (Mark) Hartman, Keith (Robyn) Schroeder, and Mary Beth (Jerrod) Olson. Also by her brother Robert Bowker. Marian and Jerry enjoyed their twenty grandchildren and twenty-four great grandchildren.

Marian is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry, her twin daughters, Rosemary and Elizabeth, her parents, Frank Bowker, Adeline (Singer) Bowker, her brothers Tom and Ron Bowker, and her sister Dorothy (Bowker) Hitchcock.

Sylvania Earll, 77, of Winner, SD passed away on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022 at the Winner Regional Health Care Facility in Winner, SD.A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022 at 11 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services.

Sylvania was born March 9, 1944 to Clarence and Sylvania (Risch) Sigety in Watertown, SD.  She attended her elementary years in Florence. She grew up near the railroad and had lots of good memories with her friends and siblings.    In 1960, she moved with her family to Rapid City, SD.   She attended her Sophomore- Senior year there, graduating from Rapid City in 1962.  She worked at the Woolworths store and babysat when not in school.   Her parents were foster parents, so she kept busy helping with those children as well.  

In April of 1967 she went on her first date with Leo Earll.   In September of 1967, they were united in marriage.   They spent their first nine months of marriage traveling around North and South Dakota doing custom farm work.  Then, they settled on Leo’s family farm near Witten, SD raising hogs.  In March of 1970, on her birthday, her first son Duane was born.  Lee shortly followed in August of 1971.  They lived there happily until Leo passed away from a heart attack in 1976.  She found herself raising two boys on her own at age 31.  A few years after she lost Leo, she was married for a short time to Jim Sell.  She helped him with his 4 children as if they were her own.  She went on to raise her boys on her own.  In 1984, Sylvania started working at the Winner Baptist Hospital as a nurse’s aide.  She worked a brief time at the Adjustment Training Center before returning to the hospital.  A dream had awakened and she decided she would start working towards becoming a Registered Nurse.  She started nursing school at Dakota Wesleyan with her best friend, Carol Horstman, and together they graduated in 1991.  She was employed at the hospital in different capacities as a nurse.  She has left behind many stories of laughter and tears from her time there.  She was gentle and caring, but best believe she was a voice for her patients.  In 1996, she brought her mother home from Arkansas to live with her.  They resided in Colome.  She became a grandmother to her first grandson, Spencer in 1998.  She took the title very seriously.  Her second grandson, Cody was born in 2001.  She spent lots of time spoiling them rotten, making sure the snack drawer was always full and that they could go eat at the “bar”, go bowling, or to a movie whenever they wanted.  They had many adventures over the years.   Sylvania retired from nursing, but continued taking care of everyone.  She could be found cooking for her grandson over his lunch hour, baking goodies or making jelly, helping a neighbor, taking someone to an appointment, making rosaries for the church and taking care of church family.   In 2021, Sylvania was able to connect with a daughter that she made the hard choice to give up when she was young.   Meeting her this fall was one of the highlights of her life.

Sylvania was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Sylvania Sigety, husband, Leo Earll, and brother Dennis Sigety. Survived by her daughter Robyn Hauk and her family; son Duane (Kendra) Earll, grandsons Spencer and Cody Earll and son, Lee Earll, her brothers, Joe (Carole) Sigety, Kevin (Colleen) Sigety, Pat (Deb) Sigety, and many nieces and nephews, family and friends