Author Archives: Colton Hall

Mark Raymond Storms (Hoppy) was born July 6, 1923 on the family homestead, south of Keyapaha in the Beaver Creek Township to Joseph and Crescencia (Willems) Storms. Mark was the 2nd youngest child of nine. One younger brother Jim and three older brothers John, Eugene and Warner. Four older sisters Marie, Helen, Bernice and Laurene.

The family attended mass at a country church called St. Anne’s located 2 miles north of the homestead and St. Bonifice located 15 miles north of Clearfield, SD. The Priest would alternate Sunday’s. There were too many family members to fit in the old model T at one time, the family had to take turns going to mass.

Mark grew up on the family farm and attended Beaver Creek School. Mark and his dad were struck by lightning while milking cows in the barn. Mark’s dad was killed, Mark was knocked unconscious and three cows were also killed. Mark was 15 at the time. He dropped out of school and helped his brothers take over for their father. He later returned to school and graduated from Winner High School.

Mark joined the US Navy in 1943 and served in the Philippines during WWII until 1946. When Mark returned home from the service he went to a dance at the Cosmo Club in Valentine, NE where he met the love of his life, Dolores Simons. They were married September 23, 1948. They were married 3 months short of 60 years.

They lived on the Leo Rock ranch where they ranched for 4 years before moving to the Olaf Tuntland ranch east of Keyapaha in 1952. While living there two children were born. Andy, Ruth, Mark and Dolores raised cattle, chickens and had a huge garden with lots of canning done. They lived here for 18 years before moving to Winner in 1970. They all left their hearts on the ranch and tried to become accustomed to a new life style.

Mark went to work as a carpenter for Bill Koos and helped build their new home in Winner that they moved into in 1970. Mark worked for Bill until 1979 and then went to work for Highway Lumber building homes, until he retired.

Marked loved to hunt, fish and taught his kids and grandkids the love of the sport. He was a baseball coach for Clearfield Midgets. He loved to watch the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, as well as the Denver Broncos. He loved to read books as a past time.

After retirement Mark and Dolores enjoyed spending time together with their kids and grandchildren. When Dolores passed away in June 2007, Mark decided to move to Rapid City three and half years later. The yard and garden got to be more work instead of enjoyment. So he moved into an independent living retirement community (Primrose) in March 2011 at the age of 87. In August of 2015, Mark moved to Fountain Springs Health Care Center where he resided until his passing on November 6, at the age of 92.

Harold Smith was born on March 15, 1926 to Orville and Sarah (Fetzer) Smith on the family farm north of Gregory, SD. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory.

Harold attended rural school north of Dallas through the fourth grade. He then attended school in Gregory and graduated from high school in 1943. Harold joined the United States Army in 1944 and served at Fort Lawton, WA, where he joined the personnel group on the base. Among the many details of his job were the preparing of discharge papers for returning servicemen and ordering the many supplies needed on the base. Harold was honorably discharged in 1946.

Harold made the decision that he wanted to become a teacher. He enrolled at the University of South Dakota-Springfield through the G.I. Bill and completed the requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree in English education in 1949 graduating summa cum laude. He had reached the first part of his goal. He later earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Wyoming in 1954.

Harold began teaching in Colome and Winner as a high school teacher. In addition to his English classes he directed speech activities including declam and plays. Harold began teaching at USD/Springfield during the fall of 1956. Harold married Dolores Klima on June 4, 1966 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. Harold continued teaching at USD/S until the life of the institution ended in 1984 due to legislative actions. After the closure, Harold joined the faculty at Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD.

The final step in his teaching journey was in River Forest, IL where he taught at Concordia University. The experience of living in the Chicago area proved to be an exciting and rewarding way to end his career. Thus, the final goal was completed.

Harold enjoyed gardening and raising beautiful flowers. He shared tomatoes and other vegetables from his garden with friends and family.

Harold passed away November 19, 2015 at Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in Gregory at the age of 89 years.