Category Archives: Local

Dorothy Berger, 94

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Dorothy Berger, 94, of Winner, SD passed away on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022 at her home in Winner, SD.

Funeral services were held on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner, SD. Burial  followed in the Winner City Cemetery and a lunch was served at the Church following the burial.

Dorothy Mae was born to Edward and Mary (Jamber) Karl on April 5, 1927 at the family farm north of Gregory, SD.  Dorothy was the third of four children.  She joined her sister Agnes, brother Edwin and later came brother Elmer.

The family lived North of Gregory, SD and Dorothy graduated from Gregory High School in 1945.

After high school Dorothy worked at the bank in Gregory.  Dorothy and her friends enjoyed going to the dances and that is where she met her soon to be husband Ernest Berger.  They were married on Sept. 17, 1946.  To this union, ten years later, four children were born, Diane, Carol, Barbara and David.

They lived in Omaha, Neb. for 2 years and moved back to Burke, SD until 1971 when they made their home in Winner, SD.

Dorothy was employed as a bookkeeper at the Winner Ford Mercury until she retired in 1989.

Dorothy was an excellent cook of many Bohemian dishes. She also baked many delicious Kolache, rolls, pies and bread over the years. Dorothy enjoyed playing cards and Wahoo, whether it be with family or many of her special card playing friends.

Dorothy was a member of the United Methodist Church, Sisters and Survivors, VFW Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Dorothy is survived by her four children, 12 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren: Diane Faubion of Winner, SD and her children Brady (Jena), Chris (Jordan) (Grayson, Dempsey), Heather (Lane) Massingale (Avery, Trinity), and Lindsay Faubion (Anthony) all of Rapid City, SD; Carol (Walt) Baker of Columbus, MT and their children Jessica (Josh) Matteson (baby due Jan 6) and Samuel, all of Billings, MT; Barbara (Darrell) DeSersa of Winner and their children Sarah (Russell) Hoffer (TayShaun, Sadie, Oaklee) of Winner, SD, Dustin (Tia) (Keyleigh, Presley, Jayda, Skyla, Liam) of Winner, SD and Megan of Cayuga, ND; David (Kristine) and their children (Henry, Edwin, Shawn) of Hudson, WI; one brother Elmer (Karen) Karl of Gregory, SD and many nieces and nephews.

Dorothy is preceded in death by Ernest, her husband of 59 years, her parents, one sister Agnes Novotny, one brother Edwin Karl, two brother-in-law’s Joseph Novotny and Louis Vodicka, two sister-in-law’s Kay Karl and Ruth Vodicka, son-in-law Rick Faubion, two nieces and one nephew.

Covid cases increase

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COVID-19 cases have taken a certain upswing in Tripp County.

Over the past week there have been lots of new cases primarily fueled by the Omicron variant.

As of Monday, there were 12 new confirmed cases and three probable. The number of active cases in Tripp County is 112.

There was four days worth of data following the New Year’s holiday. This period showed 19 new cases in Tripp County.

On Jan. 5, there were 23 new cases and 77 active.

January 6 showed 10 new cases and five probable with 90 active.

On Jan. 7 there were 7 new cases and two probable.

The Department of Health reported 10,207 new positive cases collected from Dec. 30 through Thursday.  The state’s active cases is 15,927 the highest since Dec. 4, 2020.

The state’s screening had previously caught just two cases of the omicron variant but that number has now increased to 22.

The state reports those that are fully vaccinated at 57.5 percent. Booster shots received include 35.3 percent of the state’s vaccinated population.

First Fidelity Jean Pool Donation

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Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
The First Fidelity Bank of Winner has made a donation to the Winner Resource Center. The money comes from the bank’s jean pool. Each Friday bank employees are allowed to wear jeans to work and then make a donation for wearing jeans. At the end of the money is given to local organizations and needy individuals. This year the bank also donated to the Christmas Wish program of Southern Plains Behavioral Health Services plus individuals. In 2021, a total of $630 was distributed. It has been at least 10 years that First Fidelity Bank of Winner has had this program. Pictured from left are Karleen Flakus and Lynn DeMers of First Fidelity Bank, Shanna Flakus and Kristie Hemming of the resource center.

WHS December students of month

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Submitted Photo
Winner High School December students of the month are in front from left Melanie Brozik and Adrienne Lewis. In back from left are Ava Craven, principal Gerald Witte and Cici Watson. Each month Winner High School recognizes four students who have done something positive in academics, athletics, activities, behavior or community involvement.

Abigail Kuil’s 5th grade class received their DARE certificates

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Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Students in Abigail Kuil’s 5th grade class received their DARE certificates. In front from left are Kingsley Schweigert, Cameron Olson, Allie Littau, Ian Grisham, Apollo Willuweit. In back from left are Ryken Kaup, Cooper Craven, Kage Day, Klint Krolikowski and Presley McCall. Not pictured are Lukas Black Spotted Horse, Rosabella Rinker, Chloe Wetsit, Avery Miller and Rekaya Hauf.

Najacht’s named citizens of the year in Custer

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Charley and Norma Najacht, the owners of the Winner Advocate, have been named Custer County Chronicle Citizens of the Year.

The couple recently sold the Custer and Hill City newspapers, which they had owned since 1999.

For over a decade, the Custer County Chronicle has been naming an individual or couple as Custer County’s Citizens of the year.

The couple have been honored many times by their peers, most notably the South Dakota Newspaper Association, which has showered them with numerous awards over the years for their journalistic excellence.

The couple worked at the Hot Springs Star and then left South Dakota for a while and worked at newspapers in Broken Bow, Neb., and Cameron, Mo., before returning to South Dakota in 1999.

It has been over 10 years that the couple have been the owners of the Winner Advocate.

Molly Knutelski’s 5th grade class received their DARE certificates

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Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Molly Knutelski’s 5th grade DARE class includes in front from left Kinley Meek, Carley Fisher, Adyson Sharp and Logan Calhoon. In back from left are Alexis Crabb, jori Fenenga, Amelia Boerner, Avery Antelope, Teegan Shelbourn and Jolisse Old Lodge. Not pictured are Jackson Grossenburg, Rylan Assman, Kaleb Soesbe and Gage Tucker.