Category Archives: Local

John Irving McCollam died June 30, 2021 on his homestead outside of Dixon, SD. Pursuant to his wishes, he was cremated and no service will be held.

John was born Dec. 21, 1935 on the homestead outside of Dixon, SD to Benjamin and Esther (Engel) McCollam. He attended Lincoln Country School until the 8th grade and served in the Army as a medic for two years.  After his service to his country, John moved back to live and work on the family homestead.

When John was a young child, he started helping his mother milk the cows.  Other than his time in the Army, John continued to do the milking at the family farm for most of his life. At age 77, he finally made the tough decision to quit milking.

In between his twice daily milking, farming and chores, John also worked for Pete Rohr and Bill Taylor for many years. Likewise, John did many jobs for others over the years and always had time to help anyone in need. He enjoyed helping his neighbors and relatives build and repair things. More than one neighbor has shared that all John had to do was pat or rub their tractors and they would be running again. John also spent quite a bit of time helping Floyd with his many projects and endeavors.  

John built his own tools, repaired his own equipment and could fix almost anything. He never spent money on himself and many of his siblings said he had quietly loaned them money throughout the years.  He made remarkable cedar chests in his free time and gave them away, Intending that his sisters, sisters-in-laws and nieces by age all had one.

John shared a lifetime of experiences and wisdom with his many nieces and nephews which will be forever missed. He always loved company and enjoyed visiting, as long as he was not the center of attention; it was hard to even get a good picture of him!

He is survived by his sisters-in-law Joyce McCollam and Lavonne McCollam; 2 brothers-in-law William Hartland and Richard Huettmann; as well as many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Esther; brothers, Philip, Steve, Delano, David and Floyd; sisters, Dortha Wheeler, Rosemary Hartland, and Virginia Huettmann; his brother-in-law Jack Wheeler; a niece Lisa Huettmann; and two nephews Willie Hartland and Jack Wheeler Jr.

Floyd Roger McCollam died June 30, 2021 on the homestead outside of Dixon, SD. He was cremated and his celebration of life will be Oct. 16, 2021 at 2 p.m. with a meal to follow, on the homestead.

Floyd was born on June 25, 1944 on the homestead outside of Dixon, SD, to Benjamin and Esther (Engel) McCollam. As a young child he helped his mother with milking the cows, taking care of the chickens and gardening.

He attended Lincoln Country School until 8th grade, graduated from Gregory High School and went on to graduate from Nettleton Business college.  In his younger and school years he worked as a police dispatcher and hotel clerk. He then moved to California for a time before working construction in Rapid City with his brothers; David and Delano. He even had his own Taxi service but his connection to McCollam Ranch always called him home, where he worked with John milking cows.

Floyd loved raising all sorts of animals like, fish, canaries, sheep, pigs, chickens, geese, guineas, he also loved raising all sorts of plants, he truly had green thumb. Floyd loved and owned a-lot of cars through the years, at the end he still owned his Cadillacs and prized GMC pickup.

Most of all, Floyd loved people, his friends, neighbors, and relatives often received cards for every occasion, sometime with money. He really enjoyed socializing and was a night owl, perhaps watching TV, preparing cards, baking, or listening to music.

He is survived by his sisters-in-law Joyce McCollam and Lavonne McCollam; 2 brothers-in-law William Hartland and Richard Huettmann; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Esther; brothers, Philip, Steve, Delano, David and John McCollam; sisters, Dortha Wheeler, Rosemary Hartland, and Virginia Huettmann; and his brother-in-law, Jack Wheeler; a niece Lisa Huettmann; and two nephews Willie Hartland and Jack Wheeler Jr.

A memorial service for Donald Story will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16, 20201 at 1 p.m. at Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD.

Donald Kelvin Story was born on Aug. 31, 1964, to Lydia and William Story.

Don spent his childhood on the family farm east of Winner, SD. He attended country school during his grade school years and then attended Winner High School, graduating in 1982.  

He attended Mitchell Vo-tech, and spent a short time in the Army.

He eventually entered truck driving school in Sioux Falls, SD. Turned out it came quite natural for him and became his profession.

Don met Jackie Lane in 2001, and convinced her to join him in the truck driving profession. This started their life and adventure, visiting many places while working highway construction. They were married on December 31, 2009.

His passions were fishing, music, 60’s and 70’s muscle cars – his  favorite being his 1969 Camaro, He also enjoyed spending time with his brother Wally, friends and family.

Don passed away on July 1, 2021 in Sioux Falls, SD, after a short battle with cancer.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents on both sides, mother Lydia story, father William Story, sister Nancy Story and father-in-law Gerald Drey.

He is survived by his wife Jackie, brothers, Wally Story and wife Marcie; Ken Story and wife Camie, nephews and nieces, many aunts and cousins; mother-in-law Edith Drey, and Jackie’s children and grandchildren.

Funeral services for Cheri Carlson will be  held Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Burke with Pastor Philip Henning officiating.

Burial was previously held at Graceland Cemetery in Burke.

Cheryl Lynn Swedlund was born in Winner, South Dakota, on May 28, 1947. Joining two brothers on a ranch north of Witten, all three went to the Eden School and on to Winner High. Sandy and Claudine raised her with strong faith and a sense of humor, as well as a deep appreciation for a wicked game of pitch.

After graduating, she attended Stewarts School in Sioux Falls and started her career as a beautician in Gregory. She built a loyal clientele and formed lifelong bonds that manifest from a stylist’s chair. Later, she upgraded her title to business owner, opening the Beauty Boutique in Winner.

Everett called her “my beautiful wife” starting in 1977. The Carlsons offered a warm welcome and she moved onto the family farm south of Burke, just shy of the Nebraska line. She and Everett took on remodeling the farmhouse, Cheri assuming the role of interior design director. In the decades to come, she used her knack for cooking and baking to feed her family, neighbors, the men working cattle, and holiday gatherings. She took pride in setting a table that sparkled so brightly you had to slip on your sunglasses when taking a seat. She put this flair to work during the annual tradition of the Christmas open houses she hosted for many years at the farm, filling the house with friends, family, and lots of laughter.

Burke called her “Thelma Jean” during a play in 1985, but her role as a community builder surpasses play practice. Winter Wonderland, Legion Auxiliary, the Stampede Rodeo, Community Club, Red Hats, and 4H; she loved connecting to people. Her pride overflowed when she hosted a style show for South Dakota’s State Centennial and organized events for the class of ’65, and a seemingly endless amount of fundraisers and benefits for people and groups in Burke. Whatever the occasion, when you saw her big white Caprice roll into town there were good times to come.

One of her most important names was “Mrs. Claus.” Santa and elf responsibilities rotated through friends new and old, but her mainstay as Mrs. Claus filled her with joy. Cheri sewed Mrs. Claus’s dress, which comes as no surprise. Her time spent at the sewing machine is counted in years, not hours. From western shirts to elaborate bridesmaid’s dresses, she labored over every stitch with talent and precision.

The names that came up during the card games in her house and yours—well, you likely remember them yourself. Pitch was the game of choice, but a deck of cards offered possibilities to Cheri. Everett had his hands full during nightly games of pinochle and rummy, governed by the Jamison rules, of course.

To say she was an enthusiastic fan of the Cubs is an understatement. Baseball, in general, was a lifelong passion. She enjoyed yelling at the umpires (one in particular) and when the Cubs won the world series, she went to bed grinning from ear to ear.

The most significant name of all, though, is “friend.” Cheri had a giving, sensitive heart that often appeared tough as nails on the exterior. We saw her lose a bit of her stride when she lost Everett, but friendships kept her strong as she navigated the years after his death. Her friends sent letters and visited with her on the phone for hours, and she loved every moment.

Cheri is preceded by Everett, her parents, and one brother, Joel.

She’s survived by her brother Jerry and his wife, Joanna. Her sons Kip and Zeb, and close friends Marla, and her son Colton. Grandkids Danielle, Taylor, and Drake, as well as their partners, grandkids, and great-grands, as well as cousins, spouses, sisters- and brothers-in-law, cousins, and on and on.

We are grateful to Burke. The people, the hospital, the nurses, the EMTs, and friends, all of you are extended family to us. We stand in awe of the excellent care given to Cheri from Ava’s House Hospice, as our lives are forever changed by the caregivers there.

Memorials will be shared with the Burke Community Foundation.

Alberta “Tisa” Elsasser, 66, of Winner, SD passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 at her home in Winner, SD.  Memorial service was  held on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 10:30 a.m. at the Winner United Methodist Church.  Burial  followed in the Winner City Cemetery. 

Tisa went to her Lord and Savior on Oct. 5, 2021 at her home in Winner, SD. Tisa had a long two-year battle with cancer, she fought very hard to not let it slow her down.

Alberta Lettetia Cooley was born at Forbes Air Force Base Hospital, Kansas, to Colvin and Wanda (Hudson) Cooley.

Tisa graduated from Rapid City Central High School in 1973. She was united in marriage to Rick Sattler and they had two daughters: Jennifer and Sarah.

Tisa met Michael Elsasser in 1992 and they were united in marriage Sept. 11, 1994.

Tisa had many talents and interest in her lifetime.  She worked as a chef and baker for several years. While living in Clarksville, near Nashville, TN she modeled clothing for magazine advertisements, painted landscape art and worked as a chef.  She also loved sewing, crafting and was in her element when fishing.  Her biggest passion was reading. Tisa edited and reviewed all types of pre-published books. She became highly known for how thoroughly she edited and reviewed the books, that authors contacted her directly to review their books. As time went on this expanded to many different products that she tested and wrote online reviews for.

Michael’s work took them to Oregon in 1996. Tisa continued her reviews and was a fantastic homemaker. In 2018 after Mike retired, they moved to Winner to live with and take care of his mother Norma.

Tisa met many wonderful people in Winner and enjoyed volunteering at the Winner Thrift Store and meeting women from the Town and Country Women’s Club. She enjoyed fishing and just hanging out with  cousins.

Tisa is preceded in death by both her parents Wanda and Colvin, her first husband Rick and her three brothers Dale, Joseph, and Christopher.

She is survived by her husband Michael, her two daughters Jennifer of Texas and Sarah of Tennessee, her sister Theresa of Nevada, her two stepdaughters Nora of South Dakota and Darcy of Wyoming, five grandkids Harrison, Atticus, Hudson, Maribeth and Jacob and four step-grandkids Kevin, Kendall, Keaton, and Jaden.

Linc Wilson, age 63, formerly of Winner,  passed away on Sept. 30, 2021. Linc loved his family and his cats. Family and friends called him the Lincster and /or Hopper. He loved to have fun with people and make everyone laugh.

Linc enjoyed hunting deer and pheasant it was something he did every year with his family. In recent years he started metal detecting and found some very interesting treasures like real silver dollars and helped a couple find an engagement ring they had lost at a park. Linc also enjoyed hiking all over Arizona. He collected Mickey Mouse memorabilia and was frequently seen wearing one of his many Mickey T-shirts.

Linc was a glazier and installed glass in high rise buildings, the heights didn’t bother him. He also contracted to put the banners up at Sun Devil Stadium for the Fiesta Bowl games and for the Super Bowl game. Before moving to Arizona Linc worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad. He grew up in Winner, South Dakota.

Linc is survived by his wife Margo, his sister Tracee Ford, her husband Greg their children, Shae, Layne, Reed, Teeyl, and Jais. His brother Shannon and wife Cindee. Linc adored his grand nieces and nephews Gunner, Bristol, Maive, Rhen, Ophelia, Tanner, Piper, Peyton and Ashton. He would have them laughing and screaming with delight within minutes. He was always a kid at heart.

Linc was a hobby artist and created some fun pieces using glass and wood. He made beautiful fairy houses for many of us. He also collected Native American pottery. His collection will be donated to local museums.

Donations to ASPCA and the Arizona Humane Society.

Linc was well loved and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Funeral service was held at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021 at 12 p.m.  Condolences may be expressed at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com

A memorial service will be held in the spring in Winner, SD.