Category Archives: Local

Speaker tells students the dangers of vaping

  By | | ,
Leave a comment
Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Robb Holladay, motivational speaker, left, plays a marble game with four Winner High School students. Pictured from left are James Gregg, Emily Sachtjen, Kaylee Mulkey and Joey Cole.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

Winner High School and middle school students learned the dangers of vaping when a guest speaker came to the school on Sept. 1.

Robb Holladay has been speaking to students about vaping for four to five years. He knows first hand the damage vaping does to the lungs. He is an x-ray tech in Dallas, Texas.

He  told WHS students that he is not here to judge them but to provide information.

Vaping has become an epidemic and new studies show that vaping can contribute to a condition known as “Vape Asthma.” A combination of vaping and COVID has produced a new condition that is a huge concern to medical professionals. He said if students vape and get COVID they are sicker.

Holladay explained the message he wants to get to the public is that the companies that manufacture these vaping devices—big tobacco—are targeting these students with misinformation and telling them it is a safe alternative when it is not true.

He said one Juul pod equals a pack of cigarettes.

“Don’t play the tobacco game,” he said.

Holladay said the world has the illusion that vaping is safe.

He said teens vape because of the smell, taste and peer pressure.

However, Holladay says vaping takes a toll on the lungs.  “I know because x rays do not lie,” he said.

Holladay says he has been speaking to students for 25 years. Most of his talks have been on bullying and cyber bullying. He noted in the last four to five years he has been speaking on vaping.

Baptist church celebrates 75th anniversary

  By | | ,
Leave a comment
Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
This is the new Winner First Baptist Church on South Country Road. The church
will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Sept. 12.

The First Baptist Church of Winner will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 12.

There will be a 10 a.m. morning worship service and a 2 p.m. celebration service.

Rev. Curtis Wheadon is the current pastor of the church.

An early beginning to Winner First Baptist Church was in September 1945. At that time Rev. Curtis L. Gatson began a field pastorate. Arrangements were soon made with the Christian church to use their building for worship on Sunday evenings.

In late 1945, a group of young people began meeting twice a month. By spring of 1946 adults were meeting with them for Bible study.

At a meeting in the Edward Sorensen home on April 24, 1946, it was decided to organize a Winner Baptist Church. Meetings were held and Rev. Gatson appointed a committee to formulate a constitution. A meeting to organize the First Baptist Church of Winner was held at the Christian Church on May 5, 1946. The charter of incorporation was issued on Feb. 5, 1947. There were 19 charter members.

Ground for a new church building was broken at 4th and Lamro on April 26, 1947. The first service in the new basement of the building was held on July 13, 1947. Sunday school met in the Charles Burtz home.

A parsonage was  built next door to the church and was completed in 1950. Services were held for six years in the basement of the church. On Aug. 9, 1953, another milestone in the church history was passed when the cornerstone was set in place. One year later, eight years from the date of organization, the completed building was dedicated to the glory of God on Oct. 7, 1954.

In September of 1996, Winner First Baptist Church celebrated 50 years of serving God.

On Dec. 30, 2011, the church received an anonymous gift of $100,000. After many meetings and prayer it was decided that God was blessing the Awana ministry. This ministry was outgrowing the present church. Members felt God was providing for them to build and reach more children for his kingdom.

In September 2013, ground breaking on “holy ground” was held at 501 South County Road for a new church building. Most of the work and building was done by volunteers from the church and community.

Throughout the building God continued to bless the church with gifts and donations as they were needed.

On Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015, the first service was held in the new building. On Sept. 20, 2015, a dedication service was held. On that day God had so richly blessed the church that it was debt free.

Awana grew from five children in 2009 to 101 children in 2017.

Throughout the building process, the prayer of the church was for wisdom, unity and discernment. God answered those prayers.

Over the 75 years, there have been 14 pastors and seven interim pastors.

New Concrete Section Open on Highway

  By | | ,
Leave a comment

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

The new concrete on the north side of 7th St to Van Buren St. is now open was the report at the Aug. 31 highway construction meeting.

Connor Christensen of T& R Contracting, Sioux Falls, reported that as of the afternoon of Aug. 31 the entire length of  concrete on the north side  will be open.

This does mean  there will still be head to head traffic on the new concrete and motorists are asked to drive slow. There is still a width restriction on the highway.

Christensen added that milling of the old asphalt will start from McDonalds to Monroe street on the south side of the street.

Where there was a detour on North County Road that is now open as is the entrance to McDonald’s from the highway.

Christensen added that H & W  Contracting, Sioux Falls, will be working on placing underground utilities.

Big O Concrete will be working on installing sidewalks.

Starting Saturday, Sept. 11, T&R Contracting will start working every Saturday till the end of Phase I in November.

Traffic Solutions has switched the traffic control barricades. Since the sidewalk has not been put in there will be a space allowed for pedestrians to walk.  

As always, persons can follow the highway construction Facebook page for the latest information.

Labor Day Parade Winners

  By | | ,
Leave a comment

The Winner Dairy Queen won first place for best float in the Winner Labor Day parade.

Second place went top Baleigh Cerv Photography.

A float featuring many veterans won third place and fourth place went to Winner Rotary.

The parade theme was “Honoring those who served.”

First place in best antique auto went to Kent and Mildred Hamiel of Reliance. They had a 1924 Model T.

Second place went to Ray Pravecek and third to Ted Kenzy.

In antique machinery, Mark Zimbelman won first place.

The best horse and rider was Jenaya Schrader and second went to Anna Kartak.

The Winner High School band marched in the parade.

Winner Regional Health Labor Day Road Race

  By | | ,
Leave a comment
Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Overall plaque winners in the 5K and one mile run at the Winner Regional Health Labor Day race include in front one mile winners Jalen Tideman and Maizie Dalchow. In back from left are the 5K winners Daniel Ortho and Jessica Soja.

Daniel Orthel of Denver, Colo., and Jessica Soja, Winner, were the overall 5K winners in the Winner Regional Health Labor Day race Monday morning.

Orthel crossed the finish line in the 5K in 22:22. Soja had a time of 20:29.

First place in  the one mile run went to Jalen Tideman and Maizie Dalchow. Tideman had a time of 7:42 and Dalchow had a time of 11:44.

The race attracted a lot of runners and walkers.

The men’s results include:

1 mile

0-18—Jalen Tideman, 7:42 and Pierce Nelson, 9:44.

19-14—Blake Tideman, 7:45 and Andy Dalchow, 11:46

50+ men—John DeMers, 9:45; Jeff Holzer, 11:45 and Tony Berg, 17:17

Results of the men’s 5K include:

0-18—Mason Cole, 42:36

19-49—Daniel Orthel, 22:22; Craig Hinman, 25:35; Michael DiGrazia, 26:59

In the women’s one mile run Maizie Dalchow won first in the 0 to 18 division in 11:44

Tessa Hinman was first in the 0-18 division in the 5K in 25:37

In the women’s 19-49, Soja was first; Kallie Farley, 2nd, 23:52 and Jill McMurtey was third in 25:18. dd

Dennise Higgins placed in the 5K in 27:47 and Lisa Halverson was 36:10.

Betsy Watzel walked the 5K in 47:21.

In the two mile fun walk, Erin Grossenburg was first in 28:47 followed by Amy Engel, 2nd, 28:48 and Haley DeMers, 3rd, 29:36.

Ruth (Dobbin) Whiting, 90

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Ruth (Dobbin) Whiting, 90, of Rapid City, SD and formerly of Winner, SD, passed away Thursday, September 2, 2021 at Avantara Saint Cloud Nursing Home in Rapid City.


A visitation was held on Wednesday, September 8 at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City. Burial will be Thursday, September 9, at 10:00 am at the Black Hills National Cemetery.


Ruth was born March 22, 1931 in Iona, SD to Gerald and Laura (Foote) Dobbin. Ruth grew up on the family farm in Iona, SD. She told stories of her travels which included living in Japan.


Ruth returned to the Winner area and had various jobs. One of those jobs was working for the late Dr. Robert Still as a medical secretary. Ruth and Harold Whiting were united in marriage in June of 1960. They had one infant son, Michael Todd who passed away. They adopted three children, Laurie, Steve and Mary. They also took care of and raised 179 foster children within the mix. Ruth was a member of the Winner United Methodist Church and believed in bringing God into the foster children’s lives.


She loved to crochet, doing jigsaw puzzles, word search books and writing short stories and poems.


Ruth is preceded in death by her husband Harry in May of 2013; infant son; her parents and brother Harold Dobbin.


She is survived by her children, Laurie (Darwin) Heying of Rapid City; Steve (Karla) Whiting of Watertown, SD and Mary Roubidaux of Red Oak, TX; six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.


Sympathy cards may be sent in care of Laurie Heying 572 Field View Dr., Rapid City, SD 57701.

Tiny (Larry) Eugene Keierleber,73

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Tiny (Larry) Eugene Keierleber, age 73, passed away on September 1, 2021 in Rapid City, South Dakota. Left behind was his spouse, Connie Royer, who he married in October of 2020.

He was born in Winner South Dakota on September 8th, 1947 to Phyllis Keierleber (Harthaus) and Harold Keierleber. After two years of High School in Winner, Tiny attended two years at Sunshine Bible Academy. Following high school, he moved to Rapid City, South Dakota in 1968 for further education. After moving, he stayed in the Black Hills area. He worked at Hills Material, and then for a while as a long haul driver. He owned The Bicycle Shop for a while. More recently, he’s had the titles of Chef and Partner at Connie’s Place and Owner of Tiny’s Knives and Things where he sold his curated knife and fire arm collection. Other odd jobs included delivering fire wood in the winters and security guard.

In October of 1969, Tiny married Carol (Pautsch) Keierleber and they had two children; Shawn (Justin) Moss, and Shane “Sweet P” (Tara) Keierleber.

Tiny’s personal interests involved outdoors, motorcycles, creativity, time with family, reading, and being the master of silly (sometimes bad) jokes. He liked to make big hearty meals and was known for his famous green chili recipe. There are dozens of handmade wooden toys that are still used and appreciated. There are also many stories of him being good with animals.

Tiny is survived by his wife, Connie; children, Shawn (Justin) Moss and Sweet P (Tara) Keierleber; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister Mary Jo, and aunt Lorraine Meeder.

A private visitation will be held for family and close friends at 9 a.m. Thursday, September 9, 2021 at the American Legion in Piedmont. Celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. All are welcome and lunch will be provided.

Veronika Lakstigala, 99

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Veronika Lakstigala, age 99, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021 at Good Samaritan Society Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Veronika was born March 13, 1922 in Daugavpils, Latvia to Sebastjans and Karina Paberzs. Her family fled to Sweden from Latvia in 1944. They moved to the United States in November 1959, locating in White River, South Dakota.

Veronika was joined in marriage to Peters E. Lakstigala on Dec. 20, 1959 in White River, South Dakota. In 1968, the couple moved to Sioux Falls. She was a piano and music teacher for 54 years before retiring in 2004.

Veronika was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. She served as a board member of the First Arts Council. She received the honor of the Knights of the White Buffalo award. Veronika founded the Piano Forum in Sioux Falls. She joined the Sioux Falls Area Music Association Auxiliary and was their first president. Veronika served 22 years as secretary treasurer of the South Dakota Music Association, and as the president from 1972-1973.

Veronika’s hobbies include gardening, geography, languages and art. Her greatest passion was music, especially teaching piano lessons to all her wonderful students.

Veronika was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Peters E. Lakstigala.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Lions Eye Bank or American Latvian Association.

A funeral service was held on Tuesday, Aug.31, 2021 at Miller Funeral Home – Southside Chapel, in Sioux Falls, SD. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery, Sioux Falls, SD.

Funeral arrangements held by Miller Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, SD. For obituary and online registry book, please visit www.millerfh.com.

Greg Allen Genzlinger, 73

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Greg Allen Genzlinger, 73, was born on Sept. 2, 1947 in Canova, SD to Gordon and Geraldine Genzlinger. 

Greg passed away on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021 at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD from a short battle with stage 4 lung cancer that spread to the brain.   Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. with a prayer service at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, at Eidsness Funeral Chapel in Elkton.  Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept.11, 2021, at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Brookings with burial to follow at St. John’s Cemetery in Howard, SD. The funeral will be able to be viewed at www.mountcalvary1.org and on Mount Calvary’s Facebook page.

Greg grew up with his siblings, Winston, Mona, and Janeen, on the family farm southeast of Howard, SD.  He was active in cultivating the land and gained a great appreciation for the outdoors.  While living at home on the family farm, Greg attended St. John Lutheran Church, where he was both baptized and confirmed.

Greg and Pat (Hegdahl) were married on Aug. 10, 1968.  The following year, Greg graduated from Dakota State University.  They decided to take their adventure westward and Greg started teaching math courses in the Winner School District from 1969 to 2003.  They were active members of Christ Lutheran Church in Winner.  Two daughters were born into the family, Dawn, in April of 1971 and Robin, in October of 1977.  Greg spent many hours with the girls trying to instill his love of nature.

Through the years, Greg gained two amazing sons-in-law, Jim Reedy and Luke Hemmen.  A lot of time was spent with these guys…teaching both of them how to catch a mighty musky.  Greg and Pat gained six grandchildren from these marriages and his grandkids were Greg’s pride and joy.  He attended countless football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, track, cross-country, concerts, band, and theater events.  He would always show up supporting the kids and their team colors.  It was easy to see how much he loved and adored his grandkids…you just had to look at his face.  His life revolved around his grandkids.

We all know he had a great love for fishing and hunting.  Spring and summer were spent on ponds, lakes, rivers, and trips to Canada.  Fall and winter were reserved for pheasant and deer hunting with family and friends.  He enjoyed these activities, but he enjoyed the company of his people even more.  Winner, SD was their home for 47 years before they decided to move to Elkton, SD in 2016 to be closer to family.

Greg is survived by his wife of 53 years, Pat.  His children:  Dawn (Jim) Reedy of Norfolk, NE and Robin (Luke) Hemmen of Elkton, SD.  His six grandchildren:  Taylor (Sydney Graver) Reedy, Sydney (Andrew) Meuret, and Grace Reedy;  Jack, Malayna and Berkley Hemmen.  His sister, Mona Dickhaut and brothers-in-law Mike (Dawn) and Garry (Connie) Hegdahl; and sister-in-law Carolyn Genzlinger.  As well as a host of extended family and friends.

Greg is preceded in death by his parents Gordon and Geraldine;  Father and Mother-in-Law, Harold and Evelyn Hegdahl;  brother Winston, sister Janeen, and brother-in-law Leonard Dickhaut.  He will be greatly missed and remembered always.

Build Dakota success leads to more industry participation and student support, helping address South Dakota workforce challenges

  By | | , ,
Leave a comment

The seventh cohort of Build Dakota Scholarship Fund students will begin classes this month, helping to fill the gap of essential workforce needs for South Dakota.

Area students who are Build Dakota Scholarship winners at Mitchell Tech are: Bailey Brown, Winner,  medical laboratory technology; Evan Farner, Winner,  ECM; Nathaniel Hansen, Colome, welding; Casey Taylor, Colome, LPN.

 In January 2021, Governor Kristi Noem announced an additional $20 million in continued support of the Build Dakota Scholarship Fund, securing funding for the program for another five years.

“The state’s commitment to the Build Dakota Scholarship is one of the best examples of how government can partner with private business to make real change in our state,” said Governor Noem. “As more and more businesses look to South Dakota to escape overregulation and high taxes, the Build Dakota Scholarship will allow our workforce the chance to train and meet the needs of our growing economy.”

Over 70% of scholars are backed by an industry partner, meaning these students are guaranteed a job upon completing their degree. Industry partners provide a match with scholarship dollars. In return, students commit to working for the industry partner for three years following graduation. With workforce recruitment challenges facing businesses across the state and nation, Build Dakota offers security and stability for businesses who invest in their workforce through the industry partner program.

“As we enter our seventh year of offering Build Dakota Scholarships to young people, I think we have even more momentum than we did when we announced the program,” said Build Dakota Chairman Dana Dykhouse. “This scholarship is moving the needle for South Dakota employers and helping create successful careers for our state’s workforce.”

Each technical college manages their own industry partner program, working with local businesses and economic development organizations to find future employment opportunities for Build Dakota scholars in high-need workforce areas. This cohort is supported by over $2.6 million in funding from industry partners like Sanford Health, Fiegen Construction, CHS, and many more.

“Our industry partner program has allowed more scholars to be awarded these scholarships, through a match program,” said Deni Amundson, program manager for Build Dakota. “Scholars with an industry partner are guaranteed a job after graduation, and the industry partner has a steady stream of highly trained employees.”

“Year after year, we have a very high level of interest from both students and industry partners wanting to utilize the Build Dakota Scholarship at Southeast Technical College,” said Southeast Technical College President Robert Griggs. “This program has changed the narrative about technical education in our state, and I’m excited to see continued growth and partnerships.”