Melvin Reiser, 68

Mass of Christian Burial for Melvin Reiser, 68, of Butte, Neb.,  was held Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Butte. Reverend Richard Reiser and Reverend Bernard Starman were the concelebrants, with burial in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Butte.

Military Honors will be provided by American Legion Post 51 and Army National Guard Honor Guard.

Brockhaus Funeral Home in Spencer, Nebraska is in charge of arrangements. Melvin died Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at Niobrara Valley Hospital in Lynch, Neb.

Melvin Michael Reiser, son of Wilbur and Agnes (Lechtenberg) Reiser, was born Aug. 5, 1952, at Lynch, Neb. He attended Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School until the eighth grade and graduated from Butte Public School. Melvin served in the United States Army from 1972 until 1975 and was stationed in Germany. Melvin was blessed with two adopted sons, Gary and Carl Reiser and an adopted granddaughter, Rebeka.

Melvin was a teacher and taught at Osmond Public School, Martin School in Martin, South Dakota, Anoka School. His last school was Cheyenne Eagle Butte School where he taught for 35 years.

Melvin was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, All Saints Catholic Church, and the Knights of Columbus.

Melvin is survived by his adopted son, Gary Reiser; granddaughter, Rebeka; and siblings, Louise Ann Reiser of Spencer, Donna (Donald) LaFerrier of Elk Point, South Dakota, twin brother, Marvin (Julie) Reiser of Butte, Richard Reiser of Omaha, David (Linda) Reiser of Spencer, and Gregory Reiser of Spencer. Many nieces and nephews and friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Agnes (Lechtenberg) Reiser; adopted son, Carl Reiser; sister-in-law, Pamela Reiser; and nephew, Jacob Reiser.

George A. Davis, 90

George A. Davis was born to Roy and Florence (Linton) Davis on March 6, 1931, in Deadwood, SD. He was the youngest in his family and joined a brother, Sam and three sisters, Nellie (Parsons); Inez (Sharp) and Margaret (Kollmar). He grew up in Deadwood, Millboro, Igloo and Custer, SD.

 In 1966, he married the love of his life, Opal Clark. They lived in Custer and eventually bought their own place south of Argyle in Custer County. In addition to raising livestock, he worked on the railroad for many years, starting on the section crew in Custer and worked his way down the line retiring out of Edgemont, SD.

He loved animals and always had some combination of horses, cows, chickens, pigs and lambs as well as dogs, cats, and even a raccoon. He could often be found out walking amongst the cattle, talking to them in his own special way. Some even answered back. He was a true cowboy and loved riding. He had one extra special horse, Wasaka, who he raised from a foal and had for 27 years. He liked to read the history of the country and remembered everything. And if he loved horses, he also loved horse power. The faster the better.

George loved people. He never met a stranger and would strike up a conversation with anyone he met.   He and Opal travelled all over the country visiting family and friends and making new ones. They loved to go dancing. He was always up for an adventure and in his 70’s he hiked Black Elk Peak with his niece and her family and travelled to France with a neighbor.

Music was another passion. He learned to play music by ear without any formal instruction.

Preceded in death by his wife, Opal; his parents, Roy and Florence Davis; his siblings, Margaret Kollmar; Inez Sharp and Nellie Parsons; his nieces, Sandra Rhoades; Joy Showalter; and a great grandson, Nicholas Farrell.

He is survived by his step daughter, Gloria Bennett of Tuscon, AZ; grandchildren, Tami Habeck of Tuscon, AZ; Robert (Micole) Miller of Newcastle, WY;  Leona Farrell of Edgemont, SD; 3 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren as well as nieces, Beverly Rose; Devera Sharp; Glenda Keller; Patricia Davis; Dusty Thorstenson; nephews, Jim Sharp; Kenny Kollmar and their families that he enjoyed immensely.

 Memorial services will be held 10 a.m., Monday, June 7, 2021, at Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Hot Springs, SD.  Committal services will follow at Custer Cemetery in Custer, SD.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Hot Springs, SD.

Winner girls bb team gets national good deed award

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Winner girls basketball team was presented a national Good Deed Award at the
athletic awards night on May 18. The Winner American Legion Auxiliary submitted
the entry to state which sent it on to national. After every basketball game,
whether at home or away, the girls help clean the bleachers and pick up trash.
Judy Wilcox of the Winner Legion Auxiliary presented the award to coach Larry
Aaker. Girls in front from left are Emma Jorgensen, Karlee Brozik, Joselin
Kludt, Ellie Brozik, Bella Swedlund, Katherine Jankauskas and Melanie Brozik.
Team members in back from left are Ava Craven, Aryn Meiners, Maggie LaCompte,
Kalla Bertram, Kelsey Sachtjen, Shannon Calhoon and Jenna Hammerbeck.

Foundation check to building committee

Submitted Photo
The Tripp County Community Foundation-First Fidelity Bamk fund awarded a $25,000grant to the Tripp County Building Facility Committee for a new sheep and swine building at the Tripp County Fairgrounds. Construction has begun and the building along with new pens is to be complete prior to the Mid Dakota Fair, Aug. 5-7.Accepting the grant is Bonnie Rutten, chairman of the committee, center. Also pictured are Dawn Covey and Rita Neyens, chairman and vice chairman of the Tripp County Community Foundation.

Offices closed for on Memorial Day

Government office in Winner will be closed on Memorial Day, May 31.

The Tripp County Courthouse will be closed on Monday.

The Winner city office will be closed Memorial Day.

All state and federal offices in Winner will be closed.

The Winner Post Office will be closed and there will be no mail delivery.

All financial institutions in Winner and Colome will not be open for business on Memorial Day.

There will be no noon meal served at the senior citizens center.

Southern Plains Behavioral Health Services will be closed on Memorial Day.

Main Gate Counseling will be  closed May 31. 

English class trial

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
The Winner High School freshmen English class put on a mock trial after reading
the book â””Of Mice and Men.â”” Coy Brickman is on the witness stand with
Bailey Fairbanks as the defense lawyer.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

Freshmen at Winner High School really get into the classic book “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck.

Cyndy DeMers teaches freshmen English and to help the students get into the book a mock trial is held.

Now, nowhere is the book is there mention of a trial but there is a murder.

So, characters in the book can easily be plugged into a trial setting with lawyers, witnesses and even a jury.

So, last Tuesday afternoon, Kendall Dice put on her best lawyer face and acted as the prosecutor in the case. Bailey Fairbanks was the defense lawyer. Other class member served as witnesses and were sworn in to tell the truth just like the in real trail.

There is a guest judge and on this afternoon WHS principal Gerald Witte was the judge.

Since she has been teaching freshmen English full time, DeMers, who is retiring this year after a career of 37 years, has added a trial when the class is done reading the book. “It is a way to get the students more involved in what is going on in the book,” said DeMers.

“Of Mice and Men” narrates the experiences of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers, who move from place to place in search of new job opportunities during the Great Depression. The book was published in 1937.

Students pick which character they want to play and they have to dress the part to portray that character.

Now remember this book takes place in the Great Depression so students had to dress the part.

Students are graded on their dress and how well they get in character.

“The students have to know their character inside out and the lawyers have to know all the characters,” explained DeMers.

“Honestly, I think they get more enjoyment out of this rather than writing an essay. They learn the book better.”

The jury has to decide if the defendant is guilty or not guilty.

DeMers noted the funny part is that she is putting on a mock trial in a class but most the kids do not know what happens in a trial. Most say they watch  Judge Judy but DeMers says there is no trial in that TV show.

So there is some class discussion and instruction on what happens in a trial before the students do their mock trial.

During their freshmen year the students read outloud the condensed version of “Romeo and Juliet.”

Only the boys in the class do the reading because in Shakespeare ‘s day women were outlawed  from playing parts in a play.

DeMers asked the boys not just to “read” but  to put so me feeling in  their character.


“This is the only way I am going to get them to read Romeo and Juliet.,” said the teacher.

This then  leads into Brit Lit  when they are seniors and are exposed to more British  classics. As juniors the students take American Literature.

“We have a good reading curriculum thought the four years of high school,” said DeMers.

Why is it important for students to read books like this?  

“Reading is so important because we want you to learn the book but to also make your think. If you can read something and figure out what is really being said that is going to help you,” said the teacher.

“It is proven if kids don’t read well they don’t score well in ACT and SAT tests and will struggle in a lot of areas,” added DeMers.

Now while the freshmen were doing a mock trial the juniors were doing a debate on the book they just read “A Separate Peace,” set in the era of World War II.

DeMers noted there was a lot of good debate.

Just another example of how Winner High School is using innovate ways to prepare students for the real world.

Leo Froning, 95

Leo Froning, 95, of Winner, South Dakota, passed away Thursday, May 20, 2021 at Faulkton Area Medical Center Hospital, Faulkton.

Funeral Mass was at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at St. Liborius Church, Polo, Fr. Kevin Achbach and Father Christopher Hughes, celebrants. Burial    followed at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Polo.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Leo’s arrangements. Visit www.familyfuneralhome.net.

Summer lunch program starts June 1

The summer lunch program in the Winner School District will start June 1 and run till Aug. 6.  There will be no lunch on July 5.

All kids in the Winner School District  18 and under can eat lunch for free.

Sack lunches will be handed out Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30  p.m. at the Winner Elementary back gym door.

On Thursday there will be two lunches handed out so students will have a lunch on Friday.

Lunches will be delivered to Winner Housing and Ideal. There will be no in town delivery in Winner.

Students who are attending summer school will also get a lunch. Summer school runs June 1 to July 7.

For the 2021-2022 school year lunch and breakfast will be free for all students.  For more information contact Laura Root at 842-8101 or Sherry Bohnet at 842-8106