Category Archives: Local

Graveside services for Ranatta Granzella were held Jan. 22 at Graceland Cemetery, Burke with burial in Graceland Cemetery.

Ranata LaRee Granzella passed away on Jan. 14, 2021 after a difficult battle with cancer. She was 55 years old and was taken too soon.

Ranata was born on Feb. 21, 1965 in Nuremberg, Germany. She was blessed to travel and live around the world as a military child. Throughout her youth she built a passion for learning that would guide her to her profession.

Ranata spent most of her adult life teaching kindergarten and first-grade students at Granada Primary in Phoenix, Arizona. As a dedicated and caring teacher she gave thousands of young children strong foundations; lighting their paths to success in academics and life. She loved every second that she spent with her students and the lives she touched are shining as brightly as hers did.

Ranata’s passion for helping people to become their best also led her to volunteer for many years with the Miss Arizona Scholarship Competition. She loved mentoring young women and helping them to achieve their goals.

Ranata had a loving heart and a caring soul. She is survived by her beautiful daughter, her parents Joyce and Vince Mitchell, her sister Keta (Bob) Hyatt, her brother Christopher (David) Griggs-Ortiz, her sister Jessica (Marty) Schilling, her sister by heart Deb Riedmann, many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins who all loved her very much. Her family and friends are all better for having known Ranata. She was the light of our lives and we will miss her dearly.

“If ever there comes a day where we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.” – Winnie the Pooh

Nancy Vesely, 60, of Winner, formerly of Wood, SD passed away on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 at the Avas House in Sioux Falls, SD.  A graveside service was held on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021 at 11 a.m. at the Evergreen Cemetery in Wood, SD.

Nancy Lee Vesely was born June 2, 1960, to Reuben and Shirley (Evans) Vesely in Rapid City, SD. She was raised and attended public school in Wood, SD.

 She enjoyed going on long walks, reading, playing cards, and spending time with her pets.  Her favorite pastime was watching her nephews, Ethan and Jackson, in their many activities. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for many years.

Nancy accepted Jesus as her savior in August 2012 and was baptized in November of the same year.  In December of 2012, she joined the Assembly of God Church in Wood, SD.

During her lifetime Nancy had a variety of jobs.  She worked in the lunchroom at the Wood School.  Nancy also worked as a home health care provider, activities assistant at the White River Nursing Home, and at the Wood Post office.

She is survived by her brother, Randy (Lisa) Vesely, her nephews, Ethan and Jackson, her aunts, June Larson and Emma Evans, all of Wood, SD, Barbara (Ronnie) Wantz, Valentine, NE, and Peggy Evans, Littleton, Co.  She has many cousins that she loved dearly that will also miss her.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Reuben and Shirley Vesely, infant sister, Shirley Ann, and her grandparents.

Della Madeline Harless Hurlbert passed away on Jan. 21, 2021 in Burnet, Texas. She was born on March 23, 1921 to Loyd and Gertrude McAnnaly Harless on the family farm located in Hamill, South Dakota. She was the last of their 8 children.

Della married Vern Blaine Hurlbert on Sept. 19,1938 and after residing in South Dakota for a few years, and giving birth to their first daughter, Verna, they decided to pull up stakes and move to California where Vern began a career in the aircraft field.

Their second daughter, Roxie, was born there right before Vern enlisted in the United States Air Corps. When he returned from the war, they set about raising their girls in various cities in southern California where work was plentiful. Della was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker. Her creative talents turned every home into a shining example of her values and eye for beauty. Her ability to sew and turn out lovely outfits kept her daughters looking smart and fashionable, as well as herself.

She was always considered to be a beautiful woman by all that knew her but she never could see that in herself. Shy by nature, she preferred to take a back seat to the accomplishments of her family. Always her husband’s greatest supporter and helpmate through the businesses that they owned, she had little time to pursue a career of her own. However, she did become a licensed realtor and PTA president.

After the girls grew up and left home, Della and Vern enjoyed the life of semi-retirees with bowling, square dancing, traveling, and buying and selling homes, making them more desirable through their hard work and sense of beauty.

Della and Vern moved to Texas in 2002 to be closer to their two daughters at a time of failing health for Vern. After his death in 2004, Della maintained her home in Kingsland, Texas and enjoyed the company of her daughters and their families before declining health required a move to an assisted living facility and eventually to the loving care of the Oaks Nursing Center in Burnet, TX.

Della leaves behind many beautiful collectables that she shared throughout her lifetime with family members, her poetry, her paintings, and her love of music and dancing.

Left to cherish her memory, and to laugh at the many amusing events that surrounded her life, are her daughters, Verna Caskey (husband, Kenneth), Roxie McCoy (husband, Allen), four grandchildren, Rena & John Monson, Dixie & Jim Van Landingham, Dawn & Lance Tracy-Dulaney, and Michael & Cherese McCoy Three great grandchildren, Jarrett Brice, and Sakaiya, & Brandon McCoy.

Preceding her in death are her parents, four brothers, three sisters, and two great grandchildren.

A private family memorial will be held in California at a later date to honor, not just her memory, but her interesting life, her love of music and, most of all, her complete joy of celebrating Christmas.

Allan Wayne Hieb, 81, of Chamberlain, SD, completed his life journey at Sanford Medical Center on Jan. 17, 2021. Allan was born in Chamberlain, SD on May 22, 1939 to John and Margaret Hieb. He lived most of his life in Lyman and Brule counties.

 Allan graduated from Chamberlain High School in 1957 and served in the US Army in 1960. He was stationed in California and Germany.

  In 1960, he was united in marriage to Karen Howard. Together they started their family on a farm southwest of Reliance with his parents. Allan also worked for the SD Highway Department at this time.

Allan loved mechanic work and had a special gift for building motors. He helped many friends and families with motor repairs. In 1969, the family moved to Chamberlain when Allan was hired by A&R Truck Equipment as a diesel mechanic. He continued to help on the family farm for several years after.

In 1975, he realized his dream of owning his own shop and opened Al’s Diesel Repair; a business later taken over by his son, Scott, when Allan retired.

Allan’s love for motors and speed found him involved in stock car racing for several years. He partnered with Clifford Lantz to put the “Charlie Brown” cars on tracks in Miller, Huron, and Winner. The Pukwana Peanuts Gang was famous at all of the tracks where they raced.

Allan married Judy Miller in 1988. During their more than 32 years together, they enjoyed traveling to many countries and states. One of their favorite annual trips was to Deadwood for Kool Deadwood Nights to check out all the custom cars. Gardening was a passion for Allan and Judy. They raised one of the biggest gardens in the area. The 2020 crop was the best ever and sharing the abundance was pleasing to them.

Allan was very proud of his children, Tonya Moschell of Chamberlain, Kevin (Debbie) of Eaton, CO, Scott (Dotty) of Chamberlain, and Terri (David) Shogren of Hot Springs, SD as well as Judy’s children, Kim Hipner of Yakima, WA and Kevin (MaryAnn) Miller of Chamberlain. Allan was especially proud of his 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He loved to share playful times with the children.

Allan is also survived by his brothers Ervin of Chamberlain, Edwin of Marian, IA and sisters Lillian (Max) Fallek of Minneapolis, MN as well as many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents John and Margaret and his oldest brother, Joe.

Current COVID limitations preclude services at this time. The family is planning a celebration of Allan’s life to be announced in the early summer.