Category Archives: Local

Grace Neyens, 95, of Winner, SD passed away on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Facility in Winner, SD.

Graveside service will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 11 a.m. at the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation will be held one hour prior to service at the Mason Funeral Home from 10-11 a.m.

Grace Ellen Neyens daughter of the late Ernest and Nancy Ham of Viewfield, SD was born Oct. 22, 1924 in Rapid City, South Dakota. She attended grade school in Viewfield and graduated from high school in Rapid City in 1943.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Journalism from South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD in 1948. After graduation Grace moved to Winner and was employed as a reporter for the Winner Advocate.

On April 28, 1951 she was united in marriage to Harold Neyens, son of the late Pete and Carrie Neyens of Winner in the St. John Evangelist Catholic Church in Rapid City, SD. T

o this union two sons were born, Ross in September of 1952 and Lee in September of 1957.

Harold and Grace lived in Winner for a few years while Harold was employed by C.H. Sturgis Company. In 1960 they moved to the Neyen’s farm southwest of Winner where Harold and Grace farmed with Harold’s brothers, Lawrence and James Neyens. T

hey farmed together until Harold passed away in 2009. Grace continued to live on the farm until 2014 when she moved to the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Center.

Grace was a very active member of the Winner Catholic Daughters and the Weaver Tripp County Extension Club. She was a loving and kind person and a wonderful cook.

She was known for her “from scratch” Angel Food cakes. She enjoyed gardening and was an avid reader.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents, her three brothers; Guy, Ross, and Donald Ham and her only sister, Ruth Ann.

She is survived by her sons, Ross and Lee both of Winner, sister-in-law Alice Stewart of Sun City, AZ and several nieces and nephews.

Leona Mathis, 89, of Winner, SD passed away on Monday, May 11, 2020 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Facility in Winner.

Graveside service was held on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 11 a.m. . Visitation was held on Saturday, May 16 from 10-11 a.m. at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church Ladies Aid.

Leona was a lifelong Tripp County resident. She was born on Aug. 14, 1930 to Benjamin and Katherina (Burr) Littau at the family home near Carter, South Dakota. Leona was one of ten children.

She attended grade school at New Liberty School south of Carter. When Leona moved to Winner, she got a job working at the Westside Station for Paul Blomstrom where she met her future husband.

On Feb. 19, 1961 she was united in marriage to Richard Mathis at the Lutheran Church in Witten, South Dakota. To this union two sons were born, Todd and Scot.

Leona was a member of the Hospital Auxiliary, and a member of the Trinity Lutheran Ladies Aid.

She loved gardening, baking sugar cookies, chocolate sheet cake and feeding all of her many visitors, never sending any of them away hungry.

Leona is survived by her sons, Todd (Lisa) of Valentine, NE, and Scot of Winner, SD (Deb Sarver) of Rapid City, SD.; grandchildren Skylar of Chicago, IL, Macey of Valentine, NE, Morgan of Box Elder, SD, Colter and Lathe Sarver both of Rapid City, SD, brother Ted Littau, and sisters Edna Haase and Arlene Post and many nieces and nephews.

Leona is preceded in death by her husband Dick Mathis, parents, Benjamin and Katherina, brothers: Fred Littau, Reuben Littau, Johnny Littau and sisters; Emma Lenser Freda Legge and Luellen Littau.

Marian Ruth Jorgensen went to be with the Lord on May 17, 2020. She was 95 and a resident of Golden Prairie Manor in Winner, S.D., and passed away because of a stroke and heart complications.

Memorial services are planned for Aug. 3, 2020, at the First Christian Church in Winner, but may be further delayed depending on the Covid-19 pandemic and the ability of the family to travel.

Internment will follow at the Winner Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at the First Christian Church. The funeral will be held jointly with that of Marian’s son, Terry Jorgensen, of Taylors, S.C., who passed away on March 30, 2020.

Marian was born on March 26, 1925, in Great Falls, Montana.

When she was five weeks old, her mother Mary Struble Applegate (later Fredricks) took Marian, her brother Frank and sister Merlyn by train to Nebraska where her father, Edward, met them and took them to Winner, where he had found employment as a mechanic.

Marian lived in Tripp County most of her life, graduating from Winner High School in 1942. She attended Springfield Normal School and taught for a year near Hamill.

She married Fred Schwenkner, who passed away in 1953, and married Harry Victor Jorgensen in 1955, who passed away in 2001.

Harry always referred to Marian as “the Little Flower.” They had two sons, Terry Jorgensen and Tony Harry Jorgensen (Jane), Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; and two daughters, Nancy Jorgensen (Dennis Barnhardt) of Pomerene, Ariz.; and Mary Ann Schroeder of Pierre.

The Flower loved to play cards and talk with friends and family. Her life’s mission from 2001 to 2018 was to finish the beautiful home on the hill that Harry had been restoring for more than 30 years—and she did.

Marian was also thankful to have shared her life with granddaughter Teresa Gross (Scott) of Newcastle, Wyo, and their children Hannah, Ramsey and Harrison. She viewed Terry’s former wife and Teresa’s mother, Donna Lucas (Kevin) of Sioux Falls as a dear friend and daughter, She was also survived by granddaughter Alexis Sprogis (Brandon) of Taylors, S.C., and their daughters Avery and Bailey. Marian was also close to grandniece Lovelyn Abbey of Phoenix.

One of 10 children, Marian’s surviving siblings include Deanna Croston (Allen) of Winner; Gene Fredricks (Donna) of Phoenix; and William Applegate (Mary) of Albuquerque. Special thanks go out to her niece, Sandy Croston, as well as Deanna and Allen Croston and others who helped Marian in her final years.

For 25 years, Marian worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and then became an independent crop insurance agent, retiring in 1995.

Active in community service, she was a leader in the First Christian Church for more than 85 years.

She was also in the GFWC Winner Woman’s Club, VFW Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary, Friends of the Library, Tripp County Historical Society, RSVP, the Democratic Party and other organizations.

Memorials may be sent in Marian’s name to the First Christian Church, 326 Madison St., Winner 57580. Marian’s husband Harry built the church and many other landmarks in Winner.

Memorials may also be sent in her name to the Winner Regional Hospital, 745 E. 8th St., Winner.

Iva Lee Meister, 94, of Winner, SD passed away on Monday, May 11, 2020 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Center in Winner, SD.

Funeral Services were held on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Iva Lee Meister, age 94, was born to Amos and Irene Harter, Feb. 25, 1926, and passed away May 11, 2020. Iva Lee grew up in Witten South Dakota. She graduated from Winner High School.

She married Kenneth Meister and lived in Winner. She hung wallpaper and as result she met the boss of JC Pennies who offered her a job, where she worked until she took the keys to the store, to the realtor when the store closed.

Iva Lee taught Sunday School from the age of 15 until the of 80 years. She also joined a bowling team and met them every Wednesday morning. Iva Lee was also known for her baking of pies and sharing with friends in the community. She also volunteered at a special needs camp after she retired.

Iva Lee Is survived by two children, Richard John (Dick), wife, Susan and Donna Lee Sjostrom, husband Larry. She has 6 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren. Also surviving are brothers, Fred Harter and William (Bill) Harter, numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Kenneth Meister, sister Iona Kruger, brothers Joe Harter and Stanley Harter.

Guyla Joy (Cahill) Tritle, 97, of Winner, SD passed away on Monday, May 11, 2020 at the Winner Regional Health Care Center with her children, Steven & Tracy and nieces, Maureen & Michelle by her side.

A Memorial Service/Graveside Service was held on Tuesday May 19, 2020 at 2 p.m. at the Winner City Cemetery.

Guyla was born Sept. 13, 1922 in Plainview Township on the family homestead to Guy & Ruby Cahill. She attended Plainview Rural School and started school at age 5 because she and her sister Echo did not want to be separated.

She attended rural school through the 8th grade and graduated from Winner High School in 1939. After high school she worked at the Fashion Shop in Winner.

In 1942 Guyla and her two sisters, Echo and Chic moved to Long Beach, California where Guyla worked at Cal-Air Construction. While there Guyla met Ralph Tritle who was serving in the Navy during World War II.

After the war Guyla and Ralph returned to Winner, SD and were married on Nov. 9, 1946. To this union two children were born, a son, Steven and a daughter, Tracy. Guyla’s main love and focus was raising her children and helping on the family farm.

Guyla always had a great love for animals and often talked of helping her dad break horses and raising her pet coyote from a pup. Tracy inherited her mother’s love for animals and Guyla enjoyed going to exotic animal sales and miniature horse and donkey shows with her daughter.

They often came home with a new addition to add to the animal family.

Guyla loved to cook and as a result acquired a huge collection of cook-books. Ralph always told guest “If you leave here hungry it’s your own fault.”

Guyla was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and BPO Does.

Guyla is survived by her children, Steven (McKayla) Tritle & Tracy Tritle. Her grandchildren; TaNeal (Jeff) Boer, Courtney (Paul) Brozik, Blaire Tritle, Brandon (Laura) Tritle and seven great-grandchildren. Her nieces Maureen (Squeek) Hollenbeck, Michelle Parvin, nephews; Brent (Caroline) Hewett, Guy Hewett and many great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ralph, sisters Echo Dillon and Chic Hewett, great niece Tanya Parvin, and nephew Lynn Parvin.