Category Archives: Local

Jim Wagner, age 76, passed away Oct. 23, 2019. He was surrounded by family He was a resident of Wesley Woods Manor, Hewitt , Texas.

He was born Feb. 20, 1943 to Ed and Emma (Vavra)Wagner. Growing up he played sports and worked in the family store Wagner’s Market. He graduated from Colome High School in 1961. He married Faye(Clark) in 1966 in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. He finished collage and taught school in Bonesteel, S.D. They moved to Montana for several years . They returned to Colome and ran the family grocery store Wagner’s Market and Locker. Later moving to Florida and worked with troubled teens . They worked at earning their GED while at Florida Youth Challenge Academy. While working there he received the Florida Distinguished Service Metal and the Florida Commendation Medal.

Jim loved working with the youth whether is was coaching baseball, track, community service or education. He wanted for someone to learn one thing each day. He also enjoyed playing cards and golfing. In 2012 they moved to Waco, Texas, where they retired.

Survivors are his loving wife Faye of 53 years. To this union were 2 children, Troy ( Evelyn) Wagner, La Vernia, Texas and grandchildren Andrew and Sherrylynn,. Daughter Shannon ( Tom) Grimmond Sioux Falls, S.D. grandchildren Krisha ,Joey, and Mikey. Siblings Ed Jr. wife Glenda, Starke, Fl. Dave wife Nelda, Judy husband Rod Smith , Lake Havasu City, Az. One aunt Adeline Vavra Winner, numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.

Jim joked we should have started with the grandchildren they are more fun.

He suffered from Alzheimer’s for several years spending the last two years at home. He developed an upper respiratory infection which he couldn’t recover.

Jim’s body was cremated and a celebration of his life will be held at a later date in Colome.

Russ Phillips, 53, of Winner, SD passed away on Wednesday, November 20th, 2019 at his home in Winner, SD. Mass of Christian burial was held on Monday, November 25th, 2019 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD. Burial followed at the Winner City Cemetery in Winner, SD.

A visitation was held on Sunday, November 24th, 2019 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic church in Winner, SD with a Vigil service.

Russ Phillips took his final checkered flag on November 20th 2019 after a four-month hard fought battle with cancer. Russ will be remembered for his convincingly quick wit, never-ending humor and pranks. His generous and giant heart was felt by all.

Russell Todd entered the world on December 7th 1965 in Winner, SD. Proud parents Dennis (Denny) and Carol (McIntosh) Phillips decided Russ was so perfect they need not have anymore. He was baptized in April of 1966 at Trinity Lutheran Church. Russ graduated from Winner High School in 1984 and went on to graduate from the National School of Business in Rapid City, SD where he received a degree in business in 1986. In October 2019 Russ became a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD.

Hard work was a virtue for Russ and he started working at a young age. From the time he could walk he worked with his dad at the Car Care Center. He also worked at the Phillips 66 station with Arlyn (Harold) and Brenda Klundt. This provided him the opportunity to perfect his prank playing. Next, he became the chip man delivering chips for Old Dutch. Along his route he met the love of his life, Lorna.

They were married on May 21st, 1994. They were blessed with two children Megan Marie and Cole Hunter. Following his chip days, he worked for a short while at the Soil Conservation, before finding his perfect fit and second family. Russ started at the Tripp County Water User District as a Water Operator in 1995. He was promoted to Manager in 2006 and was awarded Manager of the Year in 2017. He served in this position until his final day.

The two loves of his life were his family and his race cars. It depended on the day which one got first place. Russ held numerous wins on South Dakota racetracks over his 25 years of racing and passed on the love of racing to his son Cole. During these years he met many lifelong friends and created many memories and stories that he cherished till the end.
Russ cherished a simple life filled with family, friends, racing, plenty of hot tub time, and of course Bud Light. Many are left to carry on his stories including loving wife Lorna, children Megan (Mike) Cahoy, Cole (Taylor) Phillips, granddaughter Maycee Cahoy, a special “second “ son Austin Klundt (Hailey, Evan, & Sylvia), parents Denny and Carol Phillips, his in-laws Tom and Nancy Esterling, brother-in-law Matt (Christie, Andrew, & Charlie). Many aunts, uncles, and cousins. The Tripp County Water User District family, employees, and Board of Directors & their families. His extended racing family and many friends.

Meeting him in heaven will be his paternal grandparents Ralph and Elsie Phillips, his maternal grandparents Riley and Rose McIntosh, great aunt and uncle James and Clara Musilek, Lorna’s grandparents Erwin and LaVerna Esterling, Wayland and Kess Dempster.

Funeral services for Joan Stenson, 88, Colome, were held Nov. 22 at the Methodist Church in Winner. Burial was in the Colome Cemetery.
Stenson died Nov. 16 at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls.

Joan Joyce (Bowden) Stenson was born Jan. 24, 1931, in Tekamah, Neb., to Pearl Edith (Quick) and Clarence Miles “Mike” Bowden. She joined an older half-brother William Bowden. As a child she attended public schools in Nebraska while her father sought construction work during the Depression.

In 1941, Joan’s sister Carol Faith (Bowden) Moyer was born and the family settled in Lincoln. She attended high school in Lincoln, Neb., and later moved to South Dakota, graduating from Winner High School in 1949. Joan enjoyed her high school years in Winner and was active in cheerleading and served as a member of the homecoming court.

Following high school she moved to Omaha with her good friend Kate and worked as a cashier in a department store. It was there on a “blind date” she met Randal Stenson who she would marry on Aug. 22, 1953. Initially, the couple lived in Colome, later moving to the family farm outside of town. Her life would soon become full, becoming a mother to DeEtte the following summer and welcoming sons Craig and Brett in 1955 and 1956, respectively.

In 1966, the family became complete with the addition of a daughter, Randi Jo. As a wife and mother she was active in the community and in her husband and children’s lives, serving as a Cub Scout den mother, in the PTA, American Legion Auxiliary, as a member and later worthy matron of the Eastern Star, and the local bridge and birthday clubs. Joan was also a member of the First Christian Church, but would later attend the United Methodist Churches in Colome and Winner.

Joan and Randal raised their family and farmed/ranched outside Colome. Joan primarily worked in the home, but would later work alongside her husband in the realty/appraisal business in Winner. The couple stayed busy. Joan’s life revolved around family, faith, and Democratic politics. She actively supported her kids as they graduated, married, and began families of their own. Joan and Randal enjoyed traveling, visiting their children in different parts of the country, attending family reunions on both sides, and hosting the Annual Stenson Family Hunt. Throughout her life, Joan was the consummate hostess, her house served as a veritable bed and breakfast for both immediate and extended family and friends.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Bill and her husband of nearly 61 years, Randal.

She is survived by her children DeEtte (Dan) Lombard, Craig Stenson, Brett (Stephanne) Stenson and Randi Jo Stenson; her grandchildren Danielle (Jason) Bonsack, Lakin (Tanner) Trigg, Colin Stenson, Sean Stenson, Samantha Stenson, Ashlee (Alex) Swanson, Seth Stenson, and Jakob Steffy; and her great grandchildren Judson, Delanie, Weston, Emersyn, Macon, and Keller Bonsack. In addition, Joan is survived by her sister Carol Moyer, her sister-in-law DeEtte Elliott and her brother-in-law Doug (Jeanne) Stenson.

The memorial service for Matthew Weidner, 32, Aberdeen, SD, formerly of Winner, SD, was held 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, at New Life Fellowship, with Pastor Rodney Johnson officiating. Matthew died Saturday, Nov. 16, in Winner, SD.

Matthew Weidner was born on March 11, 1987, to Ron and Mavis (Stone) Weidner in Winner. His family moved to the farm south of Winner while Matt was young. He loved sports, horse races, shooting off fireworks, and playing Pitch with his Grandpa Jack. He was a proud Boy Scout and active in 4-H, and went on to be a camp counselor and eventually Program Director at Camp Bob Marshall.

After graduating from Winner High School in 2006, he went to Presentation College in Aberdeen where he earned his bachelor’s degree in social work. It was there that he met Heather Rau. Matt and Heather were united in marriage on May 29, 2010, in Aberdeen. They lived in Hot Springs for a few years before moving back to Aberdeen, where Matt earned his master’s degree in school counseling through NSU. He currently worked at Central High School with the ESL program (English second language) and at Pizza Hut.

Matt’s faith was an important part of his life. After he was confirmed, he was very active in youth group. He later went on two mission trips to Mexico where his life forever changed when he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. His faith became stronger and his desire to help others became a priority. Matt was baptized at Calvary Baptist Church in Hot Springs and attended New Life Fellowship in Aberdeen.

Matt will forever be remembered because of his strong love for all people. He had fun bantering with those around him, especially when they had opposing views. Whether it was church league softball, deer hunting with his family, or playing poker, board games, and video games with his friends, he loved being around people. But above all else, he loved being a daddy.

Grateful for having shared Matthew’s life are his wife: Heather Weidner, Aberdeen; his children: Annabelle, Theodore Jackson ‘TJ’, Trinity and Simeon Weidner; his parents: Ronald ‘Toad’ and Mavis Weidner, of Winner; grandma: Jackie Stone; brothers: Robert (Brianne) Weidner and Jeffrey Weidner; his nieces Millie and Ella Weidner; his parents-in-law: Kevin (Cindy) Rau; brother-in-law: Matthew Rau; cousin/sister-in-law: Sanessa Lindemann; and many loving uncles, aunts and cousins.

Preceding Matthew in death are his grandpa Robert Weidner, grandpa Alvin Wilken, grandma Elleanor Wilken, grandpa Jack Stone.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials.
www.spitzerfuneralhome.com