Category Archives: Obituaries

Roy Hazuka was born to Anton and Susie Hazuka on May 20, 1925.

Roy was a resident of Tripp County for his entire life where he and his wife Dorothy farmed north of Witten on the family farm, which was homesteaded in 1909. They retired and moved to Winner in 1995.

Roy was involved in his community by serving on the school board and township committees.

Roy put many smiles on the faces of those he met through his polka band at the many dances he played. He played his accordion for anniversaries and dance clubs. He played polka festivals in Rapid City and Deadwood for over 18 years.

Roy and Dorothy recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in Winner on February 15, 2017.

Mary A. Engen passed away peacefully at her home from brain cancer on Feb. 24, 2017. Mary was born on April 10, 1943. She grew up on a cattle farm near Winner, South Dakota. As the second oldest of twelve children, she developed a lifelong dedication to caring for others as she assisted in the upbringing of her younger siblings. Her parents, Pete and Ruth Olson, instilled a love of learning in Mary. She graduated from Winner High School in 1961 and Huron College in 1965, where she majored in English. In 1971, she received a librarian certification from the University of Utah.

Mary met the love of her life, Gary, at the Vincent Van Go Go nightclub in downtown Minneapolis in 1966. They were married in Winner in 1968. They had three children and three grandchildren. Mary thrived in her roles as wife, mother, and grandmother, always lovingly putting the interests of her family members in front of her own.

Mary had a passion for educating others. She taught in Sioux City, Minneapolis, and Rockford, where she also directed theater and debate programs. She was a librarian in Forest Lake. Mary gave up full time work when she had children, but she continued to substitute in the Mounds View School District for many years including 2016. Her favorite substitute teaching assignments were for new immigrants and home bound students because she was able to help them overcome difficult challenges.

Mary was an active member of the Abiding Savior Lutheran Church community for over 46 years. She had a flair for welcoming new members into the church and mentoring young adults in the confirmation process. She volunteered through the church in programs that served those in need, such as Meals on Wheels, Caring and Sharing Hands, Feed My Starving Children, and the Snack Pack Program.

Mary enjoyed spending her free time with friends. She appreciated their great company during walks around the neighborhood and evenings out to plays and movies. She was an avid traveler, taking her family on road trips across the United States and going on Elder hostel tours with her husband after he retired. Her greatest source of joy in later life was her grandchildren. She delighted in devising activities to entertain them and was a regular spectator at their sporting events.

Dorothy Marie (Ring) Lewis age 91, a long-term resident of Winner, S.D. loving wife and mother joined her heavenly father on Feb. 27, 2017.

Dorothy was born on April 28, 1925 to Edward Ring and Mary (Giske) Ring in Millboro, S.D.

Dorothy enjoyed playing cards, cross word puzzles, bowling, her flowers, cooking and she was a devout Christian . All that knew her would say “she was a remarkable woman who could do anything she set her mind to”. Her and Dean enjoyed their grandchildren, many friends and spent a great deal of time traveling.

Dorothy married Dean S. Lewis on March 6, 1942 and enjoyed over 63 years of devoted marriage. Together Dorothy and Dean raised 5 children.

Cecil was born August 12, 1922 in Clark, South Dakota to Roy T. and Bessie (Lorenz) Routh. In 1929 the family of eight children moved to Groton, South Dakota where his father was a building contractor. Here they lived until Cecil graduated in 1941.

Cecil enlisted in the United States Navy on November 16, 1942. Six of the eight Routh siblings also joined the service. He took basic training in San Diego, Calif., where he was schooled for 16 inch Naval guns. He was then transferred to Bremerton, Wash., and assigned to the USS West Virginia.

Cecil met Pearle Reetz while on leave in Groton. They were married aboard the ship June 10, 1944 by the ship’s chaplain.

While on board the USS West Virginia his ship supported operations at Iwo Gima Island, Okinawa Island and the Battle of Surigao Strait. Cecil was discharged on November 9, 1945.

In 1947 Cecil joined Pearle’s parents in their farming operation and they raised three boys. For 25 years he served on the Rosebud Electric Cooperative board. He also served on the township board and the Dallas Elevator Board.

For 32 years Cecil and Pearle enjoyed the good life by wintering in Arizona. In his spare time he enjoyed golfing, fishing at the Missouri River, hunting and wood working.

Vigil prayers will be on Wednesday, March 1, at 3:30 pm with visitation following from 4-8 at Mahn Family Funeral Home – Larson Chapel in Zumbrota. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, March 2 at 10:30 am at St. Columbkill Catholic Church in Belle Creek with Father Randal Kasel officiating. Visitation will also be one hour before Mass on Thursday at the church. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Dolores Helen Franklin was born on March 23, 1926 in Red Wing to James and Mary Louise (O’Neill) Franklin. She attended Welch country school and graduated from Red Wing High School in 1944. After high school, Dolores worked in St. Cloud as a “Rosie Riveter”. She attended teachers training and taught in a one-room school house in rural Goodhue. On December 29, 1948 she married Gerald “Shug” Ryan at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Red Wing. Dolores and Shug raised twelve children on the family farm in Belle Creek Township, rural Goodhue.

Dolores was an active life-long member of St. Columbkill Catholic Church and Catholic Council of Women, Goodhue County Historical Society, Goodhue Area Historical Society, Goodhue Lioness Club, Goodhue County Retired Teachers Association, Goodhue County Extension Homemakers Project Group and other social groups.
Dolores enjoyed traveling, genealogy, bowling league with her close friends, Short, Jeanette, and Gerry, gardening, and was also a fan of all MN sports teams, she loved watching her children and grandchildren in all their activities, and spending time with family and friends.

Chris was born in Duncan, Okla.,, to parents Beverly and Ken Russell. He later moved to Salina, Kan. where he spent his adventurous childhood playing with his older brother, John, climbing trees and riding go-karts. He spent his later school years in Colorado and spent many summers at Dog Ear Lake fishing and enjoying nature with his father. He later moved to the Winner, Witten area working in the agricultural field with his brother, John. There he made many friends and loved to spend time with them and his family.

He continued to spend time at his beloved lake where he took up gardening and cooking. Later he participated with his father in Winner’s First Annual BBQ Cook-off that crowned them champions. He returned to Brighton Colo., for a few short years when failing health prompted him to go home to the place he loved most, Dog Ear Lake. Chris was a tenderhearted, but adventurous man that touched many lives. He will be forever loved and missed.

Martha Lucille (Koskan) Kinsley was born September 2, 1918 on a homestead near Naville, SD, to Jerry and Daisy (Slechta) Koskan. At the age of one, she moved with her family to a farm near Wood, SD. She graduated from Springview Country School in 1931, and Wood High School in 1935. She received a teaching certificate from Southern State College and began teaching at the age of 17 in several surrounding schools.

In 1944, she married Sgt. Kenneth Kinsley, making their home on a farm north of Murdo for 45 years. In 1985, she completed her long time goal, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree from Northern State University. She moved into an apartment in Murdo in 1996, and on to Pierre Maryhouse in 2015.

Martha was involved with youth during her teaching years as well as her years with 4-H, church school and library. She was a participant and supporter of various community organizations and was especially involved in serving with the United Methodist Women. She and Ken received a soil conservation award for planting and caring for one of the first tree shelter belts in the area. They were also humbled to be recognized as a Methodist Family of the Year with their young family.
Martha enjoyed all aspects of farming, sewing, gardening, cooking for family and friends, carrying on the tradition that anyone was welcome at the table.
Memorials may be directed to Jones County Ambulance or the Murdo United Methodist Women.

Lou Ann was born on Nov. 25, 1928, in Bonita Springs, South Dakota, the daughter of Roger and Ruth Olmsted.

In 1947, Lou Ann married her first husband, and to this union three daughters were born. In 1963, Lou Ann married Buddy Haley, and they had two sons. After a short time living on a farm in Millboro, SD, they moved to Winner, SD where they owned and operated two motels for around 20 years. In 2005, Lou Ann and Buddy moved to Hopkins, Minn., to be near family.

Lou Ann had a happy, loving spirit, and always had a smile even when faced with health issues. Her strong faith and love of family and friends were evident in her actions and words. In addition to working and raising five children, Lou Ann was active in church and youth activities. During her life in Hopkins, she enjoyed watching her grandchildren in their many activities and spending time with special friends in the Rosewood West Coffee Group.

Memorial Service was held 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Hopkins, Minn.

Eleanor was born July 17, 1912 at Kutch, Colorado, to James and Stazie (Cerny) Vopat. They lived in several Nebraska towns before moving near White River, SD. Later the family moved back to Nebraska.

Eleanor married Robert K. Rohla November 7, 1939 in Ord, Neb. They farmed in the Carter/Witten area all their lives.

Eleanor was a gentle, hardworking homemaker. She raised lots of chickens and a garden, then preserved the produce for her family’s use. She was a life member of WFLA (ZCBJ) Lodge.

Richard Tate, age 86 of Hidden Timber, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 at North Platte Care Center.

He was born to Jay and Eva (Rothley) Tate in a tarpaper shack on their farm west of Hidden Timber on Jan. 6, 1931. Richard spent his entire life on this land.

Richard attended Schneiderite School through elementary then Todd County High School, where he graduated in 1949. Following graduation, he attended South Dakota State College in Brookings.

He was drafted into the US Army on June 17, 1952. He spent two Christmases in Korea, drawing combat pay for 7 of those months firing artillery. He also worked in the carpool, traveling extensively throughout Korea. He was honorably discharged March 16, 1954.
After returning home, Richard worked with his dad on the farm and returned to college in the fall. He married Shirley Luedke in 1956 in Mission, SD and they were blessed with three children.

Richard worked at many jobs during his life, including planting trees for Todd County Conservation District, working as a ranch hand near Brownlee and working on teacher housing in Mission. He was a private pilot and owned his own plane. Several people remember getting their first plane ride from him. He would fly to the sale barn in Martin and often would fly out to help neighbors find lost cattle and check pasture. Richard loved the freedom of flying, not following the roads.

Richard was very good with his hands. In the early 70’s he built a boat that he and his family took to Lake of the Woods in Canada. He built the family’s first camper. Richard loved spending time with his family camping and boating. He also, with the help of family and neighbors, built their first house.

Richard started ranching on a quarter of land he purchased from his dad. He raised hogs and cattle and ran yearlings for many years, ranching with his son, Robert. He eventually retired in 1993 and sold the ranch to Robert & Tammi in 2015.

After retiring, he filled his free time with keeping the prairie dog population down. He could hit a prairie dog and 300 yards. He also enjoyed fishing. He treasured the trips made to Jones Hardware in Mission to visit with friends over a cup of coffee. He especially enjoyed the calls and visits from family and friends during his stay in North Platte.