Category Archives: Obituaries

Luella Eunice Check was born to Fred and Alvida Check October 21st 1925 in Walnut Grove Minnesota. Luella graduated from Walnut Grove Public High School and worked at West Publishing in St. Paul Minnesota.

She moved to San Diego, Calif., during Second World War. Luella worked at consolidated Aircraft and was part of the American Women that worked in shipyard and factories during WWII known as “Rosie the Riveter”. On October 21st 1946 Luella was united in marriage to Floyd Nordsiden. She and Floyd farmed in Minnesota until retirement and settled in Westbrook. Her passion was sewing, embroidering, stitching, and cooking; which she shared freely with others. She cherished time spent with family.

Luella Eunice Nordsiden died Thursday July 14 2016 at Winner Long Term Care Hospital at Winner SD, at 90 years of age.

Maryetta Louise Wacek was born on January 31, 1922 to John H. and Hazel A. (Pickett) Crume at their home in the community of Texam northwest of White River, South Dakota. Maryetta grew up in western Mellette County and attended rural elementary schools there and White River High School, graduating in 1942.

Maryetta was united in marriage to Bernard Wacek on October 23, 1950 in the Sacred Heart Catholic church in White River. They then made their life-long home in White River. She performed various office jobs before and after their marriage until they started their own business, Wacek Electric, in 1956. She was the bookkeeper and sales person of the business working with her husband and son for over 50 years.

Maryetta was a member of Sacred Heart Parish for all of her adult life, and took pride in caring for the church and parish hall for many years. She is also remembered for teaching catechism classes for the parish children. Special moments in her life included church sponsored tours of Rome and the Vatican City, Israel, and Ireland.

Donald was born on June 15, 1947 at Sioux City, Iowa to James “Tiny” and Lucille (Bertram) Williamson. He attended Avon High School in South Dakota. He entered the US Navy during the Vietnam Conflict and served as a purser on the USS Kitty Hawk. His first wife was Joyce Hagel (Cahoy) and to this union 5 children were born.

Donald later married Michele Holdsworth on June 29, 2012. Don was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Friend, NE. Donald believed his greatest achievements in life were his family. He sacrificed and worked hard to be the best husband, father, and grandfather that he could be. Donald spent countless hours and many sleepless nights traveling to always be there for his children when they were young. He was affectionately known by his grandchildren as “Grandpa Bowzer”.

Ruth Clara (Stellwag) Vavra was born November 21, 1927 on the family farm south of Gregory, SD to Hans and Clara (Faatz) Stellwag, the fourth of ten brothers and sisters in the family. Ruth completed school to the eighth grade.

Ruth started working for Buches, then located on Main Street Gregory. Ruth married Richard Vavra in Colome on October 4, 1948, and they lived on the family homestead south of Winner for two years. This is where their first son, Richard, was born. They moved to Max Creek, MO where they bought a small farm and their second son, Dean, was born during this time. They returned to South Dakota and began farming north of Dallas, where their last child, Dan, was born. In 1967 they moved into Gregory. They owned the Cozy Clean Laundromat and Ruth worked at Buches until 1989. She also worked at Tall Paul’s convenience store.

Ruth was very active in the Gregory Legion Auxiliary for many years. Ruth lived at Silver Threads until January 2015 and then moved to Firesteel Healthcare Center where she passed away on July 2, 2016 at the age of 88 years.

Kathryn Eileen Nolan was born May 6, 1929 on the family farm north of Plankinton, South Dakota to Thomas P. and Mary Naomi (Sexton) Nolan.

Eileen attended rural grade school at the Nolan Grove School. Following the death of her father Thomas in 1942, the family remained on the farm until moving to Plankinton in 1945. Eileen graduated from Plankinton High School in 1948 and was Class Valedictorian.

On May 15, 1951 Eileen married Barclay Allibone. The Allibones moved from Plankinton following Barclay’s career with the U.S. Interior Department and settled in Winner, South Dakota in 1953 where they made their residence for the next 60+ years. From this union, two sons were born; David Barclay (Sioux City, Iowa) and Michael Alexander (Kearney, Nebraska). The Allibone’s were also blessed with five grandchildren Emily (Mason) Wolzen of Omaha, Nebraska, Patrick (Kendra) Allibone of Shawnee, Kansas, Sarah (Eric) Herth of Farmington, New Mexico, Amanda Allibone of Sioux City, Iowa, and Matthew Allibone of Kearney, Nebraska) and nine great grandchildren (Zachary, Thomas, Ava, Allyson, Ethan, Audrey, Eli, Olivia, and Baby Herth #3 due in January).

Eileen worked for the U.S Department of Agriculture ASCS for 36 years retiring in 1990. Eileen was a member of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Winner since 1953 and active in numerous service organizations in Winner including the Catholic Daughters, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, American Legion Auxiliary, and BPO Does. She was a charter member of the Winner Does Drove. Eileen also enjoyed many other activities such as bowling, traveling across the country for various Elks activities, and attending her grandchildren’s events such as graduations, wrestling tournaments, and dance recitals. As a young girl on the farm, she enjoyed caring for the cats. She was an avid fan of the Winner Pheasants minor league baseball team in the 60’s and 70’s and loved her Notre Dame Irish football. Purple was her favorite color. Eileen was extremely proud of her Irish heritage.

Judy (Larsgaard) Tobin was born to Roy and Hazel (Sorum) Larsgaard on April 23, 1950 in Canton, South Dakota. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church, Fairview SD. Judy was raised on the family farm in Lincoln County and attended Fairview Center through the eighth grade, and graduated from Canton High School in 1968. She then attended the University of South Dakota where she met her future husband Tom Tobin. Tom and Judy were married at Bethany Lutheran Church on November 28, 1970. The couple continued to live in Vermillion until 1973 when Tom graduated from law school and they moved to Winner and Tom opened his law office. Judy worked part time in the law office and was a homemaker for their growing family.

Over the years, Judy volunteered and was involved in various community organizations, including the Arts Council, the American Cancer Society and ESA. She loved her weekly bowling league and ladies coffee group. She enjoyed playing tennis with Tom and softball and racquetball with friends. As her five children grew up, Judy loved attending all of the sporting events and other activities they were in. She enjoyed substitute teaching, working with pre-schoolers and supporting community events. She also loved to read, play the piano and cheer for the Packers.

Her Christian faith and family were the most important parts of her life. Judy lived for her children, grandchildren and spending time as a family. She was a great cook and proud of her Norwegian heritage. She enjoyed road trips, hunting, shopping and especially Christmas. It was her favorite time of year. Judy loved to bake, decorate every room and celebrate with everyone.

Whether you knew him as “the Old Farmer,” the “Ugly” from “The Good, Bad and Ugly” weightlifting club, or simply as “Mr. Keith, sir,” when you met him in a school hallway, Dean Keith made an impression wherever he went.

Dean was born July 9, 1940, to Ferdinand S. and Joyce Ann (Christensen) Keith in Gregory, South Dakota. He graduated from Gregory High School in 1958, with a reputation as an all-around athlete.

Football sent him to Huron College, where he played the sport with competitive passion for four years, earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary math and physical education, and met his dearest love, Gladys Von Behren, of Wentworth, SD.

The two married in 1961 and started life together as teachers in Crofton, NE, and Elkpoint, SD. Daughter Caroline was born in 1964 and son Greg in 1967. From the beginning, his family was a top priority, whether he was supporting music lessons, leading a baseball team, taking the whole family on a camping trip, or driving Gladys around the countryside to look for pheasants and deer. He welcomed son-in-law Doug and daughter-in-law Jaymee with his big heart and typical sense of humor, and he took tremendous pride and pleasure in spending time with his grandsons Cody and Zachary Keith.

Dean received a master’s degree in school administration in 1965 and built a career in education officially as a math teacher, driver’s education instructor, coach, and principal. Informally, he became a mentor and friend to hundreds of teenagers who responded to his personal motto of “Honesty and Mutual Respect”. He worked with students and their families in Armour, SD, Gillette, WY, Custer, SD, and Winner, SD, before retiring to Worland, WY, in 2002.
While in Worland, he and Gladys spent their retirement as part-time employees for King’s CarpetOne, where Dean shared his unique brand of humor and leadership with the King family and the store’s customers for several years. He also had time in Worland to develop interests in turning wood and creating tile mosaics, and he shared the results with many family members and friends.

In 2014, he and Gladys drove to Alaska and moved to a home in Kasilof where they could live in the same time zone as their children and grandsons. He learned to fish the Peninsula’s rivers thanks to a new friend and had terrific success, including his first king salmon catch.

In fact, much of the time he spent with his immediate and extended family, and his friends, involved doing something outdoors that would lead to meat for the table, pictures for the album, and stories to tell over and over. That included fishing adventures on the Missouri River, camping and backpacking trips throughout the Black Hills and Bighorn and Wind River Mountains, and hunting jaunts across Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota and Alaska. He respected wildlife and followed a strict personal code of sportsmanship and stewardship, and he instilled that respect for the land in his children, grandsons, and other hunting and fishing partners.

A rare form of leukemia claimed his body on June 26, 2016, but his spirit and stories endure, especially when shared over a cup of coffee. He took his black.

Harold Larson, age 92, of Hamill, passed away on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center. Funeral Services were held Monday, July 11, 2016 at the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Winner. Burial followed at the Winner City Cemetery.
He was born June 18, 1924 at the family farm north of Hamill. He attended school through 6th grade on the White River and 7th grade through 10th grade at Reliance.
After that he went back to help on the farm. He and 2 of his brothers formed a partnership. Soon after he was drafted into World War II where he served in Washington, D.C. and Hawaii. Some duties there were to guard the Japanese prisoners.

After being discharged he returned home to do what he truly loved, farming, ranching, and breeding horses with his brothers and sister. After the 2 brothers passed he and Irene retired and moved outside of Winner for about 1 year and then decided to move into Winner, built a new house in 1988 and moved there in 1989. Irene and Harold enjoyed living there together until her death in 2004.

He enjoyed many hobbies including wood working projects, bowling, playing cards, and visiting.

Hazel was born on January 19, 1930 to Frank and Jessie (Johnson) Hrabanek. She was born in Winner, SD at the home of her Aunt and Uncle, Esther and Reinhold Woidneck. Her father purchased a new 1930 Ford Model “A” to take her home. They lived in Tripp County, Colome, SD.

Hazel attended Pleasant View grade school all 8 years and graduated from Colome High School in 1947. She went on to attend National College of Business and graduated from there with a degree in business.

On April 15, 1951 she was united in marriage to Fredrick (Fritz) Kaiser. To this union 4 children were born: Glenda, Kathy, Darrel, and Larry. They lived in Winner for two years and then moved to the farm they purchased in 1955. In 1966 they purchased Frontier Motors in Winner, SD. Hazel worked there as a bookkeeper until 2007 when she retired.

She married Jack Sondergard on August 30, 1985 and moved to his farm by Hamill, SD. After he died in 2006, she moved back to Winner.

She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner and is now a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Winner. She was a lifetime member of ESA International, American Legion Auxiliary, and VFW Auxiliary, and is current member of the Centennial Quilt Guild.

Hazel loved to sew, making clothing for all of her family, sewing many quilts. She also did daily crosswords, reading, crocheting, baking, and canning. Vegetable and flower gardening was another passion of Hazel’s.

Dick was born November 8th 1935 on a rural farm near Mosher to Boyd & Doshia [Eastin] O’Bryan. Dick was the 4 from youngest in a family of 12, which likely prepared him for a life of sharing. The O’Bryan family moved to a farm south of Winner in southern McNeely township in the mid 1940’s. Dick attended rural elementary school as well as rural church at Danton. Dicks early years were spent enjoying the rural lifestyle involving a large neighborhood and gatherings at Dog Ear Lake which was the social hub for the area.
Dick attended & graduated from winner high school in 1954 his high school years were also spent working at the Westside as well as courting his future wife of 60+ years Mavis Pettit. Dick and Mavis were married at Danton Catholic Church south of Winner on July 7th 1955. The next 60 years were spent enjoying each other as well as raising a family of 5.
Dick & Mavis purchased their home farm south of Winner shortly after marriage and together worked to improve and enlarge that farm Dick spent hours doing custom work as well as wage earner while Mavis took care of the farmstead duties involving milking, hogs, and chickens to assist with income.
Dicks early career years were spent in the auction business which also led to involvement in the local livestock auctions. He spent many hours at the winner livestock auction and actually helped put in one of the first line fences at the present day location. He was also involved with Gregory livestock auction. His work week sometimes involved leaving on Thursday for Gregory, returning late and then spend Friday –Saturday at Winner for sale and loadout.
As a ringman & auctioner, Dick thoroughly believed in the auction way whether it involved selling something for the maximum amount or even finding a bargain he always felt auction was the best way to determine value. He enjoyed meeting people and doing business the exciting auction way.
Dick spent his later career years in the real estate /insurance business which was based upon the many people he had already done business with through auctions. He became a salesman for the Lenker agency in the early 70’s and eventually purchased the business, renaming it “The O’Bryan Agency”. He always enjoyed putting a good deal together for both parties buyer and seller and took pride in his successes.
Dick’s off farm career and success as well as Mavis /family support on farm allowed them to expand and improve their farm from a very meager start to a comfortable yet manageable size and cowherd to match until health forced him into retirement.
Dick enjoyed the outdoors whether it involved hunting, fishing, gardening, or simply checking the cows. He was involved from the beginning with the Clearfield ball diamond and spent many hours in the early years when it was truly a pasture and later with Colome as his children became involved with school activities there. Whether it was coaching, umpiring, announcing or simply watching dick attended many sports activities enjoying a good game and sportsmanship but loving baseball & softball. Dicks early years of sharing with siblings set the stage for the rest of his life. He always seemed to have something to share whether it was garden produce, some eggs, a mess of fresh fish, or simply some help carried him throughout his life, but mostly he enjoyed sharing a story.