Category Archives: Obituaries

Everrett Reagle was born November 21, 1945 in Valentine, NE to Arthur E. and Blanche (Howe) Reagle. Everrett enjoyed working on the farm/ranch with his family. He lived in the Olsenville, SD area his whole life. He attended school at Midway school and Todd County High School.
Everrett married Marie Hannah on August 21, 1965 in Mission, SD. They were blessed with 4 children. Everrett worked for the South Dakota DOT for 32 years were he loved plowing snow and helping people get where they needed to go safely. Until the time he departed this world, Everrett would talk about plowing roads. Everrett moved to the Winner Long Term Care in November of 2013. Everrett was 70 years old.

A private family funeral service for 72 year old Larry Pechota of Colome, was held on Monday Dec. 28. Larry was be buried in the Colome City Cemetery.
Larry was born on April 14, 1943 at the Mother of Grace hospital in Gregory, SD. He was first of three children born to Lloyd and Lois Pechota. Larry grew up on a farm near Colome, SD and attended the Viaduct school for 3 years. His family then moved to South Beach, Oregon. They returned to the Gregory area where he graduated his senior year in 1961. Larry was united in marriage to Myrna Fetzer on September 2, 1965. Together they had three children. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in September of this year. During their marriage they lived in Gregory, SD, Ainsworth, NE and then moved back to the Colome area where they have farmed since 1979.

Larry had a love for playing baseball and football while in high school and that passion carried on to watching his own children and grandchildren play sports as well. His grandchildren were the bright spots in his life. He spent many hours outside and enjoyed gardening, feeding the birds, working on building projects and watching the crops grow and mature usually with his faithful dog by his side. Larry loved to travel with friends and family to other parts of the country but was always happy to be back to where he called home.

Larry Gene Pechota, age 72, of Colome passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 after fighting a five year battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

Marion M. Pearson lived 91 good years on this planet and was tough as nails and sweet as sugar. She died peacefully on December 20, 2015, in her home.
She was born Marion Marie Eldridge in a sod house near Dixon, South Dakota, in Bull Creek Township on April 20, 1924. Her parents were Charley Eldridge and Christine (Rehwinkle) Eldridge. She had two brothers, Bryon (Viola) and Bud (Bonnie), and one sister, Elaine (John).
Marion rode a horse to country school as a student and later taught at a country school. She held many jobs through her lifetime, played in a band, owned a bar, made furniture, was a secretary, and loved her family with all her heart. She had two children: Phyllis, born in 1945 from her marriage with Vince Feyereisen; and Ross born in 1955 from her marriage with Clarence Ford. Her final marriage was to William Pearson in Rapid City.
“Grandma” as she was affectionately called was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, and her son Ross, as well as her husbands and her sister’s husband, John Kunze.
She is survived by her sister, Elaine Kunze, her daughter, Phyllis Rensch, grandchildren Timothy (Kimberly) Rensch, Melissa (Patrick) Wood, William M. Rensch II, and her great-grandchildren Cameron Parette, Merissa Parette, Gabriel (Stephanie) Rensch, Alexander Rensch, Hayden Rensch, Mason Rensch, Morgan Wood, and Callahan Wood. She is also survived by sister-in-law Bonnie Eldridge, and the children of her siblings.
Grandma loved to garden, watch birds, have Christmas, and picnic on the Fourth of July. She was proud to have been raised on a farm, was a hard worker, and watched over and protected her family. She was frugal, made the best bacon and egg breakfast ever, and made good potato salad. She was patient and generous and called those near and dear to her “Sugar.” She smoked most of her 91 years, saying, “Smoking is bad for most people, but it is good for me.” Every single time you ever visited her, when you left, no matter how much her arthritis hurt or her walker resisted, she would get up from her chair, make her way to the screen door, poke her hand out and wave goodbye and smile, as if she knew it might be the last time. This time it was. Goodbye Grandma. We all love you so.

Janet Belle Tarr was born November 28, 1928, at Colome, South Dakota, the daughter of Otis and Hazel (Hougham) Tarr. She grew up on a farm-ranch six miles southeast of Norris, and attended Kaufman rural school, and later Todd County High School, graduating in 1947. She then attended Springfield Teachers’ College where she earned her teacher’s certificate. She taught at Patricia School northeast of Martin where she met Leonard.

Janet Belle was united in marriage to Leonard Andrew Hicks on June 1, 1948, in Martin. They made their home in Martin until the summer of 1952, when they moved to her parents’ farm-ranch southeast of Norris. They continued to live and work on that ranch their entire married life. Her husband Leonard preceded her in death on December 30, 2009.

In the summer of 2012, she moved to the Golden Prairie Manor Assisted Living Center in Winner, where she resided until moving into the Winner Nursing Home in July 2014. In December of 2014, she moved to the White River Nursing Home, where she has since resided.

She was on the Norris Township Election Board for many years. Janet Belle was a fabulous cook and was known for her fried chicken and milk toast.

Gregory James Erlandson, 66, of Black Hawk, SD passed away quite suddenly at work on Wed., December 16, 2015. Greg was born October 20, 1949 to Francis (Jim) and Hazel Erlandson in Miller, SD. He lived in Highmore, SD for many years before moving to several places before he was high school age. He graduated from Winner High School in 1968. On June 13, 1970 he married Sandra Rice. He went to college at Springfield, SD for a year before he married. He went to school in Rapid City where they lived for 3 ½ years. The family then moved to Watertown, SD for nine years before moving back to Rapid City. He has lived in Black Hawk for the past 22 years. He was a long time employee of Family Thrift Center and Freeds, working for 30 and 33 years.

Jack Docken Sr., age 89, of Winner, passed away Dec. 14, 2015 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Facility. Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. Burial followed at the Winner City Cemetery.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Clearfield Baseball field through First Fidelity Bank.

Jack Leslie Docken, Sr. son of Clara (Davids) and Ralph A. Docken, was born on September 15, 1926, on the family farm in Dog Ear Township. Jack was raised on the family farm and attended the Lakeview School through the 8th grade. At a young age Jack began to work to help take care of his mother after she became disabled.

In May of 1946, Jack enlisted in the US Army. He served in the 11th Airborne Division, 188th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He was honorably discharged from the US Army on October 9, 1947, and returned to the farm.
On September 29, 1951, Jack was married to Jean Ellen Sharkey at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Clearfield, South Dakota. They lived and raised 5 children on the family farm by Clearfield.

Jack was a member of the VFW, American Legion and the Clearfield Baseball Youth Center. He also enjoyed watching
TV, reading, playing cards, dancing and listening to music. He was also active in helping establishing the Clearfield Ball Diamond.

Meister was born Jan. 20, 1948, in Winner to Lawrence and Sedonia (Stritecky) Wagner. After graduating from high school, Meister went on to graduate from beauty school in Sioux Falls. She was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elk Point, the altar society, women’s auxiliary—VFW and was very involved in Boy Scouts. When her sons were younger she enjoyed taking them to various sporting evens and Boy Scouts. She also enjoyed gardening, painting and cooking.

Ruby Fernen, age 92, of Winner, passed away on December 11, 2015 at her home. Funeral Services were held a Monday, December 14, 2015 at the Church of the Nazarene in Winner. Burial followed at the Trinity Episcopal Cemetery in Mission.

Ruby was born on April 25th, 1923. Ruby was the third of six children born to Leonard and Emma (Fuchs) Fernen. She had four sisters and one brother they were raised on a farm near Mission. She resided on the family farm until she came to Winner on April 23, 1986 to a new home at Community Connections Inc.

Ruby was a woman of strong faith who brightened the days of all that knew her. She was determined and accomplished many things throughout her life. She was someone who loved to laugh, joke but also cared strongly for those close to her. She enjoyed attending the Nazarene Church singing hymns and continuing to build her knowledge and relationship with God.

Donald Wayne Zimbelman, 87, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 5, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Donald was born on Nov. 5, 1928 to Paul and Alice (Stoltenberg) Zimbelman in Millboro, SD. He was the oldest brother of Robert and Allen “Fritz”.

Don joined the Army in June of 1951 and was honorably discharged on Feb. 29, 1952. He married Delores Steinke on Sept. 27, 1952 in Winner. To their union, they were blessed with six children.

Don sold Fuller brush, and would leave the house in the early mornings to make house calls and would often leave a Bible tract wherever he visited. Don then worked for many local construction companies before retiring in 1983. He loved spending time in the beautiful outdoors, with hobbies such as camping, fishing, hunting, and trapping.

Don never met a stranger; a friend to everyone he met. His home was home to many dear people who needed a place to lay their head down. Don’s devotion was God, family, and friends. He taught Sunday school for boys and was active in Royal Rangers. His love for his grand and great grandchildren included babysitting and teaching them to hunt, fish, chop wood, and many other things the kids would keep a secret.

Rose M. (Kunde) Diez, daughter of Rose (Manley) and William Kunde, was born Jan. 14, 1923 in Dixon, Nebraska along with her twin, Rita Kunde Jares. Rose grew up on a farm near Clearfield, South Dakota and graduated from Winner High School. After graduation she attended Notre Dame College in Mitchell, South Dakota receiving her teaching certificate. Rose then returned to the Winner area where she taught for her entire teaching career in both country schools and in the town of Winner. There are many stories of the differences Rose made in the young lives of the students she taught. She was chosen teacher of the year in 1991, an honor which was well deserved and of which she was very proud. Rose was passionate about education, both teaching others and educating herself. While raising children, being a farmer’s wife and a teacher, she continued her education and completed a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota.

Rose met the love of her life, Carl Diez Jr., whom she married on June 24th, 1947. They were married for 47 years until Carl’s passing in 1994.

During their marriage they lived on their farm near Clearfield until 1979 when they moved into Winner. During that time they raised six children.

Rose’s Catholic faith was a cornerstone of her life. She taught catechism in Clearfield and in Winner. In addition she was an active member of Catholic daughters in Winner for many years.