Category Archives: Obituaries

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.

Maurice Francis Kramer was born March 1, 1926 to William and Alice (Higgins) Kramer in Stuart, NE. He was the seventh of nine children. He grew up on the family ranch where he enjoyed riding horses and hunting. Maurice graduated from Stuart High School.

Maurice joined the Army in 1946 and served in Japan during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1947.

Maurice met Fern Chambers at a dance in Stuart. They were married at The Catholic Church in Stuart, NE on November 15, 1948. Maurice worked on a ranch near Stuart until they purchased a ranch in Tripp County in 1954. Maurice and Fern had six children—Karen, Anne, Lee, Gary, Janice, and Tommy.

Maurice loved breaking and riding horses. He was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan. Maurice enjoyed deer hunting—hunting for meat not antlers! Maurice was a hard working rancher taking pride in the quality of cattle and hogs that he raised. When the work was done Maurice and Fern enjoyed going to the dances at Carlock.

Rex D. Garner was born December 24, 1926 at the Gardner Homestead 9 miles North of Witten, SD. He was the only child born to Ralph and Leta (Boyd) Gardner.

Rex grew up in Greenwood Township in northern Tripp County. He attended South Greenwood Country School and graduated from Winner High School in 1944 at the age of 17.

When Rex turned 18 he enlisted in the Army in 1945 and was stationed in Berlin, Germany where he was assigned to guard German soldiers. While there he played saxophone in a 15 piece band. Rex was honorably discharged in November 1946.

After being discharged from the Army Rex played music with the Buddy Baer Band, traveling from state to state from 1946 to 1952. While playing music in the Winner area, he met Fairy (Cookie) Cook. After dating for only 3 months they were united in marriage on April 18, 1952, and made their home on the farm north of Witten and later moved to Witten. To this union 5 children were born: Scott, twins Bobby and Billy, Sherry, and Barry.

Rex farmed from 1952 to 1985 until he became employed by the Tripp County Water Users District in 1986. He retired in 2003. Retirement wasn’t for Rex and he returned to the workforce until 2011 where he was employed by the Green Thumb Program with the Witten School, the Grossenburg Memorial Library, and Kucera Electric. Rex continued to play music with local bands such as Wickham Brothers and Vic’s Combo.

Rex will be remembered for music, patriotism, baseball, pheasant hunting, the outdoors, and the love of his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was an avid reader, loving to read and re-read the Louie L’Amour Collection books. He was an avid sports fan that never missed his children’s sporting events. Rex never met a stranger and could talk with anyone. He will be truly missed.

Barbara Jones, 79, White River, SD passed away on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Funeral services were held on Dec 5 at the White River Community Events Center. Burial followed in the White River Cemetery.

Funeral Services for 51 year old Jay Wernke of Gregory, SD will be held on Thursday December 10 at 10:30 AM at United Methodist Church in Gregory, SD. Burial will be at 2PM at Rosebud Cemetery in Bonesteel, SD. There is a Prayer Service Wednesday night at 7 at the church.

Bernice was born to George and Virginia McCoy on Oct. 12, 1919, on a farm near Springview, Neb. She was the 14th child of 14 children.

Bernice married George Gillespie on May 23, 1936, in Springview, Neb. From this union, four daughters were born. This marriage later ended in divorce.
Bernice moved to Valentine, Neb., where she met Frank May. They were married on Sept. 15, 1951, in Bridgeport, Neb. This union bore two sons. Bernice and her husband operated May Trucking for nine years before acquiring a ranch near Keypaha, S.D., in 1959. They worked the ranch until 1981, when they retired to Burke, S.D., and lived at this location until 1994, when Bernice and Frank moved to Clarkston.

Bernice was a dedicated ranch wife for 21 years and worked as a nursing assistant and elderly caretaker for 30 years. The elderly care facilities were in Winner and Gregory, S.D., and Clarkston.

Bernice’s hobbies were focused on caring for her family, but she did enjoy golf and crocheting. She was a very family oriented, compassionate, loving mother of six children.