Category Archives: Obituaries

Lowell Henry Wiedmann was born October 28,1937 to Fred & Irene (hoffman) Wiedmann in their farm home near Dixon south Dakota. He attended 1st-8th grade in the one room country school in Dixon. He started high school at Gregory South Dakota. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Trinity Lutheran Church in Dixon March 1955. As he was growing up on the farm he would help with various jobs. He entered the Winner Regional long term care center on November 24, 2008. He passed away at the Winner Hospital on November 26 2015 at the age of 78.

Mavis was born April 18th 1934 to the union of Ralph and Margaret Pettit (Holden). She was the eldest of a family of 13 and started a lifelong experience of mothering and nurturing very early in life. Mavis was baptized into the Catholic Church in Dallas shortly after birth and was supported by her faith throughout her life. Mavis attended rural elementary schools and graduated from Colome High School. She pursued a teaching degree and for several years taught at rural schools near Hamill, Winner, and Colome.

Mavis married Richard M (Dick) O’Bryan on July 7th, 1955 in Danton in a small church ceremony, which began a 60 year journey of love and devotion to husband and family from which 5 children were born. Shortly after marriage Mavis and Dick purchased their farm home south of Winner and worked side by side to improve and enlarge it their entire life. Mavis was always very proud of what had been accomplished with such a meager beginning and hard work.

Mavis was a lifelong resident of Tripp County and actually lived most of her life within 2 miles of where she was raised. Although her travels were few and distance was short she was always close to where she wanted to be…Home!!! Home where there were no locks on the doors, the wood stove was always warm, the coffee was always fresh, there was always room at the table for more, and she offered whatever she had to eat and enjoy.

Mavis’s deep faith in God and her ability to see the good in all people molded her into a very giving person. She always had something to give whether it be eggs, cream, garden produce, canned goods, cup of coffee, a moment in time, some comfort and yes sometimes even “a piece of my mind”. She was always giving something to someone. Her giving attitude was very important when she recognized firsthand the need for support of the mentally challenged in the area. Her efforts and the help of many enabled the forming of the South Central Adjustment Training Center in 1975, with a goal of supporting, protecting and enabling the mentally challenged to have opportunities equal to their capabilities. Over time the efforts and goals have led to the current “Community Connections“ group.

Mavis’s giving efforts although somewhat in the background did not go unrecognized. She was lifelong member of the Catholic Daughters of America and a member of the Legion Auxiliary Post of Colome. She was nominated and received the 1984 ARC State Volunteer of the Year and the 1985 ARC North Central Region Volunteer of the Year. Mavis also spent many hours, days, and years at the Winner Regional Hospital volunteering as a nurse’s aide before actually becoming an employee.

In 1992 Mavis was nominated and received the State of South Dakota Volunteer of the Year Award for her volunteer efforts. This award attracted the attention of the National Volunteers Association, which recognized and nominated her to receive the National Jefferson award. She very humbly became one of very few recipients of this award in Washington, DC with a visit to the White House in June 1992.

Memorial services for 78 year old Lowell Wiedmann of Dixon will be held Dec. 3 at 11 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Winner.
There will be a lunch to follow.

Phyllis was born October 6, 1926 in Seattle, WA, the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Bradfield) Good. She graduated from Kent High School in Kent, WA, the Class of 1945. Phyllis furthered her education at the University of Washington, obtaining a nursing degree. She then worked as registered nurse for two years. Following this practical experience, Phyllis went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Nursing from Columbia University. She was united in marriage on June 30, 1956 at St. James Episcopal Church in Kent, WA to Richard McGinnis. Their marriage was blessed with three children; Paul, Stephen and Dorothy.

Phyllis was a devoted wife and partner with her husband who served as an Episcopal priest throughout his life, working as a missionary in Anvik, Alaska, and as a rector at Trinity Episcopal in Winner, SD, Trinity Episcopal in Watertown, SD, and the former St. David’s Episcopal in Jacksonville, FL. Later in life they worked tirelessly to preserve marriages creating a marriage ministry model which is now used about the country and overseas. Phyllis greatly enjoyed her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Phyllis and Richard were fortunate to share many wonderful adventures together, traveling the country. She valued her family, her relationships, her marriage and her Lord most of all.

Beverly May Biggins was born August 4th, 1933 in Bonesteel, SD. She was the daughter of Arthur and Maude (Cline) Kortmeyer. Bev lived in Gregory, Naper, NE and moved to Winner, SD at the age of 10. Her dad was a butter maker at the creamery in the early years. Later he became an expert in the in the construction business.

Bev was raised with two brothers, Jack and Harry Kortmeyer, and one sister Donna (Bob) Trego. Bev attended Winner High School where she made lifelong friendships. She married the love of her life, Bob Biggins, on September 28, 1952. Together they had had five children: Steve, Joe, Rick (Pam), Barry (Cindy) and Candy, all of Winner.

Bev was the neighborhood mom to many kids as well as a Cub Scout den mother for many years. You would see her at all of her kids sporting events, she was the official score keeper for all of their baseball/softball games. Bev worked at the soda fountain during her school years, later working at the West Side Market. She started working at the Tripp County Auditors in and 1976 and later transferred to the Tripp County Assessor’s Office until her retirement in 1998. After retiring she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Mark Raymond Storms (Hoppy) was born July 6, 1923 on the family homestead, south of Keyapaha in the Beaver Creek Township to Joseph and Crescencia (Willems) Storms. Mark was the 2nd youngest child of nine. One younger brother Jim and three older brothers John, Eugene and Warner. Four older sisters Marie, Helen, Bernice and Laurene.

The family attended mass at a country church called St. Anne’s located 2 miles north of the homestead and St. Bonifice located 15 miles north of Clearfield, SD. The Priest would alternate Sunday’s. There were too many family members to fit in the old model T at one time, the family had to take turns going to mass.

Mark grew up on the family farm and attended Beaver Creek School. Mark and his dad were struck by lightning while milking cows in the barn. Mark’s dad was killed, Mark was knocked unconscious and three cows were also killed. Mark was 15 at the time. He dropped out of school and helped his brothers take over for their father. He later returned to school and graduated from Winner High School.

Mark joined the US Navy in 1943 and served in the Philippines during WWII until 1946. When Mark returned home from the service he went to a dance at the Cosmo Club in Valentine, NE where he met the love of his life, Dolores Simons. They were married September 23, 1948. They were married 3 months short of 60 years.

They lived on the Leo Rock ranch where they ranched for 4 years before moving to the Olaf Tuntland ranch east of Keyapaha in 1952. While living there two children were born. Andy, Ruth, Mark and Dolores raised cattle, chickens and had a huge garden with lots of canning done. They lived here for 18 years before moving to Winner in 1970. They all left their hearts on the ranch and tried to become accustomed to a new life style.

Mark went to work as a carpenter for Bill Koos and helped build their new home in Winner that they moved into in 1970. Mark worked for Bill until 1979 and then went to work for Highway Lumber building homes, until he retired.

Marked loved to hunt, fish and taught his kids and grandkids the love of the sport. He was a baseball coach for Clearfield Midgets. He loved to watch the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, as well as the Denver Broncos. He loved to read books as a past time.

After retirement Mark and Dolores enjoyed spending time together with their kids and grandchildren. When Dolores passed away in June 2007, Mark decided to move to Rapid City three and half years later. The yard and garden got to be more work instead of enjoyment. So he moved into an independent living retirement community (Primrose) in March 2011 at the age of 87. In August of 2015, Mark moved to Fountain Springs Health Care Center where he resided until his passing on November 6, at the age of 92.

Harold Smith was born on March 15, 1926 to Orville and Sarah (Fetzer) Smith on the family farm north of Gregory, SD. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory.

Harold attended rural school north of Dallas through the fourth grade. He then attended school in Gregory and graduated from high school in 1943. Harold joined the United States Army in 1944 and served at Fort Lawton, WA, where he joined the personnel group on the base. Among the many details of his job were the preparing of discharge papers for returning servicemen and ordering the many supplies needed on the base. Harold was honorably discharged in 1946.

Harold made the decision that he wanted to become a teacher. He enrolled at the University of South Dakota-Springfield through the G.I. Bill and completed the requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree in English education in 1949 graduating summa cum laude. He had reached the first part of his goal. He later earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Wyoming in 1954.

Harold began teaching in Colome and Winner as a high school teacher. In addition to his English classes he directed speech activities including declam and plays. Harold began teaching at USD/Springfield during the fall of 1956. Harold married Dolores Klima on June 4, 1966 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. Harold continued teaching at USD/S until the life of the institution ended in 1984 due to legislative actions. After the closure, Harold joined the faculty at Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD.

The final step in his teaching journey was in River Forest, IL where he taught at Concordia University. The experience of living in the Chicago area proved to be an exciting and rewarding way to end his career. Thus, the final goal was completed.

Harold enjoyed gardening and raising beautiful flowers. He shared tomatoes and other vegetables from his garden with friends and family.

Harold passed away November 19, 2015 at Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in Gregory at the age of 89 years.

Anna Marie Stoeser age 60 passed away peacefully from this life in the afternoon of November 12, 2015 in her home south of Winner, South Dakota. She was surrounded and supported by her loving family in the last days of her life.

Anna was born January 23, 1955 in Pierre, South Dakota. She was the daughter of Art and Grace Weber. She graduated high school from Draper, South Dakota. She married the love of her life Bert Stoeser on October 8, 1976 in Fort Pierre, South Dakota.

Anna enjoyed gardening, cooking, canning, crocheting and loved raising sheep. Most importantly loved spoiling her grandchildren. Anna will always be remembered for her hard work on the farm, big garden, beautiful flowerbeds, love for antiques and her famous pumpkin pies.

William Knodell, age 96, of Winner, passed away on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Facility in Winner. Funeral Services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 14, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in Winner. Burial followed at the Winner City Cemetery.

William Knodell was born at home in Winner, SD on October 9, 1919, the son of Roscoe and Clara Knodell. He graduated from Winner High School in 1939. He went into the Army on July 16, 1941. He completed his basic training at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and was stationed there when World War II broke out.

He was captured in Africa and taken prisoner of war in February 1943. He remained a POW in Germany for 27 months. He was liberated in May 1945.

He married Patricia Collins on September 29, 1945. They moved to a ranch 15 miles Northwest of Mission, SD. They moved to Winner in 1955 and raised a family of 4 daughters and 4 sons.

Ruby M. Jansen, age 81 of Mission, SD, passed away November 4, 2015 in Sioux Falls after her battle with leukemia. Ruby was married to John (Jack) L. Jansen Feb 14, 1952. Before retiring in 1995 she had been employed as a meat cutter and a baker and worked for 20 years at Assman Implement as a bookkeeper.
Ruby enjoyed quilting, sewing, traveling, baking and family and friends.