Category Archives: Obituaries

Howard Louis Sherwood, age 93, of White River, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Monday, March 30, 2015.  Howard was born on January 20, 1922 to John and Nellie Sherwood on their homestead northeast of Wood, where the family of two girls and five boys grew up.  Howard took to the family business of ranching, and he dedicated his life to becoming a successful rancher.

Howard met the love of his life, Opal Jean (McIver) Sherwood, at a café in White River where she and her twin sister, Ora, worked as waitresses.  He married Opal on April 3, 1951.  Through good and bad times, they raised eight children:  Les, Dave, Lila, Donna, Teresa, Terry, Julie, and Troy.

Howard was dedicated to his wife, his children, and his ranch. His many grandchildren and great grandchildren played a special part in his life.  He worked day in and day out, almost never leaving the ranch for more than a day.  When it came to providing for his family or the maintenance of the ranch, no job was beyond Howard.  His passion was his registered roan quarter horses.  He was an experienced ranch hand, farmer, and mechanic.  He was also a Cody Township Board Member for 31 years.  For many years he worked as a lineman for the Wood Telephone Company.  In his younger days, he enjoyed calling square dances.  Howard’s favorite time of year was branding time.  He was even recognized in the Tri-State Livestock Magazine for celebrating his 50 + years of calf roping.

Henry E. Polzer, 92, of West Point, died Thursday, April 2, 2015 at the West Point Living Center.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30am on Monday, April 6 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Rev. Frank Lordemann as celebrant.  Burial will be at St. Michael’s Cemetery immediately following the funeral.  Visitation will be from 2:00pm until 8:00pm on Sunday with Wake Service with Knights of Columbus rosary at 6:30pm at Stokely Funeral Home.  Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Henry Edward Polzer was born on March 23, 1923 to Henry and Rosa (Wrasse) Polzer in Pender.  Henry grew up on a farm near Pender and attended country school.  On February 8, 1947, he married Jeanette Hugo at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point.  The couple lived in several different communities before settling down in Hyde County, SD where they owned and operated a ranch.  During their time in South Dakota, the couple moved to Winner where Henry worked at the coop.  After working in Winner, the couple returned to the ranch before retiring to West Point in 2002.

Henry was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus.  He enjoyed walking his dog, Spot, and working in the yard.

Jonathan Harvey Glover was born February 7, 1925 in Greenfield Township, Brown County, South Dakota to Roy S and Sena Glover, the sixth in a family of eight children. A sister, Grace Caroline, died at birth.

Harvey grew up on the family farm attending his first eight years of school at a country school 2 ½ miles away. He later attended  three years of high school (one year being spent in Frederick his junior year as he wanted to play football) graduating from Hecla in 1943.

Harvey had a life-long love of farming. At the age of 10 he started working in the fields. At the age of 13 he was part of a threshing crew that hauled bundles using six teams of horses. Shortly after graduating from high school, Harvey worked for a neighbor all day in the fields and milking 8 to 10 cows by hand at night for $80.00 a month.

In the fall of 1943 Harvey joined the Navy and started basic training in Farragut, Idaho. Within a month, he became ill with rheumatic fever and was flown to a naval hospital in Corona, Ca where he spent six months recuperating. Harvey was then re-assigned to active duty as Master of Arms, but requested that he have sea duty. His  assignments at sea were trigger man, yeoman, and the relay man at General Quarters. When the war ended, Harvey stayed in the Navy so that he could through the Panama Canal on the ship.

After the Navy, Harvey attended Brookings College, graduating in three years with a masters in ag economics and animal husbandry. On October 24, 1947 Harvey married Lois Alley of Orient and to this union seven children were born.  After college, Harvey worked in the Ag Economics Dept. as an Extension Livestock marketing specialist, then a GI instructor at Brookings High school. Harvey then moved to Orient to work on his father-in-law’s farm, fulfilling his lifelong love of farming. He quit farming when he became ill with sleeping sickness. At the request of a good friend from the Extension service, he came to Burke, SD to take a job as a County Agent in 1955. He had no intention of staying, but liked the area so much he ended up staying 60 years. In 1960 Harvey began work at Burke State Bank as their ag loan officer, where he also was a realtor and prepared income tax. In 1968 Harvey changed his career yet another time and  began working for IDS as a financial representative and continued preparing income tax, selling real estate, and farming on the side.

In 1978, Harvey met Gigi White and to this union four children were born.

Harvey’s years at Burke were filled with public service. He was appointed to the Gregory County Board of Education where he served for a few years. Harvey was also appointed to the West River Conservancy Board and the State Board of Water and Natural Resources. He also served on the board of Community Memorial Hospital for over thirty years, many of those years as the chairman.

In 1992, Harvey again suffered illness, having a stroke. He spent over three months in the hospital and had to learn to walk again. His love of people and life and his love for his family motivated him to get better. Harvey didn’t stop working. He still clerked auction sales, sold real estate, and was a  financial consultant. In the summers he mowed the apartment house, rental house and his own lawn – it was the next best thing to farming. Many times he expressed how much he enjoyed a trip to California in 2002 that his daughter Stephanie planned. He often spoke about the Honor Flight he took in April 2009. Harvey was a tremendous help to his wife Gigi, helping her in whatever capacity that he could, but especially in being a loyal, loving husband.

Lynnie Lou Cousins, daughter of Oran and Betty (Graesser) Cousins was born November 1, 1954 at Winner, SD. She attended school at Winner, later moving to Colorado Springs to live with her brother for a short time.

She married Fred DeMers and they made their home in McCook, Nebraska where she worked as a waitress in a cafe. After her husband died, she then lived with her sister, Pam in Norfold, NE for a short time. In 2002, Lynnie moved to Aberdeen to be near her sister, Marsha. She began working at Wal-Mart as a cashier, a position she held until her death.

Lynnie really appreciated and enjoyed her Wal-Mart family.

Verdean Lee Bell, age 78, of Winner, passed away on Tuesday, March 24,  at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Facility. Funeral services were held at 10:30 AM Monday, March 30, at the Winner Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Winner. Burial followed at the Winner City Cemetery.

Memorials can be directed to the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, which is located at 505 Lincoln St., Winner, SD 57580.

Lee Verdeen Bell was born April 23, 1936, the third daughter to Lee and Lena Klein of Fairfax, SD.

She married her beloved husband, Eddie Lee Bell in December of 1953. To their union they had five children: Daughter Deb and her son Kris Robinson of Winner; Son Kim Bell of Piedmont, SD; Daughter Cindy (Jerry) Haskell of Alliance, NE and their children Chad (Angell), Charlie (Mandy) and Marly and Ira, Luke (Erica) and Carter, Henry, Makenna, and Cooper, Tye (Carrie) and Taylor; Daughter Amy (Bill) Reiser of Wagner, SD and their children Sadie (Ryan) Holzbauer and Kyler, Tiah, Kaden, Alexis, and Zane, Corey and Brayden, Cole and Jase, and Bryce; Randy (DeEtte) of Dixon, SD and their children Preston and Payton, Nick, Brandon (Sadie) Briggs and Brinkley. She is survived by two sisters Delilah Goeden of Wayne, NE and Marlene Burger of Boulder, CO.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Lena Klein and her husband Eddie.

She was a faithful member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Mom was an avid sports fan and followed the Chicago Bears. She was a baseball fan and an avid fisherwoman. She especially enjoyed following all of the grandchildren sporting events.

Love lives forever and memories of your loved ones shine through the sorrow.

Kathryn Ann Lynass Rutherford was born on August 20, 1931 in Winner, SD to William and Geneva (Flickinger) Lynass. Kathy attended St. Mary’s Catholic grade school, graduating from Winner High School in 1950. She went on to attend Iowa State University where she received a degree as a dietitian. Kathy did her internship at Boston Massachusetts Hospital and later worked in New Orleans. She then returned to Winner and married the love of her life MJ (Pee Wee) Rutherford on July 18, 1960. Although they were not blessed with children, she and Pee Wee cherished and loved helping raise 15 nieces and nephews along with many other “special” children.

Kathy and Pee Wee owned and operated Rutherford Drug for many years. During that time, Kathy worked as a dietitian at the Winner Baptist Hospital. They later moved to their home in Mystic, SD, where she worked at the Rapid City Regional Hospital until her retirement in 2000. She was very active in ESA and the National Dietitian’s Association where she held many state and national offices. She loved camping, spending time in the Black Hills, playing bridge with her many friends, Mah-Jongg, and in her retirement having coffee with the girls. Do to the time she spent in Boston, she became an avid Red Sox fan. Most of all, Kathy loved spending time with her nieces, nephews, and all the great nieces and nephews. It was a special treat for her when her family gathered for pheasant hunting.

Gilbert Heth, age 64, of Winner, passed away Saturday, March 21, 2015 at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday March 25, 2015 at the Winner-Ideal Community Hall in Winner. Burial  followed at the Winner Cemetery.

Gilbert Allen Heth, 64, was born in Wagner, on  October 23, 1950, to Mildred Zephier and Basil Heth Sr.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy Heth of 35 blessed years. Gilbert’s good nature, sense of humor, contagious laughter, and unforgettable smile will be missed by all those who knew him. He made an impression on all who crossed his path. His grandchildren and children meant the world to him. He never failed to put a smile on someone’s face.

Kay Joyce (Snider) Karl was born on November  8, 1938 to Kenneth and Josephine (Jamison) Snider on a homestead south of Paxton, SD. Kay graduated from Gregory High School in 1957.

On June 1, 1957 Kay was united in marriage to Elmer Karl in Gregory. To this union three children were born—Michael, Cindi, and Sandi. Kay was a lifelong partner in Karl’s TV and Appliance with her husband Elmer for the next 57 years.

Kay’s greatest joy was family—three children, five grandchildren, two loved as grandchildren, and five great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends were the light of her life.

Kay and Elmer enjoyed traveling to so many amazing places around the world. She enjoyed reading, playing cards,  all things musical and theater, New Orleans jazz, champagne, (and we have to mention shopping—gifts for friends and family!), her beloved birthday group, and “red hat” friends.

Kay passed away unexpectedly on March 23, 2015.

Donna Mae (Kindt) Steiger, 85, of Winner, SD passed away on Monday, March 23, 2015 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Facility in Winner, SD.  Funeral service will be held on Friday, March 27th, 2015 at 9 a.mn. at the United Methodist Church in Winner, SD.  Burial will follow in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Sioux Falls, SD at 3 p.m..  A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service Friday morning.

Donna Mae Bittner Kindt Steiger was born on February 19, 1930 to Everett and Minnie (Butterfield) Bittner. She attended school in Tripp County and graduated from Winner High School in 1949.

Donna married the love of her life, Donald Wayne Kindt, on April 11, 1949. To this union 5 children were born: Bobbe Schramm, Donita Kindt, Douglas Donald (died in infancy), Guyla Hohn, and Monte Kindt. Don and Donna enjoyed many happy times and travels with friends. One of their favorite pastimes was dancing. Don and Donna moved to Sioux Falls to raise their family. Don passed away on September 14, 1967. Donna worked at various jobs including telephone operator, drug store clerk, and B&G Milky Way.

Donna met and married LaVern Steiger of Winner on November 1, 1981. On July 20, 2009 she entered Winner Regional Long Term Care and resided there until her death

Eugene Smith passed away Sunday, March 15, 2015 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Burke, South Dakota, at the age of 78 years.

Funeral services were held March 20 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke with Fr. Godfrey Muwanga officiating. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery, Burke.

Eugene Martin Smith was born January 31, 1937 at Burke, South Dakota to Elmer and Mary (Cerny) Smith.  At home, he joined his sister, Lila.  In 1941 a brother, Alvin, was born.  He passed away during infancy, leaving them a family of four.

Gene was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke.  On September 24, 1959, he was united in marriage to Avis Hutchison.  Five children would be born to this union.

Gene served two years in the US Army, some of that time in Korea.  He was honorably discharged in 1962 and his family returned to Burke to join his parents in operating the family farm.  After his father suffered a heart attack, Gene and Avis operated the farm together, along with their children, as they became old enough to help.  Gene retired from farming in 2005, entrusting its care to his sons, Ken and Brad.

Gene loved farming, especially along side his wife and children.  He taught, by example, respect for the land, the value of hard work, satisfaction in a job well done and a desire to help others.

He enjoyed teaching his children, nieces and nephews how to hunt and fish.  He served on many boards, including the Burke School Board and Union Township Board.  He was active at Sacred Heart Catholic Church as a Lector and member of the Knights of Columbus.  He took pleasure in playing cards with family and friends, and traveling, especially with his “adopted” brother and his wife, Jack and Leona Hampton of Omaha, Nebraska.