Category Archives: Obituaries

Marvin Lee Brandis, 59, of Winner, passed away on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at his home in Winner.

Funeral services were held on Monday, April 13, 2015 at 2 p.m. at the Winner-Ideal Community Hall.  Burial  followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Marvin was born at home on June 1, 1955, in Winner, to Melvin, Sr. and Alice (High Rock) Brandis.  He went to school in Winner and Mission.  After completing his GED he attended Sinte Gleska University.  He received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota.  He also received a master of education from Sinte Gleska University.

He enlisted in the Navy and was honorably discharged in 1976. He met and married Arlene in 1980.  They had four children:  Toby Clairmont from a previous marriage, Alicia, Derek, and Wade.

Marvin enjoyed bowling with friends and family at the Winner Bowling Center. He was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan.  His favorite singer was Elvis.  He liked to watch and read ghost stories and SyFy movies.  He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He enjoyed all holidays, especially Christmas, and birthday celebrations.  He enjoyed selling fireworks during the 4th of July to the surrounding families and children in the area.  He always wanted to make sure that the children had a good holiday.

Marvin worked as a middle school teacher in Winner, Lower Brule, He Dog School and was employed at Sinte Gleska University.

Maynard Duane Jensen was born May 2, 1932 at Egan, SD to Robert W. and Doris I. (Fulton) Jensen.   He attended country school near Egan and Hartford High School at Hartford.  After high school, he began farming with his father and brother.  On September 5, 1953, Maynard was united in marriage to Marcella Wiese at Sioux Falls.  To this union two daughters were born Kae and Kim.  He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1954. In I956 he was discharged and returned to the farm and served in the Army Reserves until 1961.  In 1960, Maynard, Marcella and their family moved to Chamberlain to ranch.  Maynard attended Western College of Auctioneering in Billings, MT graduating in 1965. In 1971 Maynard began work full time as an Auctioneer.  He began auctioneering at the Chamberlain Livestock Auction and also in Pierre and Kimball.  He auctioneered the first cattle sale at the Sioux Falls Stockyards in 1973.

Maynard quit auctioneering at the stockyards and began working in real estate under Burton Anderson while getting his real estate license.  He received his Broker License in 1971 at which time he opened Jensen Auction and Realty.  Later, he took on partner Ed Houska in the business forming Jensen-Houska Auction and Realty. He retired from the real estate business around 2010 but continued to do auctions as this was his childhood dream and he was proud to be an auctioneer.

Maynard was especially proud of his family and loved to have his children and grandchildren come visit.

Maynard enjoyed hunting, collecting tractors, woodworking, reading, and watching western TV shows and movies.  He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and also served a term as church treasurer.  He was a member of the American Legion and the Winner Elks Club

Maynard passed away on April 6, 2015 at Sanford Medical Center in Chamberlain at the age of 82 years.  Gratefully sharing his life are his wife Marcella of Chamberlain; two daughters Kae Peterson of Seattle, WA and Kim (Clint) Vanneman of Ideal, SD; five grandchildren Kimberly Peterson, Ambur (Mike) Hinrichs, Wayne Peterson, Ashley (Cody) Kartak, Justin (Tasha Hauf) Vanneman; two great grandchildren Claire and Emma Hinrichs.  Preceding him in death were his parents, his brother Bob Jensen, and sister-in-law Gloria Miller.

Mike was born April 19, 1931 in Presho, South Dakota to Sylvester and Veronica Sweeney. He grew up in Presho where he attended school.

He was united in marriage to Wanda Lee Roberts on February 13, 1954 in Presho, SD. Mike worked as an Auto Mechanic and as Bus Manager. He enjoyed riding ATV and during his retirement years in Arizona he enjoyed collecting cans for charity. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion and Christ the King Catholic Church in Presho.

Mike is survived by his wife Wanda Lee of Presho; his children: Kathy and Jerry Styles, Lynn and Lyle Reynolds, Jim and Donna Sweeney, Mark Sweeney and Mary Jo and Marlon Hopper; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; two brothers: Jerry Sweeney and Leroy Sweeney and sister Marsha Blake.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Syl, Paul and Lawrence Sweeney and two sisters: Pat Konzem and Delores Plueger.

Viola Margene Eldridge was born July 9, 1936 at Winner,  to Henry and Dorothy (Schmidt) Holthus.  She was raised in Hamill where she attended grade school and then attended high school in Winner.  On November 18, 1954, Viola was united in marriage to Byron Dale Eldridge at the Lutheran Parsonage in Winner. They made their home on Bull Creek on Byron’s folks yard for a year before moving to a farm northeast of Hamill where they remained for the next 35 years.  In 1990, they moved to Colome and then in December of 2007 moved to Chamberlain to be near family and for health reasons.

Viola was a mother and farm wife first and foremost but would also work as a substitute post master in Hamill and Colome.  At times, she worked at the Colome Cafe’.  Viola was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church serving in the Ladies Aide and as a Sunday School Teacher.  She was a member of the Hamill Horseman’s Club and was a faithful blood donor becoming a member of the “Gallon Club” and was very close to reaching the “Two Gallon Club”.  Viola was a dutiful letter writer and loved to read.

Viola passed away on April 2, 2015 at Sanford Medical Center in Chamberlain at the age of 78 years.

Steven M. Stenwall (50) of Millington, Tn. died unexpectedly at his home , March 18th. 2015.

Steve was born March 2nd. 1965 , the son of the late David E. Stenwall and Judy (Elliott) Stenwall , formerly of the Winner, South Dakota , South Sioux City and Ponca, Nebraska  areas. Steve served as a Navy Corpsman attached to Fleet Marine  Forces in Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  He was an EMT first responder  and emergency room tech at the Millington ,Tn. Naval Hospital  and a certified National EMT responder,  and a Physician  Substitute.     The full military Service for Steve was held March 24th. 2015  at the VFW in Millington, Tn. directed by the United  States Navy Chaplin  and  Honor Guards from the Unites States  Marine Corp and United States Navy.   The eulogy was given by Steve’s best  friend, of thirty years, Navy Chief , Rick West .    Steve is survived by his mother, Judy Stenwall ( husband Harold Garfinkel )  David E. Stenwall II ( Marsha ) all of Custer, South Dakota , two sisters, Dyonnie Minier and Shauna Stenwall both of Yakima , Washington. Steve is preceded in death by his father, David E. Stenwall, Sr. , his grandparents , Lee and Elsie Stenwall of Allen, Ne. and Bob and Marian Elliott of Ponca, Ne.  Steve was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Memphis, Tn., a life member of VFW Post 7175 in Millington,Tn. a member of the NRA , a volunteer with the Wounded Warrior Project  .  Steve was a decorated war veteran who served his county with honor and distinction  .   Memorials may be sent to The Wounded Warrior Project in his name.

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.