Category Archives: Obituaries

Betty Sinkler 80, of Winner, SD formerly of Wood, SD passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at the Select Specialty Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 2 p.m. at the Wood Community Hall in Wood, SD.  Burial will follow at a later date.  A prayer service will be held on Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 2 p.m. at the Golden Prairie Manor in Winner, SD.

Betty Darlene (Moore) Sinkler was born December 29, 1934, in Wood, South Dakota, to Allis and Agnes Moore.  She attended school in a “one-room schoolhouse” in the Wood area before her family moved to Homedale, Idaho.  When she was a sophomore in high school, the family moved back to Wood, where she graduated from Wood High School in 1952.

On June 11, 1952, she married her high school sweetheart, Warren Sinkler.  To this union five children were born, Cliff, Vickie, Cameron, Vanessa and Cory.  Betty was an active, busy woman while raising their children.  They owned and operated a café and Sinkler Market.  Betty also worked for the United States Postal Service as clerk in Wood and White River, finished her career in Pierre as a night clerk and retired in 1996.

After Betty and Warren retired, they moved to Rapid City in 1997 to care for Warren’s parents.  In 2005, she lost the love of her life when Warren passed away.  After several years, she chose to move to Winner to be closer to family.  In 2009, she moved into Golden Prairie Manor, where she resided until her passing.

Betty enjoyed bowling and the many friends that came along with it.  They attended many state and national tournaments together.  Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were very special to her and she always enjoyed their visits.

Michael “Mick” Strain, 78, of White River, SD passed away on March 12, 2015 at his home in White River, SD.

Funeral service was held on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 1 p.m. at the White River Community, Center in White River.

Mick was born June 10, 1936 in Murdo,  and was the third son of Grace (Astleford) and Eugene Strain.

He attended South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota, receiving a B.A. in business, and then earning the degree of Juris Doctor from the University School of Law. He was a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics Training School, Washington, D. C, and also a graduate of the School for Special Prosecutors at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.

Mick served as assistant Attorney General to Frank Farrar from 1966 to 1969.  During his tenure he prosecuted and won most of the drug related criminal cases arising in the Attorney General’s Office and was responsible for investigating and bringing charges resulting from narcotic and dangerous drug violations.

Mick took a sabbatical from law and politics in 1970 to assist Jerry Collins in acquiring, rebuilding and managing the Portland Meadows horseracing track in Portland, OR.

He returned to practicing law in 1977 and was elected Mellette County State Attorney in 1992

In May 2013, the South Dakota State’s Attorneys Association honored Mick with a Life Time Achievement award.

He was a member of the South Dakota Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Delta Theta Phi law fraternity. He was considered one of the best criminal attorneys in South Dakota and had an ardent sense of right and wrong, and sought to remedy injustice wherever he saw it. His passion for helping Native Americans in need brought him close with many traditional Native Americans. His down to earth manner in representing clients at trial won him many acquittals and the respect of the citizens of South Dakota.

Although he spent many hours on the road, and traveled over most of the United States, Mick never ventured far from the western prairie living he grew up in.  He was an avid horseman, raising several lines of quarter horses, cumulating in the Flyma Bars breeding line. He was also an occasional rancher, ardent follower and supporter of the White River basketball and football teams, and an estimable calf roper in his prime.

He was probably best remembered by friends and family for his seemingly endless repertoire of narratives and anecdotes, fraught with lore and local legend.  He conveyed these seemingly embellished stories with deadpan delivery and split-second timing, always ending in a humorous and usually ironic twist.

Ardath Mae Hinman, 89, of Carter, South Dakota passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2015 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center in Winner, SD.

Funeral service were held  on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 2 p.m. at the Carter Gospel Fellowship in Carter, SD.  Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Ardath Mae Hinman passed away Sunday, March 15, 2015 at the Winner Regional Hospital; one month before her 90th birthday. Ardath was born to Frank and Hattie (Blankenhagen) Hakl , April 15, 1925, at her parents’ homestead near Wood, SD.  Ardath attended grade school at the Rosebud Valley School and graduated from Wood High School in 1942 as the valedictorian of her class.  She attended the University of South Dakota for a year before teaching in various schools.  She finished her degree in 1949.  In each school she taught music along with other subjects.

She was united in marriage to Byron B. Hinman on July 2, 1950, the beginning of sixty-three years as a devoted and supportive wife; a great example to her family.  Three girls and a boy were born to this union.

Ardath will always be fondly remembered for her hospitality.  She loved to have family meals with everyone present.  She also loved to garden and had beautiful flowers in the yard.  Most important to her was her faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, a faith she loved to share with others.  She was a member of Carter Gospel Fellowship Church and Gideon’s Auxiliary.  She taught Good News Club for many years and helped with Vacation Bible School.  She was also active in the Southern Bell Cattlewomen organization.

She and Byron enjoyed traveling and attending Farm Bureau and Gideon Conventions.  For many years they seldom missed the State Fair.

She always kept an interest in her grandchildren and their activities. She prayed for her family daily.  The family always came to her for advice on political issues and how to vote.

Phyllis Jean (Harmon) Godel passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at her home surrounded by her family. Funeral service were held at 10 a.m.  Saturday, March 14, 2015 at the First Christian Church in Winner.  Burial  followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Phyllis Godel was born to Ethel L. Johnson and Harold Hough in Randolph, NE., on February 19, 1934. In 1937 her mother married Connelly D. Harmon and with her sister, Betty, moved to Scottsbluff, NE. She attended grade school up to the 8th grade when in 1949 they moved to O’Neill, NE. Phyllis was active in all school activities and it was there that she met her future husband, Don. She graduated with the class of 1952.

After high school she went to work for Consumer Public Power District for 3 years at which time Don was discharged from the Navy in 1954. In 1955 Don and Phyllis were married in O’Neill on February 20. To this union seven children were born. After they were married they moved to Norfolk, NE. They were only there a short time when they decided to move to Onawa, IA where their first son, Randy, was born and resided there for one and a half years. They moved to Scottsbluff, NE. and lived with her parents while working for her father until late 1956. They moved to Omaha, NE.  where their second son, Rick, was born in 1957. Don was a shoe salesman while living in Omaha. Due to a life threatening car accident to Don’s father, Loyd, the decision was made to move to Holdredge, NE to hold the job open for his dad. Then in the spring of 1958 Don took a job with Prangs Apparel store in Winner where they have resided ever since.

While living in Winner the five remaining children were born. During Phyllis’s years in Winner she enjoyed playing cards, shooting dice, golfing, bowling, gardening, putting together jigsaw puzzles, collecting Cornhusker memorabilia, and especially looked forward to watching all her children’s sporting events. She also looked forward to the annual Godel Reunion every summer. During her years Phyllis was employed as a secretary for the Extension Office for Ray Eihlers and Home Extension agent for Dorothy Benson. She was the High School secretary for Frank Oschner for five years then went to work for the ASCS office (now known as FSA). She worked there for 25 years retiring in 1994. In 1997 she went to work for the Winner Advocate and was employed there until her health required her to step away.

Robert John Putnam (Bob), a long time Bristol resident, passed away near his home in Mesa Arizona on March 12^th, 2015, at the age of 83.

Born October 29, 1931 on a farm south of Dallas, SD, the eldest son of Francis and Bertha (Determan) Putnam.  He attended Sunnyside Grade School, a one room school house south of Dallas.  While attending Gregory High School, Bob worked for the Gregory newspaper.  After graduating, Bob joined the Marines and was stationed in Japan.  Returning from the service, Bob started working for the Gregory Farmers’ Union driving the gas truck.  He was hired as the manager of the Bristol Farmers’ Union and to Bristol was where he brought his bride, Mary Jane Lang Putnam.  Mary Jane was “quite” surprised when Bob informed her he had traded their house in town for a farm west of Bristol.  With five little children at this point, Bob decided they needed room to run.  The farm, the Farmers’ Union, and their family continued to grow.

Bob was an active member of the Bristol ST. Anthony’s Parish, and served as a board member.  He volunteered as Bristol Fire Chief and was also President of the Bristol School Board.  He loved sports, serving as a little league baseball coach.  He enjoyed watching his children play sports and perform.

At the age of 53, Bob and Mary Jane moved to California, where Bob began a new career in the Automotive business, working for his brother Joe.  He quickly became a manager, and continued in the automotive business until he retired.  Bob and Mary Jane moved to Mesa Arizona, where Bob soon became an avid golfer, often rising before dawn to play golf before the hot Arizona sun was too strong.

Richard L. Curtis, 68, of Winner, SD passed away surrounded by his family on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at his home in Sioux Falls, SD.  Funeral service were held on Monday, March 9, 2015 at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Winner.  Burial  followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Richard (Rick) L. Curtis was born February 10, 1947 in Winner to Robert L. and Arlene (Claussen) Curtis. He graduated from Winner High School in 1965 prior to attending Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, MN to pursue his interest in the culinary arts. Soon after finishing his education he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Conflict. Following his honorable discharge, Rick returned to Winner and joined the family trucking business in which he remained devoted to until his retirement in 2013.

In his younger years, Rick enjoyed several hobbies during his spare time that included: bowling, golfing, fast and slow pitch softball, and coaching Winner baseball at all levels. However, his fondest hobby was cooking and baking where he enjoyed the challenge of tweaking various recipes to create exquisite dishes and baked goods.

Rick was also proud of his years of service on the Winner City Council and later as the Mayor where he was instrumental toward the construction of the bike path, current fire hall and city jail, as well as the improvements to the City’s cemetery.

Best known as loving and devoted by his family, Rick will be forever loved, greatly missed, and always remembered.

Alfred Koos, age 97, of Winner, SD passed away on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at the Bethany Home in Brandon, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, March 9, 2015 at 10:00am at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. Burial  followed at the Winner City Cemetery.

Alfred Nicholas Koos was born May 22, 1917 at Hamill, SD to Nick and Magdalena (Konen) Koos. He was baptized at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hamill, SD and went to school at North Fairview No. 56, Lyman County, SD, graduating 8th grade. Alfred helped on the farm during the Depression (1930’s). He joined the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1935 at Chamberlain, SD. After his discharge in 1936 he returned to farming on the family farm.

Alfred was inducted into the Army on March 17, 1942 at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. His basic training was taken in Camp Roberts, CA. In July of 1942 he departed for the Asian Pacific Theater, arriving in the Aleutian Islands August 6, 1942 and returned to the USA May 1, 1944, to Ft. Bragg, NC. He was called up again for duty in the Asian Pacific Theater, Luzon, Philippines August 12, 1945 and returned to the USA December 12, 1945. His final discharge was December 19, 1945 from Leavenworth, KS with a rank of Private First Class. He spent 2 years, 1 month, 6 days overseas and 1 year, 7 months, 27 days in the USA (total service time for his country).

Alfred returned to farming with his brother Raymond. He continued farming until 1989 when he retired. He married Margaret Murphy on May 5, 1984 in Winner, SD. He and Margaret lived in Winner while being retired.

Alfred was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, Knights of Columbus, a life member of the VFW in Winner, a member of the Colome Legion over 56 years, and an Elks member for over 50 years. He was also an usher and bookkeeper at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Hamill.

Mary Ellen Davis, age 84, of Winner, passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Facility. Funeral services were held at 10  a.m. Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at Mason Funeral Home in Winner. Burial followed at the Winner City Cemetery.

Rosetta Boerner, 66, of Winner, SD passed away on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.  Funeral service were held on Saturday, March 7  at 10 a.m.  at the United Methodist Church in Winner.  Burial  followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Rosetta Marie (Fiala) Boerner was born on February 14th, 1949 to Frank and Anna (Svoboda) Fiala.  She grew up on the family farm near Iona, SD during which time she attended school in Gregory, SD.  She graduated from Gregory High School in 1968.  In 1971, she married Boyd Boerner, the love of her life.  The couple made their home on a farm northeast of Winner where she worked hard as a farm wife.  Boyd and Rose were blessed with 5 children: Audra, Russell, Kenneth, Dale and Carrie.

Rose enjoyed gardening, reading and caring for the farm.  She especially loved growing her flowers and watching wildlife in the evenings.

Clara Musilek, 94, of Winner, SD passed away on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Facility in Winner.

Funeral services were  held on Saturday, Feb. 28,  at 2  p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Winner.  Burial followed in the Colome City Cemetery.

Clara Musilek was born October 10, 1920 at the farm south of Colome, SD to Frank and Josephine (Scheinest) Bicek. She was the fifth child of a family of six.

Clara attended grade school at highland school south of Colome and High School at Dallas, SD.

Clara worked at various farm jobs after high school and worked at The Phillip Hotel for 25 years. She was a very special sister who helped raised her sister Rose’s family.

In 1964 she married Jim Musilek and they made their home south of Colome on a farm until 1977. They moved to Winner, SD and she worked at the Winner Regional Hospital for twelve years, retiring in 1988. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Winner. Clara loved being a home-maker. She loved attending to her flowers and garden, dancing, and traveling.