Category Archives: Obituaries

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.

Mary Betty Crackel, 91, of Miller, passed away Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital, Miller.

Funeral service were Saturday, Feb. 28,  at the First Presbyterian Church, Miller with Rev. Brian Jones officiating. Burial followed at Morningside Cemetery, Ree Heights.

Mary Betty was born August 31, 1923 to Harry and Edith (Dicks) Snethen near Hamill, South Dakota.  She attended and graduated from Winner High School.  After high school, she moved to Omaha, Nebraska and attended night school while working as a bookkeeper for Baker Manufacturing.  After several years there, she moved to Fargo, North Dakota where she attained a similar job as a bookkeeper.

On January 31, 1954, she married Raymond “Barney” Crackel where they lived on a farm south of Ree Heights.  To this union, four children were born.  Unfortunately, her husband passed away in July of 1964.  Betty and her children moved into Ree Heights where she stayed home with her youngest and babysat her niece.  After her youngest reached school age, she began working for Miller Plumbing and Heating in Miller.  After one year of winter driving every day, the family moved to Miller.  She worked in the Hand County Treasurer’s office for a few years, and then worked at the First National Bank for many years in the bookkeeping department.  After retirement from the bank, she continued to work at the Miller Sale Barn, and then through Experience Works at the Soil Conservation Service and Job Service.  She also worked as the First Presbyterian Church secretary for several years.

Betty was a member of the First Presbyterian Church serving as deacon and was a member of women’s circle.  While living in Ree Heights, she was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Debra J. Allibone, 57, of Kearney, NE., formally of Winner, passed away February 24, 2015 at her home in Kearney, NE. Mass of Christian Burial was held  Monday, March 2, 2015 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. Burial  followed at the Winner City Cemetery.

Deb was born January 29, 1958 in Winner, South Dakota to John and Jean (McCollam) Farner.  Deb was a 1976 graduate of Winner High School and lived in Winner until 1977 when she married Mike Allibone, the love of her life.  The couple made their first home in Peoria, Illinois.  They also lived in Garner, Iowa before settling in Kearney in 1990.  God blessed them with three children, Emily, Sarah, and Matthew.

Deb worked for various employers throughout her life including the Outlaw Trading Post, and Dairy Queen in Winner, Klaus Radio in Peoria, Cabela’s, Morris Press, and Kearney Catholic High School in Kearney.  She began working at Kearney Catholic in August 1996 and enjoyed witnessing the development of hundreds of students.  She made some of her closest friends in her co-workers.

Above all, Deb was passionate about her family.  She was a devoted wife, and she adored her children and grandchildren.  She did anything and everything for her family and loved doing it.  She contributed her time and talent to the Kearney Catholic Activities Association, Kearney Catholic Wrestling Club, and Boy Scout Troop 139.  She spent countless hours at dance recitals and wrestling meets.

Deb fought cancer fiercely for over 6 years.  During her journey, she blessed countless people by living out her faith and hopefulness.  She will be sorely missed.

Zina Chris “Zike” Hansen died Monday, Feb. 23, 2015 in Casper. He was born Nov. 5, 1934 at Carter, SD to Chancey W. and Alice L. (Adkins) Hansen. He worked on the family farm until he joined the army in Jan. 1954. He was married Aug. 20, 1955 to Virginia Boerner. They were the parents of five children. Family was everything to him and he was a fun father and good example to his children. He was also very attentive to his parents and 9 siblings, visiting or calling often. He worked in construction and owned Rocky Mountain Sheet Metal and then Hansen Ent. He was baptized with his first child at this church and the church became very important to him. In 73/74 he and Virginia sponsored the MYF with 35 to 55 teens every week.  These kids did the first candle lighting service in the church, which then became a tradition.  At the request of Rev Day, he oversaw the construction of the large cross over the alter, then gifting it to the church. He was also very involved in the 3 phases of remodel by the church and served on various Church boards for about 30 years.

Mary Agnes Burnette, 99, of White River, SD passed away on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at the White River Healthcare Center in White River.   Funeral service were held on Friday, Feb. 27, at 10 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in White River.  Burial  followed in the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis on Feb. 27,  at 1:30 p.m.

Mary Agnes Burnette was born December 22, 1915 in Mellette County. She was one of nine children of Joseph and Anna (Sindelar) Novey. She attended grade 1-8 at the Round-Up school near the family ranch northwest of White River.

She married Fred Burnette on February 26, 1935 at Martin, SD. Fred was a SeaBee (construction battalion) in the Navy. During that time they lived in various places including Rosebud, Spearfish, Rapid City, Garden Grove, CA, and eventually Mary moved back to White River to be close to her family.

Mary was a kind, gentle, honest and loving person. She loved the outdoors and especially loved gardening and growing flowers. She cared for sisters and brother while they were ill. She loved her family with all her heart. She lived and died with Grace.

Grace Neyens, 94, of Winner, passed away on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center in Winner.  Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner.  Burial followed in the Colome City Cemetery.

Grace was born on August 29, 1920 at the family homestead located west of Hamill, SD.  She was the daughter of William and Loretta (Range) Scheufler. She grew up and attended the Lone Star rural school.  She attended Hamill High School for one year and then completed her remaining years of high school in Winner graduating with the class of 1938.  She continued her education at Southern State normal college at Springfield, SD.  She then taught in a rural school located in Tripp County.

On June 3, 1941, she was united in marriage to Raymond Neyens at St. Isidore church at Colome, SD.  They made their home on a farm northeast of Colome.  Three children were born to this union: Ray Jr. and the twins Dennis and Diana.  She enjoyed many years on the family farm.  She raised a big garden, did lots of canning, raised poultry and helped with various chores on the farm.  She had always enjoyed planting and caring for many different types of flowers.  During the winter months, when time permitted, she enjoyed sewing, embroidery work, crocheting and handcrafts.

She enjoyed traveling and toured all 50 states in the USA and Canada.  She  always welcomed company to visit, have lunch and maybe even played a few hands of cards with them.

She was a kind and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy and she enjoyed spending time with them. She, like her father, was quiet in nature and liked to keep things in order.

After 50 years on the farm, they retired and moved to Winner in November 1990.                              After the death of her husband, Raymond, in 2010 she moved to the Golden Prairie Manor.

She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic, C.D.A, Farmers Union, Retired Teachers and the Historical Society.  She helped establish the Ray and Grace Neyens Family Scholarship for the Local Tripp County High Schools.