Category Archives: Obituaries

June Lester, 74, of Rapid City, SD, formerly of Winner, SD passed away on Sunday, July 24, 2022 at the Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, SD.

Funeral services were held on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022 at 11 a.m. at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD. Burial  followed in the Colome City Cemetery in Colome, SD.

June Janette Lester left this world on July 24, 2022 at the age of 74. She died fighting the battle with cancer and was surrounded by her family at her time.

She was born in Winner, SD to Duane and Vera Patton and lived and attended school in Colome, SD. She eventually moved to Rapid City where she became a beautician and a very good one and loved what she did for over 40 years. She met the love of her life Gary Lester shortly after moving to Rapid City and they had one daughter, Jami Jo Lester. June had a huge heart and always thought of others. Some of her greatest joys were her grandchildren, Richard, Terrance, Shawntessa, and Christian. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and daughter.

She was preceded in death by her mother, her father, and 2 brothers.

She is survived by her daughter, her grandchildren, 7 sisters, 2 brothers, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Tallan Smith, from Yankton, SD, passed away on June 4, 2022 at the age of 27. Tallan was hospitalized on June 2 after being resuscitated from drowning. She spent the following days surrounded by family and friends.

Tallan has chosen to be an organ donor and was able to provide others a better quality of lift through her generosity. A celebration of life will be held at Colome City Cemetery, Colome, SD at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, August 13, 2022 followed by a luncheon at the Colome American Legion Club at 1:00 p.m.

Tallan was born in 1994 in Rapid City, SD to Roxie Harter then from Colome, SD and Brady Knight from Winner, SD. Roxie and Tallan moved to St. John, WA in 1998. In 1999, Tallan gained a beautiful additional family when Roxie and Steve Smith were married. Tallan completed grades K-12 in St. John. Tallan went to South Dakota State University the following year then lived in Washington, Colorado, and California before moving back to South Dakota. Within each community, Tallan made life-long friends because of her fun, accepting, and loving personality.

Tallan was working at Rock Bottom Grillhouse at the time of her passing, and was blessed with an amazing work family there.

Many simple pleasures in life brought joy to Tallan. She especially loved scary movies, caring for any and all animals, collecting tattoos, and spending time with her friends and family. Tallan enjoyed the art of makeup and hair; she especially loved Halloween.

As a kid, she entertained her family with the many plays she wrote and directed using her younger sister and cousins as the cast. Tallan continued to love writing into adulthood. Tallan’s beautiful smile and belly laugh were infectious and she loved to talk your ear off from the time she was a toddler.

Tallan will hold a special place in all of our hearts. We will always remember her as the kind, funny, adorable, ridiculously photogenic, big hearted, Sunny-in-Philly quoting, Buffy the Vampire watching, Harry Potter obsessed, animal lover she was. She was uniquely fearless like a lion and scared of her own shadow at the same time. Most importantly, Tallan loved big…always.

Tallan is survived by her parents, Steve and Roxie Smith and sister Maggie of St. John, WA; her father Brady Knight of Vermillion, SD; her brothers Griffin Knight of Omaha, NE and Jacob Knight of Avon, SD; her grandmothers, Lisa Knight and Willa Kindt of Avon, SD; her grandfather and grandmother, Don and LaVonne Ring of Colome, SD; her grandmother Kay Smith of St. John, WA; her grandfather and grandmother, Bud and Gina Knight of Wright, Wy; her boyfriend Steve Koster of Yankton, SD; as well as many additional loving family members and more friends than one can imagine.

We miss you so very much dear Tal. We will keep your love, your kindness, and your compassion for others alive. You left your mark on all those who knew you. We are your new legacy of love.

Bernard (Barney) Ross, 86, of rural Millboro, SD passed away on Sunday, July 24, 2022 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Center in Winner, SD.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Ascension Chapel Cemetery in Millboro, SD.

Bernard Ross was born on Aug. 12, 1935 at home in Todd County to William & Irene Ross. He was the youngest of 11 children. Bernard attended St. Francis Indian Mission School in South Dakota through the 9th grade. He served in the Navy from Jan. 28, 1955 – Sept. 18, 1957. He was stationed in Newfoundland. 

He married Shirley Bauch on Aug. 15th, 1960. Together they raised 3 sons, 3 adopted boys, and several foster kids. Barney enjoyed visits from his grandchildren, watching old westerns, and doing braiding’s and leatherwork.

Survivors include Wes Ross family; Shane and Kathy Ross family from Winner, SD; Travis Ross and 2 adopted boys, 9 grandchildren, and 15 great grandkids.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, wife Shirley Ross, 7 brothers, 3 sisters, 1 granddaughter, and an adopted son.

Richard (Cody) Lloyd McKenzie, 45, longtime resident of Winner, SD, passed away on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at the Avera Gregory Hospital in Gregory, SD.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at 10 a.m. at the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery in Winner. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at the Winner United Methodist Church from 6-7 p.m. with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m.

Cody was born on June 20, 1977 in Winner, SD to Richard (Dick) and Vicky (Debus) McKenzie. Cody was the second oldest of four children. Terri, Cody, Wade, and Dusty.

He attended school in Winner where he graduated in 1995. Cody was involved in wrestling and baseball. In 1996, he met his wife LaCosta (Koth) and in 1998 they got married and in union three children were born; Haley, Natalie, and Carter. In 2000, Cody started working at Harry K Ford where he worked right next to his dad. He was constantly talking about how Dick would never get any work done with all the old tools he had and how they were constantly arguing about which radio station they were going to listen to.

Anyone who knew Cody, knew that he loved to have a good time. In his toolbox he had a box full of firecrackers and he was always shooting them across the shop. Along with loving to have a good time, Cody’s other favorite thing was helping people. He was always the first one to show up and was the last one to ask for help himself.

In 2001, Cody joined the Winner Fire Department and became one of the assistant chiefs in 2016 till 2021. He devoted a lot of his time doing maintenance on trucks, preparing for steak nights, and serving his community through firefighting. It truly was his home away from home.

Cody was a busy body. He was always hunting, fishing, bowling, golfing, cooking something, or simply just sitting around with his friend’s drinking beer. Cody has two grandkids, that were the light of his life. The happiness they brought to him was very obvious when he would talk about them. Baseball also played a very important role in his life. He loved spending his nights and weekends watching Carter do his thing on the field. When Cody got sick, there were many days he didn’t feel well but he never missed a game.

He is preceded in the death by his dad Richard (Dick) McKenzie, Kevin Debus, his grandparents Vern and Joyce Debus, Floyd and Ila McKenzie and his great uncle, Larry Debus.

He is survived by his wife LaCosta (Koth) McKenzie, his three children, Haley (McKenzie) Paulson, her husband Jordan Paulson, their two kids, Berklee and Madden Paulson; Natalie McKenzie; Carter McKenzie, his mother Vicky (Debus) McKenzie, his siblings, Terri (McKenzie) Tracy, her husband Darrel Tracy, their kids Tori (Tracy) Melius, Blake Tracy, and Destiney Tracy; Dusty McKenzie and his children Kayden and Slade McKenzie; Wade McKenzie and his children Riley, Phoenix, Payton, and Aria. As well as many extended families.

Funeral services for Margie Ann Klein were held July 25 at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery, Burke.

Margie Ann Klein was born Jan. 2, 1934 at Chamberlain, South Dakota to William and Erma (Girton) Mlady and she died July 19, 2022 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Burke, South Dakota at the age of 88 years.

She attended Eagle Center Grade School in Brule County, South Dakota, graduating from Chamberlain High School.

She married Norman Klein in August of 1951at Chamberlain, where they resided until 1954 when they moved to Corvallis, Oregon.  In 1958 they moved back to the family farm south of Burke, South Dakota.   Norman passed away in 2007 and Margie continued to live there until her passing.

Margie kept very busy raising her four children.  She milked cows and always had a large garden, from which she canned.  She also raised chickens, ducks and geese.  Then later in life, she also worked as a bookkeeper for the Rosebud Cheese Plant in Burke.  And also as an aide at the Gregory Nursing Home and The Burke Hospital.  She enjoyed many hobbies including her flower gardens, sewing, crocheting, knitting, tatting, making quilts, pictures painting, stained glass and puzzles.  She made crocheted blankets for each of her grandchildren with their favorite football emblem on them.  She was an excellent cook, you never left her table hungry.

She loved family gatherings with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved spoiling them all.

Margie was preceded in death by her husband, Norman; her son, Brad; her parents; her sister, Francis Schauss; sisters-in-law: Becky Mlady and Denise Mlady; and her brother-in-law, Shorty Schreiber.  

Margie is survived by her children: Doug (Joyce) Klein of Winner, SD; Deb (Pat) Walker of Chamberlain, SD: Kelly Klein of Rapid City, SD; her grandchildren: Cody Klein and fiancé Michaela, Dustin Klein, Casey Klein, Aaron Vomacka (Chrystal), Kary (Justin) King, Carleigh Klein and Bryce Klein; her great-grandchildren: McKenzi, Avaya and Chester Vomacka, Tyler Beutz, Quade and Brynlee King; her siblings: Norma (Jim) Kerr, Bill Mlady, Saundra Schreiber and Dennis Mlady.

Margie will be greatly missed by her family and friends and her furry pet “Miss Kitty”.

Gloria Rowe, 83, of Carter, SD passed away on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at her home surrounded by family. 

Funeral service will be held on Friday, July 29, 2022 at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Winner, SD.  Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery.  A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at the First Baptist Church from 6-7 p.m. with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m.

Gloria was born to the late Melvin Eugene Nelson Sr. and Vivian Jager Nelson, in Winner, SD on Dec. 11th, 1938.  Gloria was a homemaker while working alongside Keith on the family farm/ranch.

Gloria was blessed with a loving family.  She married her best friend and fellow classmate, Keith Larry Rowe on July 4, 1957.  To this union they had two sons, Mickey Larry and Douglas Lee.

Some of the best times for Gloria were “When we worked together as a family combining, meals in the field, and working with the cattle.”  Gloria said “working with the hogs-not so much!!!”  Gloria loved Christmas Eve with all her family.  Gloria enjoyed going to all of the activities that her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids were involved in.  She would say that one of her fondest memories were the wiener roasts outside the old house that her boys grew up in.  Gloria enjoyed flower appreciation with her family before breakfast every morning.

Gloria’s hobbies included golfing, traveling, her flowers, sewing and making buns.  She also loved being involved in her church, Wednesday morning church group, Treddle Trippers, Sisters and Survivors, and her coffee gatherings with her 1956 classmates.  Gloria was very strong in her faith.  As an adult Gloria was baptized in the Missouri River joining the Baptist Church in Winner.

Gloria is survived by her sons, Mick (Betty) Rowe and Doug (Bonita) Rowe; grandchildren Amber (Christian) Moody, Michelle (Judd) Alberty, Autumn (Mark) Tucker, Kip (Lea) Rowe, Ryan (Shaneyl) Rowe and great-grandchildren Gavin and Gage Tucker, Ashlynn McPhee, Sid and Max Rowe, Kane and Wren Rowe, Vivian and Lauren Alberty.  Brother Melvin Jr. (Donna) Nelson and sister-n-law Jeanne Rowe-Hansen and other family members.

Gloria is preceded in death by her loving husband Keith Rowe, parents Melvin Sr. and Vivian Nelson, in-laws Frank and Edith Rowe, brother-in-law Gay Rowe, sister-in-law Helen Zemina, and grandson Nathan McPhee.

Wade Nieman, age 62, of Pierre, South Dakota, died on Saturday, June 18, 2022 in Philip after a courageous battle with cancer.

Wade Allen Nieman was born May 18, 1960 to Leonard and Thelma (Evans) Nieman in Winner, South Dakota. The family lived in Winner, Murdo, and Pierre. Wade enjoyed buying and trading cars and hunting with his dad and brother Brett. Wade always had a dog or two or three.

Wade is survived by his mother Thelma Hardt of Philip; two sisters Deborah (Mark) Hiatt of Pierre and Valerie (Roger) Williams of Philip; brother Brett Nieman of Philip; nephews Dan (Melissa) Hiatt, Justin (Morgan) Nieman, Karson Nieman, Colter Nieman, and Kaden Nieman; nieces Erica Williams and Katie (Mike) Schultz; seven great-nieces and one great-nephew; good friends Vic Baker and Goldie Kelly; his dogs Bud and Morgan.

He was preceded in death by his father Leonard Nieman, niece Rebecca Hiatt, and great-niece Bethany Schultz.

Memorials may be sent to Val Williams P.O. Box 74 Philip, SD 57567.

Interment with his father Leonard will be held 9:30 a.m. CDT Saturday, July 30, 2022, at the Winner Cemetery in Winner.

Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.

Funeral services for Donald Brickman age 80 of Carter, SD were held on Monday July 25 at 11 at the United Methodist Church, Winner, SD.  Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Donald LeRoy Brickman, 80, of Carter, passed away on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Winner, SD.

Don was born on Aug. 4, 1941, to Robert and Alma (Brost) Brickman in Gregory, SD.  He joined brother DeWayne and sister Geraldine. 

Don grew up in Winner and attended Winner High School where he met the love of his life Eva Jean Hansen.  While in high school, he played football and was very good at it.  His senior year he was voted Most Representative and was on the 2nd Team All State squad as a fullback.  In recent years, Don and Rocky Jones reconnected and they would frequently reminisce about their football days.  Don would say, “We got better every time we talked, we could probably even beat the Green Bay Packers.” Also during his high school days, he drove truck, usually hauling livestock.

Don and Eva Jean got married on Sept. 16, 1961.  They moved to the Denver area for a couple of years before moving back to South Dakota.  They moved back to the farm that Eva Jean was raised on and Don would be a farmer/rancher from that time on.  He worked side by side by his father-in-law Elvis Hansen, son Brett and his grandsons, Carter and Coy.  In 1963, they welcomed Bryan to the family and then in 1966 Brett.  Don was a very hard worker, if it would have been physically possible, he would have worked 24/7.  He actively participated in the daily operations of the farm until 2010 when his hips and knees gave him issues.  Though he was physically slowed, he was NEVER not involved in the day-to-day operations, even up to his last days.

Though work was an important part of his life, he did have other interests.  Don and Eva Jean were very good dancers.  He also liked playing cards, particularly pitch.  There was a time when a few of the neighbor men would get together once a month, taking turns hosting a hot poker game and the stakes were HUGE – nickel, dime, quarter!  There were probably more stories and ribbing than actual card playing.  He also enjoyed going to the horse races in Fort Pierre and he still enjoyed watching horse races on TV up to the end.

In the 70’s, he raced a hobby stock car in Winner, and he was pretty good.  He was always at or near the top of the points standings and there is a basement full of trophies to prove it.  He also helped coach Bryan and Brett’s basketball teams when they were in grade school.

Don and Eva Jean really enjoyed to bowl, but that came to a halt when the boys got into high school.  They would RARELY miss any of their sporting events, home or away and some of those trips were to Flandreau, Eagle Butte, Mobridge and Pine Ridge.  After the boys graduated, they resumed their bowling.  They also played golf for a number of years.  He always liked to have one cold beer at the end of the day.

Don is survived by his son Bryan (Julie) of Harrisburg, SD; daughter-in-law LaVonne of Carter, SD; grandchildren Brandon, Brittany (James Woods), Bryanna, Carter, Coy Brickman, Cassie Rogers and Matthew Reu; great grandchildren Jonathan, Nora Brooke and Kaya Bailey; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law Sharon Hansen, Betty and David Porter; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife Eva Jean, son Brett, his parents, siblings, and mother and father-in-law Betty and Elvis Hansen.

Shane E. Bear Heels was born in Rosebud, South Dakota to Arlene Bear Heels. He has one sister, Ernestine Bear Heels of White River SD and one adopted brother, John Bear Heels of Norris SD.

Shane grew up in the Norris/Black Pipe community. He attended Norris school through the 8th grade. In 1982 he began his high school career in White River, SD where he graduated in 1986. He always joked and contributed this achievement to his classmates. In an article he wrote in the Lakota Times, in 2008, he said “I would always have my classmates do my homework.” This is true and he also cheated off of us during tests. Shane had this uncanny knack of being able to get people to do things for him that you knew were not right, but you did them anyway. He knew that if he was cheating off of one of the “real smart ones”, to make some mistakes so the teachers wouldn’t catch on!

After graduation and when Shane was 19, he attended WDT in Rapid City, SD. In 1988, he earned his degree as a diesel mechanic. He also attended school to be an electrician and he received his electrical journeyman’s license. He worked for a local electric company, was promoted to a foreman and was tasked with overseeing the electrical work at Prairie Winds Casino. He loved this line of work and said, “That was the best job I ever had.”

The proudest moment in Shane’s life was when he became a dad. His son Davyd was born Nov. 14, 2000. Shane said, “My son, Davyd, is my whole life.” and he was.

After an accident in September of 2001 that broke his neck and left him a quadriplegic and confined to a wheelchair, Shane had to adjust and accept a new way of life. He had many options of where to live. Move back home to Norris or choose to live in Rapid City, Sioux Falls or Colorado. in 2002, he chose to live at the White River Healthcare Center, where he lived for 20 years. During his time at the WRHC, Shane made an impact on how healthcare was delivered to the elders. He said, “I fight for the elders’ rights”, and he did just that. Anytime Shane was “monitoring” the hallways, the staff was always “busy” and if Shane saw that an elder wasn’t being tended to in a timely manner, he made sure to let them know…just ask any of them.

He loved to oversee the progress of care provided and given to the elders, he was their eyes, ears and voice! He was also an advocate for himself. He knew exactly what he needed, and he was very specific on the care he received. He trained all of the staff on his expectations and was particular when it came to making sure he was turned at the right times, how his teeth were brushed and only a select few were allowed to cut his hair.

Shane had many accomplishments through the years. In December 2008, he wrote an article for the Lakota Times, what alcohol has done for me. He traveled to many schools and gave talks on drinking and driving and the lasting effects it could have on your life. He continued to take classes on a part time basis at Sinte’ Gleska University, pursuing a business degree. Does anyone else find it funny that Shane had us doing all his homework in High School, yet he had 2 degrees and working on his 3rd???

Shane led and was active in resident council ~president. He advocated for residents daily. He would sit in the hallway to ensure call lights were answered and nurses were making their rounds. He Attend Tribal Council meeting frequently to advocate for help with upgrades, better pay for the staff and more accountability of leadership. The residents would go to him if they needed help or if they were not getting something they needed. The residents trusted and loved Shane.

Shane had to overcome many obstacles. He had to learn to communicate with a voice activated computer. He used a mouth stick to text and call. He used a blow stick to move his wheelchair… and if he ran in to you, it wasn’t an accident! He became a master at all of these things.

Shane will be remembered by many as a crazy, fun, light-hearted and jokester kind of  guy. He made this apparent on the morning he made his journey. Shane knew how hard it would be for us to let him leave this mortal world so as we (Ernestine, Sharon and Lila) along with the 2 nurses prepared ourselves for what would be the last breath we would see him take, he kept us guessing. He stopped breathing for 4 minutes, then all of the sudden he was back. He did this 3 times, we just giggled because we knew Shane and we knew he was messing with us. After the fact, the nurses told us that while he was making his journey, in another room that was empty, the alarms kept going off. They even took the monitor out of the room because they thought it was malfunctioning. We had to let them in on how Shane was and that he was just messing with them too. He was always laughing, nothing seemed to bother him. He just lived life. He had an infectious smile, the biggest heart, he was a loyal friend and a great dad. He was strong and courageous.

 When Davyd made his journey to the spirt world May 20, 2021, it was devasting for Shane and he struggled to keep a positive outlook on life. He said, ” My son, the elders and the high school students who work at the nursing home give me a reason to continue living.”

One elder told him early on during his time at the nursing home that he had to be responsible for the elders because he had his mind, and he had a voice. He took this job seriously and he was relentless in his pursuit to ensure the residents received quality care. There is no doubt that Shane’s purpose in life was to be an advocate for the elders.  Shane made his journey to the spirit world July 16, 2022.

Shane is survived by: sister, Ernestine Bear Heels and adopted brother, John Bear Heels.  One uncle, Alvin Bear Heels, Sr and two Aunties Carol Bordeaux-Orr and Patricia Cooley, Niece KaSondra Bear Heels, Special friend, Sharon Brandis~Wickham and her family and all of his relatives and friends.

Shane is preceded in death by his Mother Arlene Bear Heels, son Davyd Paul as well as some of his relatives and friends.