Category Archives: Obituaries

Funeral Services for Robert “Bob” Sperl JR age 70 of Burke, SD will be held on Thursday, Feb. 22, at 10:30 am at the Congregational Church of Gregory, South Dakota. Burial will follow at the Czech National Cemetery in Gregory, SD. There is a prayer service Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at the church. Visitation is one hour prior to each service.

Ronald Alvin (Ron) Parker died Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at the Winner Regional Hospital in Winner, South Dakota.  Ron was a resident of Elder Inn in Winner.

Ron was born to Harlan L. Parker and Elinor E. Emley Parker on April 24, 1960, at Atkinson, NE. He spent his early childhood in Butte, NE moving to the Millboro/Colome, SD area with his family when he was about 11 years old.

He married Diana Peabody of Dallas, SD.  They had one daughter.

Ron worked many different jobs throughout his lifetime.  He was a hard worker and well respected by his employers.  All who knew Ron were aware that he was an avid football fan.  He watched as many games as possible but was passionate about the Kansas City Chiefs and the Nebraska Huskers (Every year he would say, “Next year will be the year for the Huskers.”). His sister, Jane, will miss the many phone conversations about football, being an avid fan herself.

He is survived by four brothers, three sisters and his very caring friend, Debbie Storms of Winner, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and his twin brother.

Burial with be in the Butte Cemetery at a later date.

Lee Calhoon, 80, of Ideal, South Dakota passed away on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024 at his home near Ideal, SD.  Funeral service was held on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at 11 a.m.  at the Winner Methodist Church in Winner, SD.  Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.  A visitation was held one hour prior to funeral service.

Lee Archie Calhoon was born on Jan. 27, 1944, to Leon and Wilma (Frantz) Calhoon in Winner, South Dakota.  Lee lived his entire life in Ideal.  He attended Star Valley school through the 8th grade and graduated from Winner High School in 1963.  He also attended SDSU.  His goal in life was to improve the ranch making it a better place for his family.

Lee was a member of the Winner Quarterback Club and spent many hours helping to build the football stadium.  He coached country conference basketball at Ideal for many years.  Lee coached little league baseball in Witten, and also coached Clearfield baseball taking the team to the State Teener Tournament in 1992.

He was one of the founders of the Golden Prairie Retirement Home and served on the board of directors for many years.  Lee was a member of the Masonic Lodge 166 and active in the Rosebud Shrine Club and a member of the Winner Methodist Church.

Lee’s pride and joy was his family and watching the grandkids in their many activities. 

He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2009 and began to curtail his busy life.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers; James and Clyde and granddaughter Emily.

Lee is survived by his wife Keatha of 58 years, three sons; John (Jodi) Calhoon, Michael (Susan) Calhoon and Curtis (Molly) Calhoon, 14 grandchildren; Jessica Calhoon (fiancé Charlie Johnson), Austin Calhoon, Lindsey Calhoon, Riley (Samantha) Calhoon, Megan Calhoon, Sarah (Ryan) Stuhlmiller), Meredith (Amine) Radoui, Shannon Calhoon, Spencer Calhoon, Matthew Calhoon, Landon Calhoon, Brody Calhoon, Logan Calhoon and Kaylee Argo. Three great-grandchildren; Cora Moss, Camdyn Anderson and Waylon Stuhlmiller.

Funeral services for Jan Determan, age 69, of Burke, South Dakota will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke.  Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Burke.  Visitation will be Friday from 6 pm until 7 pm, with a 7 pm rosary, at the church. 

Janet “Jan” Marie Determan, daughter of Romus and Helen (Jaeger) Mushitz, was born on July 21, 1954, in Pierre, South Dakota. She was adopted by Romus and Helen Mushitz and was the oldest of three adopted children.

Jan passed away on Feb. 14, 2024, at the age of 69 in her home in Burke, South Dakota after a short, courageous battle with cancer.

 Jan attended Geddes Public School and graduated from Geddes High School in 1972. After high school, she attended Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota where she studied home economics.

 On July 7, 1973, Jan married Ronald Lee Determan at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Geddes, SD. To this marriage, five children were born: Chris, Jeff, Brian, Michelle, and Jay. Ron and Jan resided in Brookings, Wagner, and Geddes before establishing their home in Burke in 1981. Jan worked at Missouri Valley Mutual Insurance Company for many years before working as an insurance agent for Southern Dakota Insurance. Jan and Ron celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary this past summer.

 From a young age, Jan always had a love for playing piano and shared her passion for music by playing the piano and organ for St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Geddes.  Jan became a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke and was the organist for more than 40 years.  She played for more weddings and funerals than can be counted. Jan also taught piano lessons to numerous students in her home for many years.

 Jan spent her life supporting her husband, children, and grandchildren with their sporting and school events.  She enjoyed gardening, cross stitch, and spending time with her family.

 Thankful for having shared her life are her husband Ron Determan; her children: Chris (Michelle) Determan, Jeff (Amanda) Determan, Brian (Hillary) Determan, Michelle (Brett) Person, and Jay (Bekah) Determan; grandchildren: Britni Determan, Tommy Determan, Coy Determan, Brok (special friend Jennice) Determan, Mya Determan, Gracie Person, Carter Person, Chloe Determan, Clare Determan and great-grandchild Kinzley Determan; two brothers: Bill (Patrice) Mushitz and Bob (special friend Jodi Dub) Mushitz; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends.

 Jan was preceded in death by her parents Romus and Helen Mushitz.

Melvin James Orel, age 90, from Winner, South Dakota, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.

Services will be held on his 91st birthday, Friday, May 31, 2024,at 10:30 a.m. at Mason Funeral Home in Winner.

 Melvin James Orel was born on May 31, 1933, to Joseph Orel and Anna (Dvorak) Orel at the family farm near Hamill, SD. Melvin loved farm life from an early age proven by the pictures of him feeding the chickens, playing with cats, and surrounded by puppies. Melvin was joined by twin brothers, Darrel and Donald, a few years later, and then the fun began.

 Melvin attended country school a short distance from his home. He told stories of having to carry coal to keep the stove going for warmth, which was essential as many students walked or road horses to school. It was here that Melvin met one of his life-long friends, Leo Beranek. Melvin only completed the eighth grade as he was needed on the farm, but he never stopped learning. He liked to read about world happenings, politics, and local news. And if you asked him anything about making purchases – whether it was a car, a house, or what not – his famous phrase was, “Well, I’ll have to pencil that out.” He liked to “tinker” a lot too: fixing old televisions would pass the cold winter evenings, as well as building a motorcycle in the basement (and then wondering how on Earth it was going to get upstairs), and later in life he loved creating things in his garage with various shapes and sizes of wood.

 As he, his brothers, and friends became older, shenanigans were always involved. He told stories about his friends and the tricks they would play on each other and on their girlfriends. On one such occasion, Melvin met his future wife, Agnes Klima.    

 In 1954, Melvin joined the United States Army. After basic training, he loaded up on a ship that carried him and soon-to-be many Army friends to Japan. He was stationed there for two years, where he met his life-long best friend, LeRoy Oleson. One memory that Melvin shared was when they returned to the US, he and two of his friends scrounged every pocket they had to scrape up enough change to try something they had never heard of before: a hot fudge sundae. How could you put hot fudge on ice cream and not have a melted mess? They eventually found enough money to buy one sundae (5 cents!) and three spoons, and it was the most delicious thing they had ever tasted!!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Melvin and his brother, Darrell, lived and loved the farm life. Hours and hours were spent tending cattle, hauling them to and from Sioux City in the Orel semi, planting corn and winter wheat, harvesting the crops, and one of Melvin’s most favorite farm scents – mowing the alfalfa, and more. Some of the best memories were made taking lunches out to the field so they could continue on with the farming. On days they were not in the field, coffee breaks at Grandpa and Grandmas were a ritual that nobody wanted to miss.

 Melvin loved to tell stories of flying his airplane with his brother, Donald, by his side. Together they would chase those pesky coyotes out of their hiding places and shoot them from the air. He also told of one of the airplanes landing in a dam near Hamill, although he never said how that came about.

 Although summers were a busy time around the farm, Melvin also found time for vacationing. Some of the most memorable were: a trip to Pennsylvania, annual trips to Colorado to visit his aunt, Tina, and bring back a motorhome full of fresh Colorado peaches, a trip to the Royal Gorge Bridge where he walked across the bridge without a fear in the world, several trips to the Black Hills, and the annual Labor Day trip to Fremont, NE to spend time with his friends Leo and Bob. On a vacation in Mexico, he even went parasailing over the Pacific Ocean.

 Fall was another important time for Melvin. Not only did it mean harvest time, but it also meant he would be able to spend time with the Minnesota pheasant hunters who had become a part of the Orel family.

 Melvin and Agnes made their home on the farm where they raised their three daughters, Elaine, Eileen, and Lori. In 1993, they moved to Winner. Agnes passed away in June of 2020, and Melvin continued to live at their home until March of 2022 when he moved to Golden Prairie Manor. Here, he made many new friends and was reacquainted with special friends from his past. Lori will especially miss his morning, noon, and evening hugs that were a part of their routine since moving into the Manor.

 Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, Joe & Anna, his in-laws, Joe & Anna Klima, his brothers, Darrell & Donald, his brother-in-law, Frankie, his wife, Agnes, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as his best friend, LeRoy.

 Melvin is survived by his three daughters, Elaine Boes (Brad) of Rapid City, South Dakota, Eileen Larson (Russ Oesterling) of Pima, Arizona, and Lori McCarty (Keith) of Colome, South Dakota; his grandchildren, Teresa Jones (Mike), Kim Selle (Dustan), Brock Songer (Tinley), Angie Frichten (Aaron), Casey Larson (Brooke), Mallori Winter (Scott), Cole McCarty, Maggie McCarty (Mason Schuyler), 15 great grandchildren, and 5 great, great grandchildren, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

 We love you forever, Dad. We’ll miss you until we meet again!

Mary Ann (Redl) Moorhead, 91, of Winner, SD passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the Winner Regional Nursing Home on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

A private family Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD.  Burial  followed in the Winner City Cemetery.  An open public visitation was held on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 from 5-6 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with a rosary beginning at 6 p.m.

Mary Ann Redl was born in Iroquois, South Dakota to John and Marie (Brandrup) Redl on Oct. 26, 1932. Growing up in Deadwood, Mary Ann was an active Brownie Scout and social butterfly which continued throughout her life. She was proud to tell stories of her father playing Wild Bill Hickok in the shootout reenactments as well as riding side-saddle in the Days of ‘76 Parade, on her horse named Penny. She hosted her own radio show during her teenage years where her vocals sang any song requested. Her personality shined as a bartender helping her parents at the Inferno, which was built in an old mine shaft near Terry Peak.

On May 24, 1951, she married the love of her life, Gerald Dean Moorhead at the St. Ambrose Church in Deadwood. To this union, three children were born, John, Cindy, and Gerri.

Mary Ann and Gerald moved to Winner, South Dakota to manage Modern Cleaners raising their three children as Winner Warriors. They loved sports; most notably yelling at each other over the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Braves. In 2003, the couple lost their son on a family hunting trip, which Mary Ann never fully recovered from.

Known for her sugar cookies and silly jokes, Mary Ann could warm any room. Her giggle and smile was contagious and her inviting soul welcomed anyone to call her “Grandma.”  She loved to bowl (2005 SDWBA Hall of Fame Inductee), foster any animal (squirrels included), play cards, sing her school song, and spend time with family and friends alike. Her pure joy was watching and cheering on her grandkids and great grandkids no matter their accomplishments, big or small, in-person or on a live stream.

Mary Ann was an expert in the kitchen and in the woodshop with Gerald. Her famous kitchen recipes were: sugar cookies that melted in your mouth, pies that nobody could replicate, and egg rolls that caused family disagreements of who would get the last one. In the last months of her life, she was able to share her joy of cooking homemade noodles for the other residents at the nursing home.

She is survived by her daughters Cindy (Doug) Osborn, Winner; Gerri (Chuck) Mosset, Sioux Falls; special nephew, Billy (Amy) Reiser, Wagner; daughter-in-law, Lori Schrader, Winner, 12 grandchildren: Cody(Brandy), Casey (Laurie), TJ (Michele), Cassidy (Matt), Brady (Jamie), Jamie (Jason), Chelsey (Matt), Dustin, Corey, Rachele (Justin), Randi, and Becca along with 22 great grandchildren, her sister-in-law, Jan Redl, several nieces and nephews and anyone who would consider her their grandma.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, favorite son, John, parents John and Marie, her sister, Phyllis, and three brothers, Jack, Bill and Donny Redl.

Leslie “Les” Sherwood Jr., 49, of White River, SD passed away at his home on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. 

Funeral service was held on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at the Wood Community Hall in Wood, SD.  Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. 

Leslie “Les” Howard Sherwood Jr. (49) was born prematurely to Peggy Lee Bowers-Sherwood and Leslie Howard Sherwood Sr. on July 21, 1974, In Winner, South Dakota. Leslie grew up in and around the Wood and White River areas. Learning ranching from his father Les Sherwood Sr. and mechanics from his step-father Roy Moran Sr. He was always learning and teaching something new along the way throughout his life.

He graduated from White River, South Dakota in 1992. After he attended technical school in Watertown, South Dakota where he became a certified diesel mechanic.

Throughout his adult life he worked for various implements using his mechanical skills, as a ranch hand at a few different locations and as a mechanic at Wagner Auto in Pierre, South Dakota. He later pursued his dream of working on his family’s ranch outside of Wood, South Dakota, where he stayed. Les is known for his kind heart, loving words, calming demeanor, love and his acceptance of everyone he met along his journey. There was never a time that Les would not make sure that he could take his grandbabies out to the pasture to see the cattle and the horses or even to let them go with him to feed in the mornings. Among all of Les’s hobbies he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family. Along with the yearly camping trip where he could enjoy family and boating. Les especially enjoyed all of the hunting adventures he went on with his brother Henry Moran.

Les passed unexpectedly on Dec. 16, 2023 in the early hours of the day. He will be missed by all.

Survived by his wife, Vickie Sherwood. His daughter Sierra Boren, son Damian Bingen (Megan) Aberdeen, South Dakota, Jarred Bingen (Brittany) Witten, South Dakota, Trey Bingen (Maddie) Burke, South Dakota. Along with his 6 grandbabies, Raphael Jax, Reese James, Delilah Belle, Kensley Mae, Jackson Leslie, and Ryker Joel. Survived by his father Les Sherwood Sr. (Lois) White River, South Dakota, Siblings Tonya Copeland (Rich) Rapid City, South Dakota, Misty Moran (Kelly Wright Sr.) Pierre, South Dakota, Henry Moran (Rose Larvie) White River, South Dakota, Harold Moran (Audra) Letcher, South Dakota, Berton Moran (Cassie Jones) Mitchell, South Dakota, Lisa Sherwood (Tyler Harter) White River, South Dakota and Brother-in-law Gabe Schumacher Wosley, South Dakota. Bonus siblings, Joelene Hamilton, Roy Moran Jr., Tim Moran (Breanna) and Jewels Moran. Along with several nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his mother Peggy Lee Moran, sister Karin Schumacher, niece Kateri Knife, Maternal and paternal grandparents and several aunts and uncles.

Douglas John Taggart was born to John and Lillian Taggart in Winner, SD on April 13, 1952.

Doug grew up on a farm outside of Winner with his sister Karen and brothers Jerry, Brad and Robert.  Much has been whispered about his antics, but no one wants to come forward with hard facts on the wild days in Winner.  I can confirm that he DID learn to play the accordion, because his aunt and uncle liked to dance to the polka.  I know, right?!  The accordion.  Knock me down with a feather.  He was also the undefeated boxing champ from Winner.  He was 15 years old.  It was one fight and then he hung up his professional boxing gloves for good……but it was sanctioned.  So, we are going with Undefeated Boxing Champ.

Doug was world-renowned for his lack of patience or his endless patience (which one would you get today???), not holding back his opinion and telling it like it is. Doug always told you the truth, even if it wasn’t what you wanted to hear.  It was the school of hard knocks, and yes, we were told many times how he had to walk for miles in a blizzard to get to school, so suck it up and life is tough all over kid, get used to it!

He married his main squeeze, Polly, a librarian, almost 50 years ago in Colstrip, Mont. They lived in Montana, Indiana and later returned to Montana so dad could hunt and fish. They spent many hours on a boat with fishing poles in their hands but much to Doug’s dismay, Polly could out fish him many times.  Jennifer and Whitney (the daughters), cannot out fish either of them. Recently they moved to North Dakota to be near family and so dad could go back to his roots of farming, which he loved. 

Doug taught us that family comes first, to get outside,  and work hard…at what you love.  Doug made the best sourdough treats, homemade pizza and cookies.  Jennifer and Whitney also ended up with midnight snack addictions because of Doug.  Many a night would pass with a knock on the door and a question – “Want an ice cream shake?” He also made sure that he had someone around to make his sweet treats, he taught Jennifer how to bake cookies each weekend. Why? So, he could have the cookies for a nighttime snack.

Jennifer married Kevin Norton and Whitney married David Gonitzke – in a stroke of amazing luck – Doug loved both of them. 

Doug was Papa to Mackenzie, Aiden, Jules and Jane.  Oh, how he loved the four of them.  We don’t want say that he got soft as a Grandpa….but he got soft!!  Those kids could do anything and get anything!  He made sure his grandkids knew how to fish and that started at a young age. Papa was a huge history buff, this love of history was passed down to his grandson, Aiden, who is going to college to be a high school history teacher.  He bragged about his grandkids to anyone that would listen!

Doug and his two best friends, Pat and Kelly, (the “Three Amigos”) hunted and fished for over 30 years together.  After a while Doug decided that their friendship was strong enough to withstand anything…..so he included them into the Taggart Brothers Secret Circle.  For years and years, the brothers circle would meet up at Uncle Jerry’s ranch house in Wyoming to fish, hunt, drink loads of beer.  Who knows what lies and tall tales were told on those trips.  Really – Guys, can’t you just tell us one little thing??

Doug traveled extensively and took us camping all the time.  We went from tent, to a pickup box camper, then a 5th wheel camper– spoiling us girls forever.  Never will Jennifer or Whitney tent camp again.  Our love of the water likely came from the plethora of trips to rivers and lakes.

He is survived by his saint of a wife, Polly; children,  Jennifer (Kevin) Norton, Whitney (David) Gonitzke; grandchildren, Mackenzie (Eric) Wineinger, Aiden Sothers, Jules and Jane Gonitzke; great-grandchild, baby Wineinger (coming in June); siblings Jerry (Janine) Taggart, Karen King, Brad (Linda Wilson) Taggart, Robert (Kim) Taggart and many, many nephews, nieces, cousins, family and friends.

Although we feel like we didn’t get enough Doug in our lives – we can remember that Doug did not live an average life.  He traveled where he wanted to travel, laughed inappropriately at every chance, danced (especially the alligator) when the opportunity arose, learned what he wanted to learn, fixed what he wanted to fix, and loved who he wanted to love, and loved those people hard……..especially Polly.

Since Doug liked to do unusual things, he also ended up with cholangiocarcinoma – bile duct cancer.  It’s rare and aggressive.  Of course, that’s what he died from, he had to be unique.  Doug went to heaven on Dec. 15, 2023.

Danny Herman, 63, of Winner, SD passed away on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023 at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Funeral services were held on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Winner, SD. Burial  followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Danny Eugene Herman was born on April 26, 1960, in Winner, South Dakota, to Robert and Joyce (Biggins) Herman. He was the first of four to join this union. In the later years, his best friends, Tony, Marty, and Penny, joined him.

Dan attended his grade, middle, and high school career at the Winner School District. He graduated in the year of 1978. This year was his 45 class reunion. It was a lot of fun, as he drove a party bus for their celebration.

After graduating high school, he attended Western Dakota Tech for mechanics.

After his schooling, Dan joined his father at the B&D Auto Salvage. He got to do what he loved for many years – working on cars. Another passion he had was racing, and he spent many summers at the Winner Speedway. Dan now has a pit crew seat in all of the races. If anyone needed something, he would do anything that he could to help. Until his last days, individuals would find him working on cars, riding his motorcycle, or drinking Busch Lights with his friends.

If someone happened to go out to the shop at 6:30 pm, the television would be playing “The Wheel of Fortune.” He would get multiple puzzles correct and would joke that he would do better than many contestants. Fittingly, on his last night on Earth, that show was on the television. Dan certainly hit the million-dollar wedge in this thing called life.

What Dan loved the most was being a father and grandpa. His grandkids could do no wrong. You could always count on him dropping what he was doing to be there for his kids and grandkids. The second drawer on the left-hand side of his desk was filled with different toys. His grandkids would drag out all of the different toys every visit. Dan was a kid at heart, and he would always be right there playing with them. He was the best “Pop-Pop.”

Dan is survived by his five children: Travis (Kat) Walker, Trevor (Kortni) Herman, Joshua Herman, Jacob Herman, and Shanelle (Clinton) Herman. His grandchildren also survive him: Dane, Kai, Jaxon, Krew, Adyson, Connor, Canyon, Dally, Copeland, Delaynie, and Sage.  Also having an empty place in their hearts are his siblings: Marty, Tony, and Penny (Chad). Other family members include nephews: Bryce (Becky) and Adam, nieces: Lindsey and Alex, Aunt Dianne, and Uncle Darrell.

He is preceded in death by his parents, a special aunt Darlene; and aunts, uncles, and cousins.