Category Archives: Obituaries

Kenneth Iron Shooter, 73, of Winner, SD passed away on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 at the Lake Andes Nursing Home in Lake Andes, SD. Funeral services were held on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD. Final view was held from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Winner Ideal Community Hall. Burial  followed at the St. Mary’s Garden Cemetery in Wood, SD. Wake services were held on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 at 8 p.m. at the Winner Ideal Community Hall in Winner, SD.

Kenneth Charging Iron Shooter was born on Feb. 12, 1950 in Sioux Falls, SD. He attended school at St. Mary’s Catholic in Winner, SD. Soon after Kenny and some classmates were on the road to further their education at Job Corps when a tragic train accident left him the only survivor.

A little later in life he worked at a cheese factory in Mission, SD where he lived for a short time. This lead him back to Winner, SD where he had his own apartment, a place to call home. He enjoyed watching football, but most of all he loved, cared, and cherished all of his nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was survived by sisters, Gloria “Dolly” Iron Shooter of Mission, SD; Ruth DuBray of Ideal, SD; brothers, Darrel Iron Shooter of Winner, SD; & Xavier Iron Shooter, of Winner, SD.

He is preceded in death by brother, Frank Iron Shooter Jr.; & sisters, Martha Jones & Rosemary Eagle Hawk; along with three infant brothers.

Alice Hansen, 72, of Winner, SD passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023 at the Winner Regional Hospital in Winner, SD. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023 at 10 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, SD. Burial will be held at 2 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Mission, SD. Alice Ann Hansen was an avid Green Bay Packer fan (sticking with them through the good and bad times), a loving sister, aunt, and friend. She left this world on Sept. 26, 2023 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loved ones who will continue to honor her life by living life to its fullest.

Alice was born to Donald and Helena (Horst) Hansen on Jan. 20, 1951. She was baptized and confirmed in the Zion Lutheran Church in Mission, SD. She attended grade school at the Lutheran school in Mission, SD and graduated from the Lutheran High School in Mobridge, SD. Her faith was strong and attending church was very important to her. She spent many years sharing her love for Jesus by teaching Sunday School.

Alice worked for the Todd County School District for 47 years. She began her career as an aide working her way up. At the time of her retirement, she was Supervisor/Pay Clerk. She was involved in establishing a Wellness Committee and continued to oversee it. She served as an officer with the South Dakota Association of Education Office Professionals, including two terms as president.

Her greatest joys in life were her family, watching NFL football, and shopping for gifts for the people she cared most about. Although she did not have children of her own, she loved her nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephew like they were her own. She loved offering her motherly advice.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Clarence and Frieda Hansen; maternal grandparents, August and Bertha Horst; her parents Don and Helena; and brother-in-law John Haukaas.

She is survived by her sisters Mary Haukaas, of Mission, SD; Phyllis (Pete) Haukaas, of Okreek, SD; Donne (Don) Kauppi, of Laughlin, NV; and Nancy (Brad) Oligmueller, of Rapid City, SD. As well as all of her nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephew.

Alice will be greatly missed but we will cherish the wonderful memories of her.

Memorial Services for Pep’s McIntire, age 84, of O’Neill, Neb., will be at 11 am on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 at the Assembly of God Church in O’Neill with burial to follow in the O’Neill Cemetery including Military Rites provided by the O’Neill American Legion Simonson Post 93.  Pastor Scotty Clark will officiate.  Memorial Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 at the Assembly of God Church in O’Neill with a 7 pm prayer service. 

Ervin passed away on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 at Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk.  Memorials may be directed to his family for future designation.  Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin’s Mortuary in O’Neill.

Ervin Charles McIntire was born on March 24, 1939 in Foley, Minn. to Frank and Henrietta (Schmidt) McIntire.  He grew up near Clearfield, South Dakota and went to school in a one room school house there through the eighth grade. 

Pep’s was a very good left handed pitcher and he even tried out for a couple Major League Teams.  He worked testing cream at Steel’s Grocery Store.  He moved with his family to Witten, South Dakota and worked for a garage before he enlisted into the U.S. Army on Dec. 14, 1961.  He served for a time in Germany and France as a Fuel Truck Driver before he was honorably discharged on Dec. 13, 1963.

After a short pursuit, Pep’s married Joyce Baker at Bridgewater, South Dakota on Nov. 22, 1965.  To this union, three children were born; Brenda, Micky, and John.  Pep’s worked for a grocery store for a time, then went to work for the local Standard Oil Station in Winner.  He eventually bought it and delivered gas and fuel oil.  He then started and ran M&M Office Supplies for a time.  Pep’s then took a job at Sharple’s Chevrolet in Spencer, Neb.

Pep’s and his family then moved to Arizona for a short time.  They then moved back to O’Neill where he worked for Eby’s Chevrolet.  Pep’s then partnered with Arnie Babl to run a car lot on the east edge of town.  He then branched out on his own and started Frontier Motors, west of Pump & Pantry.  He retired when he was 62, but continued to work for Biba Construction for 5 more years, and still occasionally sold cars.

Pep’s was a member of the O’Neill American Legion Simonson Post 93.  He enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, and spending time with his friends and family with a cold one.  He was a good mechanic and could repair motors and transmissions with ease.

Pep’s is survived by his three children, Brenda (Dustin) Harris of O’Neill, Micky (Dawn) McIntire of O’Neill, John (Mandi) McIntire of O’Neill; six grandchildren, Ashley (Craig) Gowery, Cody McIntire, Jaydan Harris, Chase McIntire, Cassidy McIntire, Madison McIntire; six great grandchildren, Trey Gowery, Taya Gowery, Tatum Gowery, Tucker Gowery, Haley McIntire, Ayva McIntire; three siblings, Dale (Joyce) McIntire of Wichita, Kansas, Francis (Marv) Smith in Thorton, Colorado, Dorothy Kleinhans of Colorado; many nieces and nephews.

Pep’s was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Joyce McIntire in 2007; and his brother-in-law, Roland Kleinhans.

Julie Ann Miller, age 74, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, at Monument Health Hospice House of Rapid City.

Julie was born on April 9, 1949 in Norfolk, Neb.  She graduated from Winner High School in Winner, South Dakota and then briefly attended business college also in Winner.

Julie was in the dietary profession for most of her life – at the Winner Hospital for 22 years, Dallas, Texas and Rapid City.

Julie loved country music, playing Bingo, doing word search puzzles, weekend nature drives, watching CBS soaps and collecting roosters.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Gary Miller;  mother, Betty Busch of Rapid City, SD; daughter, Lisa Schrader of Dallas, Texas; son, Scott Schrader of Dallas, Texas; siblings, Les Busch, Lyle Busch, Glenna Thomas,  Sharon Littau and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. 

She is preceded in death by her father, David Busch; first husband, Orlin Schrader; and brother, Arlin Busch

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital of which Julie was a big supporter. Services provided by Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City.

Ingrid Lynne Doom, 75, Brandon, SD, died on Thursday, September 15, 2023, at Sanford USD Medical Center.

Visitation with the family present will be held 5pm – 7pm, Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at Heartland Funeral Home, Brandon SD, with a Scripture Service at 7pm. Funeral Services will be held at 11am, Thursday, September 21, 2023, at Heartland Funeral Home. Burial will happen at a later date at the SD State Veteran’s Cemetery.

Ingrid will be greatly missed by her husband, Charles Doom, Brandon; son, Chris (Angel) Doom, Avon, SD; daughter-in-law, Leah Doom, Sioux Falls; grandchildren, Trey (Sonja) Doom, Kyle Doom, Karly Doom, Christian Doom, Kinley Doom, Dominic Doom, Aspen Doom, and Kennedy Doom; one brother, Fred Hage, MN; one brother-in-law, Thomas (Cheryl) Doom; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Full obit at www.heartland funerals.com

Merle Eugene Pochop was born December 8, 1941 in Winner, South Dakota to Geroge and Pauline (Meyers) Pochop. Merle grew up on a farm in the Colome/Dallas area. He attended country school through the 8^th grade and graduated from Colome High School in 1959. He was baptized and confirmed in the Zion Lutheran Church in Colome.

 Merle attended SDSU in Brookings from 1959 to 1963. Receiving a BS Degree in Mechanical Engineering. While there he joined the ROTC Program. After graduation he served in the United States Air Force until 1967, achieving the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant. He then went on to receiving an MBA at USD in Vermillion.

Merle is a Life Member of Colome American Legion, Thayer-Waters Post 146. Merle is also a member of the Good Shepard Lutheran WELS Church in Sioux Falls.

He was in management positions in several places of employment. He purchased Kelly Industrial Business and went into being a Quality Systems Project Manager, CIRAS (Center for Industrial Research and Service) at Iowa State University Extension in June of 1995 until December 2010. After retiring from Iowa State University Extension, Merle worked approximately three years as a consultant, assisting several businesses to achieve the ISO 9001 (International Organization of Standardization).

 Merle was the youngest of four boys. Virgil Lee, Darrel Duane and Roger Allen who have all preceded him in death along with his parents, grandparents, and a sister-in-law, Joan.

 Merle is survived by three sisters-in-laws: Verna Pochop of Albuquerque, NM, Margaret Pochop of Old Ham, SD and Jeanne Pochop, Dallas SD. Many nieces and nephews are survived also.

An open visitation was held on September 16 from 1 to 2 at Wass Funeral Home in Beresford, followed by a memorial service at 2 also at Wass Funeral Home in Beresford, SD.

Barry M. Jensen, age 78, of White River, died on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 in Rapid City.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Community Events Center in White River.

Interment will follow at the White River Cemetery.

A full obituary and photo will follow in next week’s edition.

Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.

Dr. Anita Remerowski passed away in Olympia, Wash., on Thursday, Aug. 31,2023, with her husband at her side. She left her kindness, concern for the poor and less fortunate, sense of humor, and unwavering opinions on the state of the government, religion, and legal and medical issues across the central and western United States. A more committed Democrat and progressive there never was.

Anita was born to Frank and Margaret Remerowski in Philipsburg, Mont., on Sept. 27, 1947. In the 1950’s Margaret, a teacher, moved with her two small daughters to Central California, where she taught migrant workers. Anita attended various elementary schools, then St. Mary’s Catholic Girls School in the Bay Area. In 1969 she graduated from UC Berkeley Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.

Anita went on to get a law degree from Boalt Hall, UC Berkeley.

In 1972 she and her young son Eric moved to Alaska, where she worked first for a private law firm and then for the Alaska State School System, flying in small planes to schools all over Alaska.

An adventurer, she lived with Eric in Boston and Rapid City, South Dakota, before moving to Mission. She met Terry Pechota at her interview for a job with South Dakota Legal Services. She got the job and Terry got a wife. The two were married in 1976 at St. Francis.

Anita worked for South Dakota Legal Services as a staff attorney and eventually became its director in 1978. As she told her friends, it was the best time of her professional and personal life. She undertook and directed litigation that was significant if not monumental, including cases in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals establishing a United States trust responsibility for Indian health care in Indian County and the right of people in South Dakota’s unorganized counties to vote for those who governed them in attached organized counties. In her first case in the South Dakota Supreme Court she clarified the right of women to have their maiden name returned in divorce actions.

Their son Dominic was born in 1978 and son Alec in 1979. Mother Margaret moved from California to Mission to help her raise her sons. Anita made lifelong friends in her professional and private life during her time at Mission including Bill Janklow, Charlie and Vi Colombe, Lionel and Barbara Bordeaux, Father Harry Eglasar, Tom and Judy Tobin, Ryan White Feather, Frank Pommersheim, Phil Baird, Marvin Amiotte, Julie Valandra, and a host of others. In 1980 the family moved to Boulder, Colo., where she went to work for the Native American Rights Fund providing litigation services and other support for Indian Legal Services Programs across the United States.

Anita’s personal mission in life was to help people. In 1984, believing she could help more people as a doctor, she changed career and life paths. She took the necessary prerequisite courses at the South Dakota School of Mines, then enrolled in medical school at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Eric, Dominic, and Alec went with her. Many plane trips between South Dakota and Illinois took place during these years.

She became board certified in internal medicine and practiced in Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Arizona, Washington, and Texas.

In San Antonio, Texas, Anita found immense satisfaction volunteering and administering at Each One Teach One, helping migrants learn English and employment skills. She made many dear friends in San Antonio and elsewhere, including Colleen Walker-Vamos, Diane Warren,

Lea Ream, and Rebecca Stokes who along with her family loved and cared for her.

Anita is survived by her husband, Terry L. Pechota, Rapid City, South Dakota; sister Mary, San Francisco, Calif.; sons, Eric Remerowski, Amarillo, Texas; Dominic Pechota(Heidi), Decorah, Iowa; Alec Pechota (Annie), Boise, Idaho; stepson, Todd Pechota (Shelly),Custer, South Dakota; and grandchildren, Samantha, Will, Bridget, Harper, Jalyn, Tate, Collin, and Lucy Leona. Anita will be laid to rest in Philipsburg, Mont., alongside her dear mother whom Anita had cared for until she died.

Jean Docken, 89, Winner, passed away on Sept. 11 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Facility.

Mass of Christian burial was held on Friday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

A visitation was held on Sept. 14 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church from 6-7 p.m. with  prayer service at 7 p.m.

Jean is the third of four children born to James (Buzz) and Emma (Devish) Sharkey.  She grew up on their family farm 1 mile east of Clearfield, SD.  She met Jack Docken at a Clearfield dance on her 16th birthday in 1950.  They were united in marriage on Sept. 29, 1951.   To this union five children were born: Caryl, Jack Jr., Gail, Lynda and Scott.

Jack and Jean owned the local Clearfield Bar before moving to the present location of the Lazy Anchor Ranch.  In September of 2015 they celebrated 64 years of marriage.  After Jack’s death in December of 2015, Jean moved to assisted living in Winner.

Jean was a very active partner in the farming and ranching operation.  She was proud of her farrowing unit and was quite learned in raising hogs.  Jean was an avid gardener and enjoyed preserving the bounty.  She milked cows and sold the cream and eggs from her chickens for many years to feed her family.

As Jean did not graduate high school with her class, in the early 1980’s she completed her GED along with typing and accounting courses.  She was a strong influence on her children and grandchildren to be educated and have a strong work ethic.  There was very little she was afraid to tackle and did it very well.  She would say “If you don’t have anything to do you aren’t looking hard enough”.

Jack and Jean enjoyed dances in Clearfield and the surrounding area.  They also attended many area card parties.  Other activities included the VFW and American Legion Auxiliary, local Extension Clubs, 4-H, and the Clearfield Youth Baseball Organization.

Jean is survived by her 5 children and their spouses, a sister Maxine Duffy, 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren with another due in 2024.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jack, parents, brother Robert Sharkey and sister Doris Sharp, and brother’s-in-law Wayne Sharp and Jack Duffy.

The children of Jean would like to express their deep appreciation to a compassionate lady and friend, Elaine Meiners.  Her many visits and conversations meant so much to our mother.

Devota Hutchinson, 93 of Kearney, NE formerly of White River, SD passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023 at the Mount Carmel Nursing Home in Kearney, NE. 

Funeral service was held on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the White River Methodist Church in White River, SD.  Burial followed in the White River Cemetery. 

Devota Majel Bechtold Hutchinson was born on Oct. 27, 1929 in Murdo, South Dakota to Julius and (Elsie) Grace Peterson Bechtold. She passed away on Sept. 12, 2023 in Kearney, Nebraska. She grew up in and near White River, SD and lived there all her life until moving to Kearney, NE to be near her daughter Rhonda.

Devota was an avid reader and student and graduated as valedictorian of her class from White River High School in 1947. Shortly after becoming 18 years of age, she married Glen (Buddy) Hutchinson, a loving relationship that lasted for 53 years until his death in 2000.

She loved her community and was a passionate public servant in whatever role arose. This led her to serve the Music Parents and PTA when her children were in school, the White River City Council and White River School Board, as adult advisor for Job’s Daughters, on the White River High School Alumni board and whatever else needed to be done in and for the community. She was especially active in Eastern Star, serving several times as Worthy Matron for her chapter and filling several stations in the state organization.

Devota and Buddy raised four children, all of whom graduated from White River High School. Devota sat through and enjoyed many band concerts, plays, track meets, football and basketball games, rodeos and horse shows in support of her children and other White River School students.

Preceding her in death are her parents, her brothers Dwight and Clellan (Buzzy), her husband Buddy, her son Keith Hutchinson, a grandson Rev. Daniel Ofstehage, and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

She is survived by daughters Glenda (Bernard) Ofstehage, Rhonda (Rodney) Week, and Barb (Keith) Bailey; grandsons Steven (Stacey), James (Heather), Peter (Dawna) and Dr. Andrew (Amanda Johnson) Ofstehage, and Quincy (Darcy) Week; granddaughter-in-law Sarah Ofstehage; granddaughters Dallas (Jade) Lain, Hannah (Jeff) Baker, and Ellen Ofstehage; great-grandsons Rison, Nolan, Augustin, and Bishopp Lain, Hayden and Zane Baker, and Arlo and Henry Ofstehage; great-granddaughters Payton, Keira, Emma and Chloe Ofstehage and Riley and Ansley Week; and brother-in-law Roger Hutchinson. Also mourning her death are many nieces, nephews and friends.