Nancy Jo (Schramm) Giessinger, age 79, of Huron, SD and formerly of Winner, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020 at the Huron Regional Medical Center in Huron.
A private funeral service for Nancy was held on Friday, Aug. 28 at Welter Funeral Home in Huron with burial at Riverside Cemetery.
Nancy Jo Schramm was born on Dec. 27,1940 to Herbert F. and Harriet C. (Hanson) Schramm in Winner, SD. She attended school and graduated from Winner High School in 1958. Nancy worked as a store clerk for many years in the telephone industry, mainly Northwestern Bell and later US West until her retirement. She then worked at Dakota Pork in Huron in the same capacity (store clerk) and later worked part time with the South Dakota American Legion Auxiliary.
Nancy met Eugene in Huron, SD when they both worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone. They were united in marriage on Oct. 9, 1965 in Huron.
Nancy enjoyed spending time with her three grandsons, Sam, Ben, and Will. She also enjoyed Bingo, shopping, playing cards, and an occasional trip to the casino. Nancy was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Huron and lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Grateful for having shared in Nancy’s life are her husband Eugene of Huron, SD; her son Jason (Cindy) Giessinger of Bloomington, IL; three grandsons, Sam, Ben, and Will ; one brother, James (Karen) Schramm of Winner, SD; and one sister, Cindy (Neil) Quitsch of Sumpter, SC. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, William Bergman, and several uncles, aunts, and one niece.
Memorial are preferred to Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 2040 Ohio Ave. SW, Huron, SD 57350
Rhonda Cousins comfortably and peacefully passed away on Monday, July 20, 2020 in Golden Valley, MN.
A kind and compassionate soul, Rhonda was always there to help whether it was 4-H, Girl Scouts, or a church event you would most likely find Rhonda behind the scenes. Rhonda was born on Dec. 18, 1953, in Slayton, Minn., to Ernest and Myrtle Jens Wancenried. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Slayton High School in 1972. She then attended Southwest Minnesota State College in Marshall.
On Aug. 2, 1980 she and Michael Cousins were married at Faith Lutheran Church in Avoca, MN. Following their marriage they made their home in Winner, SD where Rhonda worked at the Winner Public Elementary School. Rhonda dedicated her life to teaching. Everyone who met her knew teaching was her true calling.
She was one of those teachers who made learning fun. She didn’t teach for tests. She taught for the sparkle in the child’s eye. Family always joked that Rhonda was the original Pinterest because her ideas were always so amazing! The friendships she made through teaching and the community were a true testament of her character. She was the glue that held many together. She was an amazing mother, grandmother, sister and friend to many.
Throughout her life she doted on her children and their friends. She was a troop leader, 4-H leader, volunteered for many community organizations, and had true civic pride. Anyone who visited her home would likely find Rhonda with her nose in a book or recovering from a prank played by one other family members. You could tell she had a love for children because she was always(usually) a good sport. In 2011 Rhonda retired from teaching and returned to the family farm by Avoca. Retirement didn’t stop her from keeping busy!
She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Avoca and was active in the Altar Guild, Sunday School teacher, reader and ladies group. Following Faith Lutheran Church closing, she joined Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Dovray, MN. Rhonda was a TOPS Club leader. She met many of her dearest friends in the TOPS group.
Rhonda volunteered many hours at the Slayton library and at Slayton Elementary School. She enjoyed spending time with her family, reading, and her dog, Stella, and cat, Taffy.
Rhonda also reunited with her college sweetheart and true love, Don Larson, and spent many happy years making up for lost time. They enjoyed going to the casino, dining out, going for drives and spending time together. Her life was full of laughter, love and friendship.
Survivors include her two daughters and their children, Summer and Erica Picha and their children Oliver, Westin and Addison of Golden Valley, Mn, and Amy Jo Clemens and her fiance, Jeremy Jimenez and their children Jameson, Samuel, and Kaylin of St. Cloud, MN, four sisters, Rosanne Wancenried of Avoca, MN, Laura Wancenried of St. Cloud, MN, Colleen Wancenried of Hopkins, Mn, and Juanita Oeltjenbruns of Currie, MN, special friend, Don Larson, and several nieces and nephews and their families.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Mike Cousins, grandson Billy Rebel Chapman and an infant brother. A private graveside service was held at the Faith Lutheran Cemetery in Avoca, MN at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2020 with Rev. Chuck Swanson officiating. Memorials may be directed to the Slayton Public Library or to the Ronald McDonald House.
Betty (Steffen) Kirwan, 87, passed away at Bethany Lutheran Home in Sioux Falls, SD on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020.
Rosary will be Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 at 10 am at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Lake Andes, SD with visitation following. Memorial service will be Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 at 11 am at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Lake Andes, SD following the visitation. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Spencer, NE at a later date. Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home.
Betty Ann Steffen was born Aug. 24, 1932 at her parent’s farm south of Colome, SD. She was the fifth of eight children born to Friederich and Josephine (Schroeder) Steffen. She attended rural school and then graduated from Colome High School in 1950.
Betty then attended Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, SD. In August 1951, she started teaching rural school by Colome, SD. Her yearly salary was $1,557. On April 24, 1954, she married Daniel Duane Kirwan.
They farmed in the Randall Valley and she taught rural school south of Lake Andes. They moved to Pickstown, SD in 1970. Throughout her life she enjoyed tending her plants (she had a green thumb) and gardening, canning and baking, word finds and a good game of cribbage or scrabble. She was a member of St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, a 4-H leader and VFW Auxiliary.
Betty is survived by her two children: Fred (Sally) Kirwan of Pickstown, SD and Nancy Kirwan of Sioux Falls, SD; grandson Austin (Natalie) Donley of Sioux Falls, SD, brother Jack ‘Fritz’ Steffen of Winner, SD and sister Doris Zimmerle of Huntsville, Ala.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, three brothers: Leonard, Bob and Vic Steffen, two sisters: Helen Steffen and Stella Doty.
Martha Peters, 89, of Winner SD, passed peacefully into her eternal life on Wednesday Aug, 12, 2020 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Center.
A private mass of Christian burial was held on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. A private Rosary was held on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020 at 5 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
Martha was born on Jan. 25, 1931 to George and Margaret (Gierau) Mullen in Wewela, South Dakota. She attended a one room school house there for grades 1 through 8. From there she went to St. Mary’s Academy in O’Neill, Neb., from 1944 to 1948.
After graduation from high school she worked at Marty Mission School in Marty, South Dakota. She then moved to Bloomfield, Neb. and worked at Mullen Market, the family grocery store. She met Jack Peters at a dance in Wewela. They were married on June 7, 1951. They started their married life in Colome, SD, and later moved to Winner.
To this union, four sons were born. Martha is survived by her sons and their families. Pat (Marjo), Larissa (Josh Luther), Hallie, Marrie, Ainsley, Travis (Lyndsey), Camden, Bo, Tyler (Brittany), Cavan; Kevin (Cindy), Dale (Jacey), Kelby, Karley; Steve (Darcie), Sydnie, Trevor, Jack, Hudson; Laura Root (Jamie) , Addy, Rylee, Gracie; Dan (Lenore) John, Beth (Bobby Bruinsma), Wesley; Brad (Joan), Katie (ErikPedersen), Kelli, Kasey (Keith Miller), Ava, Nora, Case, Kami (Ryan Trainer). Her sisters Marcella (Jess)Wills, Bernadette (Bill) Skrivan, and brother Bernard (Nona) Mullen.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jack, great granddaughter Esther Grace, brother-in-law Chuck Bohart and nephew, John Mullen. Martha exemplified what a true Catholic Christian is. Her faith was a strong foundation for how she lived her life. She was a faithful member of the Immaculate Conception Church choir, sharing her beautiful soprano voice.
She was a 50 year member of the Catholic Daughters. She was active in supporting St. Mary’s School in Winner. She was a regular volunteer serving dinners at the church. Jack and Martha along with close friends, Bill and Betty Pistulka, headed the annual Fall Festival when Father Arnie Kari was pastor back in the 1980’s. Martha could strike up a conversation with anyone. She loved to visit.
Martha always made sure friends and family never left her home without a meal. That squeaky back door was always a welcoming sound. And the people she cared for stretched far and wide. Martha kept an incredible network of distant cousins and old friends who would visit frequently. As her mind began to fail her, she shared stories and old memories of her childhood.
Perhaps she embellished the details where she drew a blank. But we didn’t care – we were grateful for the stories and “the visit”. Martha was a golfer – and had the tan lines to prove it. And when she couldn’t golf, she filled her time with bridge club.
She loved to spend time with her grandchildren, and was always grateful that so many of them were close by as they grew up. Martha – thank you for dedicating your life to making sure everyone around you was taken care of, well-fed and entertained.
You’ve set an incredible example for the rest of us. You were, and will continue to be, a bright light in our lives.
Marion “Big Mike” Dreyer, 87, of Winner, SD passed away on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Facility in Winner, SD. Funeral service was held on Friday, Aug.7,2020 at 2 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.
Marion Delano “Mike” Dreyer was born on Feb. 28, 1933 in the northeast bedroom of the family farmhouse to Edward and Marie Dreyer of Carter South Dakota. He was the new baby brother to Harold, Howard, Lorraine and Milton. Life was never dull with four boys and only one girl to keep them in line. Mike followed his siblings and graduated from Witten High School in 1950.
In the fall of 1951, he married Dola Tucker and they were married for 67 years. Clifford, Julie Ann and Lonnie Lee were born to this union. After a few years of working and living on the farm Mike and Dola purchased the farm from his parents and added a trucking business. In 1971 Mike rented out the farm, moved the family to Winner and began his construction business, trenching and backhoe work was also added to the business.
In the mid 90’s they moved back to the farm where they lived for the rest of their lives. Building up a cattle heard and putting up hay kept Mike busy. He loved the haying season “just how big can you make a bale?”
Mike loved pheasant hunting season with his Tennessee hunters, playing cards with the couples card club which they had belonged to for many years, bowling, fishing and of course dancing.
He would dance every dance until the party was over. Yes, he out danced all of us.
Grandpa Mike and Grandma Dola would travel to all the activities and sporting events of their children and grandchildren. Mike was a member of the UCC Church ofWood, SD.
He was a 32-Degree Master Mason for 52 years, Naja Shriner for 50 years, Mason for 63 and an Eastern Star member for 61 years.
Mike is survived by sons Clifford and Lonnie (Pam) Dreyer, seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Darci (Matt) Dailey and Jack, Maggie and Mick; Michael Dreyer; Stacy and Elena Dreyer; Sid (Amanda) Dreyer and Isaac, Emily and Ian; Sara (RJ) Petersek and Linkyn, Libbie, and Preslie; Kristin and Victoria Dreyer; Jake Dreyer and many nieces and nephews.
Mike is preceded in death by his wife Dola, daughter Julie, parents Edward and Marie Dreyer, brothers Harold (Kay), Howard (Bonnie), Milton (Clarice) and sister Lorraine (Paul) Kauer.
Betty (Steffen) Kirwan, 87, died at BethanyLutheran Home in Sioux Falls, SD on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Rosary will be Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 at 10 am at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in LakeAndes, SD with visitation following.
Memorial service will be Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 at 11 am at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Pickstown, SD following the visitation. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cathlic Cemetery in Spencer, NE at a later date. Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Lake Andes.
Bev Engelmeyer passed away at the age of 66 years on Friday, Aug.7, 2020, after a lengthy battle with colon cancer. Funeral services were held Aug. 13 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke. Burial was in Graceland Cemetery in Burke.
Bev was born Sept. 28, 1953 in Valentine, Neb., to Lester ‘Gus’ and Evelyn (Schipporeit) Bain. Bev’s family lived and worked on various ranches and farmsteads until they purchased their land north of Burke, South Dakota in 1963.
Bev graduated from Burke High School in May 1971 and went on to obtain atwo year degree in accounting and medical transcription at National College. She returned to Burke and worked for Dr. Nemer, as well as Wilhelmsen Feed Service, utilizing her college degrees.
She was united in marriage to Dave Engelmeyer on June 21, 1974. Dave and Bev spent the majority of their marriage as owners and partners of Jungle of Flowers, along-standing small town business established in 1978, from which they fully retired on May 31, 2020. Through her affiliation with the floral industry, Bev servedas the South Dakota FTD Board Treasurer and a South Dakota Florist Association Board Member.
Bev endured raising three daughters who share her same qualities of tenacity, strong-will and hospitality. All three girls excelled in academics and were heavily involved in extracurricular activities. Their house was a gathering place both before and after activities. Her girls and their roommates were regularly shipped college care packages full of homemade goodies.
Bev was raised with 4-H, both rodeoand livestock, and enjoyed anything with her horses. Bev served as the girls’ Willing Workers 4-H Club Leader and shared her expertise with their cooking, speeches, sewing and countless craft projects. An annual trip to the South Dakota State Fair was the pinnacle of everyone’s hard work.
Bev was blessed with seven grandchildren who were her pride and joy. She delighted in hearing about their activities, even better was when she could attend in person and take them for treats afterward.
She is a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a past president of the Altar Society.
Bev is survived by her husband, Dave, and three daughters: Michelle (Bill) Schenkel, Colette (Matt) Dick and Tasha (Shaun) Rausch, and seven grandchildren: Dillon and Allie Schenkel, Madison and Cooper Dick, Brooklyn, Addelyn and Hudson Rausch; along with her brother, Don (Deb) Bain.
Joan Marie (Welsh) Rudnick, age 82 of Appleton, was born February 9, 1938 to James and Marie (Storms) Welsh in Wood, SD. She attended school in Wood, graduating in 1955 and then attended Southern State Teacher’s College in Springfield, SD earning her teaching certificate.
Her first job was at a local school, then she moved to Ortonville and taught for three years. She met Ronald Rudnick in the fall of 1962 and they were married June 27, 1964 at the town hall in Wood, SD. They made their life in rural Appleton working side by side to run the family dairy farm and raise five children. They were members of St. Joseph church in Holloway until it closed in 1991 and then St. Johns of Appleton where she was an active member of the church lecturing, distributing communion, and teaching religious classes.
Later in life Joan was a home health aide where she developed close relationships with those she cared for, retiring at the age of 70. In her free time, Joan enjoyed tending to her flowers, which she won many blue ribbons for at the county fair, reading, spending time at the lake, riding horses in Saddle Club, volunteering with the MCCL, and the thing she enjoyed most of all talking to her many friends and family on the phone.
Joan is survived by her husband Ron, of 56 years; children: David (Tracy) Rudnick of Blackhawk, SD, Ronda (Dave) Maas or Ortonville; Renee (Dan) Kojetin of East Bethel; Jim (Lisa) Rudnick of Willmar, and Sara (Mike) Edelman of Graceville; her grandchildren Brian (Amy) Knutson, Roxy Knutson, Lisa and Scott Kojetin, Greg (Ashley) Maas, Brittany (Kole) Mastel, Megan and Taylor Rudnick, Zak, Luke, Sam, Jake and Noah Adelman; six great grandchildren; and her brother,Don (Jeanne) Welsh.She was preceded in death by her parents James and Marie; brothers, George and Bob and sister, Kathy.
Avis Marie (Henderson) Benthin crossed the bridge to join her husband, Keith, parents, brothers and sister in Heaven.
Left behind to grieve her passing are her children Steven, Michael (Janet), Sharon (Rock) and Douglas (Debbie), sisters-in-lawEmily and Nadine, brother-in-law Kent (Carol), grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by many other relatives and friends.
Avis was born on the family farm in Hamill,SD. She graduated from Winner High School and attended SDSU, studying nursing. She met Keith on a blind date and they were married in 1956. They moved to Minnesota when Keith started working for the MN Highway Department. After her children were grown, she went back to school and completed her LPN degree.
She primarily worked at nursing homes and retired from the Minneapolis Veterans Home. Avis loved being a mom (she had many “extra” children who called her mom) and was very involved with their activities. She was also a very active member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN.
She served on many committees, including the Church Council and the Mary circle. In 2016, she moved into Cornerstone Assisted Living in Plymouth, MN, to be closer to her daughter. Avis loved playing the piano, was always up for a game of cards or a board game and would drop everything for chance to babysit or attend an event of one of her grandchildren.
She loved all animals but had a special love for cats. Avis was a devout Christian and, as long as she was able, read her bible and did her devotions and prayers every day.
A private family service will be held and she will be buried alongside her husband at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Memorials preferred to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN or Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. Arrangements by Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel of Plymouth (Gearty-Delmore.com, 763-553-1411).
Katherine “Cora” Kuhlman passed away Sunday, July 26, 2020 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls. Cora was 87.
Katherine Cora Kositzky, daughter of Katherine Cora (Ellis) and Edwin Paul Kositzky, was born on Sept. 1, 1932 in Winner, SD. She graduated from Winner High School in 1950, and graduated from Sioux Valley Hospital School of Nursing in Sioux Falls, SD in 1953.
Cora worked as a registered nurse at Avera McKennan Hospital for nearly 30 years before she retired in 1991. On Jan. 8, 1955, Cora was united in marriage to Douglas Kuhlman in Winner, SD. She spent her married life as a wife, mother and nurse. She was an active member of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church.
Cora enjoyed cooking, sewing, exercising and traveling.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Douglas of Sioux Falls; children, Katherine Anne (Lane) Mousel of Alabama, Kristin Marie (Mark) Friedel of Spearfish and Blair Douglas Kuhlman of Sioux Falls; five grandchildren, Adrienne and Tyler Mousel, Kala and Jenna Storbeck, and Noah Friedel; three great-grandchildren, Peyton, Naomi and Shepard; and two sisters-in-law, Bobbe Kositzky of Graceville,MN and Janice Kositzky of Willmar, MN. Cora is preceded in death by her parents; three brothers Ellis Milton Kositzky, Paul Kositzky, and William “Bill” Kositzky; sister, Jo Ann Kositzky Klein; and special nephew, Patrick Kositzky.
Memorial visitation with family present 5:00 – 7:00 pm with prayer service beginning at 6:30 pm on Monday, August 3, 2020 at Miller Funeral Home – downtown, 507 S. Main Ave., Sioux Falls.
Memorial service 10:00 am Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at Church of the Good Shepherd, 2707 W. 33rd Street, Sioux Falls. Lunch reception to follow the memorial service at Upper Sherman Park Picnic Shelter.
For more information and online registry please visit our website www.millerFH.com
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