Category Archives: Obituaries

Christina Jo, 34, of Port Orange, FL, formerly of Winner, SD passed away on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019 in Florida.

Funeral service was held on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019 at noon at the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner. Burial was held on Jan. 4, 2020 at 2 p.m. at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery near Canova, SD. A visitation was held on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at the church one hour prior to funeral service.

Christina Jo was born Jan. 20, 1985 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She grew up in Mellette and Miner Counties until she was five and her family moved to Tripp County. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran in Canova, SD and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in Winner SD.

She attended the Winner School District, graduating in 2003. Christina Jo was active in basketball, volleyball, track, and softball during her middle school and high school years. After high school she went to SDSU in 2004 majoring in nursing. She then decided to transfer to Denver School of Massage Therapy, graduating in October 2005.

In February 2017, she graduated from Southeast Technical Institute receiving her LPN pin. She had a love for nursing and discovered that dermatology was her true passion. Her compassionate, caring personality was the perfect fit for her choice in the nursing field.

She had a laugh that was contagious along with a vivacious personality that could brighten any room she entered. Christina Jo adored her family and friends; she enjoyed every opportunity to get together with family and friends. Her social personality made it easy for her to tell stories that would fill the room with laughter.

She loved making new memories, along with adding to old ones. Her free spirited soul treasured traveling to warm places; visiting Florida was one of her favorite places. The warm climate and sunny days were some of the reasons she had recently decided to move to Florida.

Mandy and Delle invited Christina Jo to join them on many adventures that she cherished and always looked forward to. While living in Florida, she found time for many beach adventures with Hanna, Madelyn, and her friends.

Christina Jo loved and adored her children, treasuring every moment with Hanna and Madelyn. They enjoyed many found memories of the beach after moving to Florida, all of them finding a true tranquil place they loved.

If you spend a short amount of time with her, you would have noticed her true passion for being a mother. She would do anything for her children to make them happy. If you saw her with her girls, you would have seen the joy they brought her. She wanted nothing short of a wonderful life for them.

She was a loving daughter, sister, mother, niece and friend. Everyone who knew and loved her will miss her gentle soul here on earth.

Christina Jo loved her family deeply, and is survived by her daughters Hanna and Madelyn, parents Todd and Carol Galbraith, sister Sharee Galbraith, brother Nathan Galbraith, Grandma Betty Freeman, Grandma Marilyn Galbraith, step-sister Ashley Crosby, as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Christina Jo is preceded in heaven by: Grandpa Chris Freeman, Grandpa Lee Galbraith and special care givers Pat and Mildred Bennett.

Tom Tobin, 74, of Winner, SD passed away on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019.
Memorial service was held on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. at the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner, SD. Private family burial will be held at a later date.

Visitation was held one hour prior to memorial service on Friday. In lieu of flowers the family asks that persons consider a donation to the South Dakota Historical Society.

Tommy Drake Tobin was born on Nov. 8th, 1945 in Norman, Okla., to Milton and Era (Moran) Tobin. The family moved to Chicago for Milton’s optometry education after WWII. When Era became ill with Polio, Tom was sent to live with his grandparents for a time on their farm outside of Ethan, South Dakota.

Upon Milton’s graduation, the family settled in Winner, South Dakota where Dr. Tobin started his practice. They made Winner their lifelong home with their two sons, Tom and Gregg.

Growing up, Tom spent a significant amount of time hunting and fishing. This was an interest instilled in him by his father at an early age.

Tom was an excellent trumpet player. He played in the high school band and a traveling jazz band. He also played taps at many funeral services in the local area. Tom was always up for a good time growing up. He had many great friends and teachers that shaped his life, none more than his father “Doc” Tobin. Tom graduated from Winner High School in 1963.

He attended the University of South Dakota, where he joined Delta Tau Delta fraternity and met many of his lifelong friends. During college, Tom developed a love of travel which continued throughout his life. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968 and a Master of Arts degree in 1970. He was accepted to medical school but instead decided to pursue a degree in law. He earned his Juris Doctorate in 1973 from the University of South Dakota.

During graduate school, he met the love of his life, Judy Larsgaard. They married on Nov. 28, 1970 and moved to Winner upon Tom’s graduation from law school.

Tom and Judy had five children and raised them in Winner, where Tom started his law practice.

Through his creativity, tenacity and hours upon hours of legal research, Tom became a renowned, respected and sought-after expert on Federal-Tribal Treaty law and was called on by states and counties throughout the nation that faced State-Indian jurisdiction issues. This practice took him all over the country, and often he and the family drove thousands of miles to meetings and conferences.

Highlights in his legal career included arguing two cases before the United States Supreme Court, something unheard of from a private attorney in the state. The results of those cases left a lasting impact on the jurisdictional map of South Dakota. Cases of significance were DeCoteau v. District Court and Rosebud Sioux Tribe v. Kneip.

These cases involved the reservation status of Roberts, Gregory, Tripp, and Mellette Counties in South Dakota. Subsequently, he was involved in Solem v. Bartlett involving the boundaries of the Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Indian Reservations in South Dakota, Cook v. Parkinson, involving the reservation status of Bennett County, and many other jurisdiction cases in South Dakota and across the western United States. He advised governors and attorneys general from various states on the intricacies of Indian law.

As a young, inexperienced attorney, the US Supreme Court’s Chief Clerk Michael Rodak II, mentored Tom on the workings of the court and became a close friend.

Tom served as Tripp County State’s Attorney, on various committees of the State Bar Association and national boards.

Tom was a lifelong member of the Republican party, held various positions in the local Republican party and was a notoriously poor loser when his candidate failed to win. Despite often being on the opposite side from tribes in his cases, Tom had many great Native American friends, and he was known and respected in the Tribal Courts of South Dakota. Tom continued practicing in this area of the law and in a private practice until his death.

Tom had a great curiosity and interest in history, especially all things related to South Dakota. To date, he was the longest standing member of the South Dakota State Historical Society Board. He was very proud to be involved with the state’s centennial, pawning his kids to advertise the custom bandanas he helped to create for the event.

He was also a proud member of the Western South Dakota Buckaroos, a club his son Tyler was later able to join him in. Tom led the effort to help the Buckaroos preserve the history of “The Round Up of 1902” by republishing the book Roundup Years, which collected the stories of the cowboys on that round up, said to be the largest in history.

Tom loved Tripp County and took his children hunting and fishing as soon as they could walk. It was not uncommon to halt a pheasant hunt in order to find one of his kids that were lost in a cornfield. The annual deer hunts in the White River hills were full of exhilarating Jeep chases, chili camp outs, and memorable mishaps with friends and their children.

His best friends and acquaintances from across the United States looked forward to the annual “Tobin Pheasant Hunt” because each one resulted in a memory more remarkable than the last. Highlights of this annual tradition were Judy’s spaghetti dinner, fine spirits, the Saturday night steak fry, poker games lasting until early morning hours, the political battles with his few, good Democrat friends and the bacon sandwiches for the fields.

The most important Tobin tradition was riding horses and wagons in the annual Winner Labor Parade. It was always a crazy, stressful event but Tom wouldn’t have it any other way. He prided himself on continuing this four-generation tradition started by his father.

Good or bad, from a young age Tom was always a gambling man. Whether it was a good poker game with friends, last minute trips to the horse races in Omaha, making racehorse purchases as an adult or placing the family Triple Crown race bets, he loved it all. He was a horse racing super fan, especially of the Triple Crown Races. A highlight for him was seeing the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 at the 2015 Belmont Stakes in New York with his daughter Tara.

Tom was a gentleman rancher and loved spending his spare time working with cows and horses. Until recent years, he annually swam across the Missouri River at the Platte/Winner Bridge, with his son Justin always by his side. After much persuasion, he gave up that tradition for daily walks through his pastures to the highest hill. Day or night, he rarely missed his walk.

After the passing of Judy in 2016, from which he never truly recovered, Tom found his faith and was baptized in 2016. His “ministry” was passing out Jesus Calling books to friends, strangers, and fellow travelers around the world. He had many amazing vacations with new friends in the last years of his life.

Tom was a collector of historical artifacts and antiques, in fact, he was a collector of all things he could find on a “good sale”, regardless of need. He often referred to himself as “a shopper, not a seller”. He loved cleaning his saddles, boots and refinishing furniture, a hobby he instilled in his youngest son, Travis. He was very proud of his beloved sterling silverware set and his rare and exotic skinned cowboy boot collection, the latter of which was shared and built with his eldest son, Brian.

Tom was a major fan of the Mayo Clinic. He insisted on referring friends and strangers alike, even personally driving several people to Rochester for tests or treatment.

Tom’s favorite phrases were “I’m the boss”, “In any event” and “Do you understand what I am saying?” He rarely took “no” for an answer, especially when he wanted to challenge you to a game of chess. He was a relentless arguer. He was a hard worker, a voracious reader, an insatiable learner and a generous soul.

Tom was a world traveler, including several alleged trips to Cuba. Most of all, he loved and was devoted to his family. His grandchildren were the lights of his life. He had a big heart, would help anyone in need and was a genuine, good friend. His family, his home state, and his case work were his pride and joy. From new acquaintances to taxi-cab drivers, he would pass out his business card and offer his home for them to come and stay with him for a hunt or visit to South Dakota.

To the end, Tom would frequently comment on the blessed life that he had lived. He said he “was in the right place at the right time in law school to begin his Indian law career”. He survived his early years of drinking, smoking, chewing Red Man, followed by his ten cardiac stents and his high blood pressure rants and yet, he said “I wake up every morning with no pain and at 74 years old I still am able to walk up on that beautiful hill through mud and tall weeds and say my prayers. I’ve been so blessed.”

Tom is preceded in death by his parents Dr. Milton and Era Tobin, his brother Dr. Gregg Tobin, his wife Judy and many of his very best friends. He is survived by his sons Brian (wife Christine, children Christian, Victoria, Sophia, Gabriella and Samuel), Justin, Tyler (wife Dannette, children Ava and Charles), Travis (wife Erin, children Augustus and Anna), daughter Tara Arnold (husband Ryan, children Amelia, Scarlett and Eleanor) and many extended family members and dear friends. Tommy will be greatly missed.

Eugene Lee Borland (Mr. B), age 71 of Tyndall, SD, died Dec. 22, 2019 at University Medical Center in Omaha, Neb.

Visitation was held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Tyndall, SD. Funeral services were held 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019 at St. Leo’s Catholic Church with a luncheon to follow. Burial services were held in Colome, SD at the Colome Cemetery at 3:30 p.m. There was also be a light lunch to follow at the Colome Legion.

Eugene (Gene) Lee Borland was born Jan. 20, 1948 to Ervin and Edna (DeMers) Borland in Gregory, SD. As a child Gene helped on the family farm and driving tractor at the age of five. He graduated from Colome High School in 1966. He then attended Springfield Southern State College and graduated with a bachelor of science in education in 1970 and began teaching in Tyndall until his retirement in 2003.

Gene married Pauline Minahan Nov. 28, 1970 in Geddes, SD. To this union two children were born, daughter Sherri Borland and son Christopher Borland.

Family vacations were very important to Gene. Trips included travels to the Black Hills, Colorado and Glacier National Park in Montana’s Rocky Mountains. The whole family enjoyed the outdoors.

Gene loved fishing and shared that love with his grandchildren by taking them fishing many times over the years. Gene’s love for teaching has inspired thousands of students throughout his 33 years of teaching. Gene also had a love of the weather. He was an avid storm chaser, getting hailed on many times in his adventures. He also enjoyed many trips to Ft. Randall Casino for the entertainment, food and fun.
Gene’s love for his parent’s family farm continued as he would return to lend a hand during summer vacation from school.

Gene is survived by his children Chris (Michelle) Borland of Sioux Falls, SD, Sherri Borland of Lennox, SD; four grandchildren Melissa (Trinity), Mathew, Joey (Phyllis), Arianna and his best friend Mark.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents and sister Diane.

A memorial has been established with Bon Homme Knights of Columbus Council #4002.

Condolences may be sent to www.goglinfh.com

Rosalea M. “Tillie” Friestad, age 72, of McCook, NE passed away at the Hillcrest Nursing Home on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019.

She was born in Nevada, IA on Dec. 14, 1947 to John and Rosabell (Helms) Betts. Tillie attended and graduated from Oak Park Academy in Nevada. She continued her education at Union College in Lincoln, NE.

On Aug. 4, 1968 she was united in marriage to Lawrence Friestad. The couple made their home in Winner, South Dakota before moving to McCook, Nebraska.

Tillie loved to garden and grow flowers. She was proud of her flowers and many garden clubs would come and tour her flower gardens. She also collected stamps. She enjoyed traveling with her sister-in-law, Lorraine Friestad. They travelled to Europe and to many states in the United States.

One of the memorable trips was the train ride from Durango to Silverton, CO with her mother-in-law and father-in-law on his 80th birthday.
She was preceded in death by her parents.

Tillie is survived by her husband, Lawrence of McCook; sister, Ruth and husband, Jim Seger, of Nevada, IA and a niece Jean Friestad.

A private burial was held in Lincoln, NE at the College View Cemetery on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. There was a memorial service at the College View Seventh-Day Adventist Church following committal.

Memorials may be left in Tillie’s name at the Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel. Friends may leave on-line condolences at herrmannfh.com
Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel of McCook entrusted with arrangements.

Graveside service for Eugene Cullison were held Dec. 27 at 10 a.m. at Burton Cemetery on Burton, Neb., with Dave Cullison officiating. Burial was in the Burton Cemetery.
Eugene Elmer Cullison was born June 2, 1930 at Gordon, Neb. to George and Laura Mae (Willey) Cullison and he died Dec. 22, 2019 at the Butte Healthcare Center in Butte, Neb.

Gene was orphaned at a young age and spent his young life in the Mills, Neb. area with the Donason / Wenger family. From there he progressed to Western Nebraska and then on to Wyoming.

He married Carole Worth on March 20, 1951 and they lived in Wyoming for a period before moving back to Nebraska. They lived north of Burton where they raised their boys: Mike, Wayne, David and Dennis. The oldest son was Robert who died in infancy.

Gene spent his life breaking horses, tending cattle and shearing sheep. He always stood by his word, his friends and his family.
Carole passed away in October of 1996. Gene continued shearing and fishing. Upon retiring, he continued to live on the home place, riding a four-wheeler and checking varmint traps.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; his son; his wife Carole; his brother Bob and his sister Hazel.

Gene is survived by his sons: Mike and wife Nadine of Ft. Lawrence, WY; Wayne and wife Robin of Dixon, NE; David and wife Linda of Casper, WY and Dennis and wife Linda of Springview, NE; as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

James “Jim” Beranek, age 91, of Hamill, SD passed away peacefully on Dec. 24, 2019, at the Winner Regional Health Care Center in Winner. Prior to that Jim was in Home Hospice for a year and a half. Lou was able to care for him during this time.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019 at 2 p.m. at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation was held one hour prior to the services.

Jim was born Sept. 21, 1928, to Fred and Mary (Klima) Beranek. He was delivered by his grandmother, Marie (Vojti) Beranek, who was the area midwife. He lived his whole life within a mile from where he was born.

Jim went to country school near Bull Creek. He walked or rode his horse to and from school every day. He attended the local country school through 8th grade, at which time he told his mother he would never walk into a school again! Jim loved cattle. He ranched and farmed with his father.

Jim was drafted into the Army during the Korean Conflict on May 23, 1951, and was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. He obtained the rank of CPL and was a squad leader in a heavy mortar company. He was transferred to the active reserve on April 1, 1953 and was honorably discharged on Aug. 8, 1956.

At his brother’s Donald’s wedding, he met Lou Jean Moerike. She was the sister of Donald’s new bride Dorothy. They danced and were never apart for 63 years. They were united in marriage on March 28, 1955. Jim and Lou worked the land and raised Hereford cattle together. On Jan. 20, 1956, their daughter Kathy was born.

Anyone who knew Jim could tell that he loved livestock. After he sold his cow herd in February of 1979, he ran black-white face yearlings. He also started to buy cattle for other people. He loved being on the road and was a cattle order buyer from 1977 through December 2016. Due to losing his sight and hearing, he decided it was time to quit at the age of 88. Jim made many friends and always called his customers to make sure they approved of the cattle he bought.

In 1974, Kathy married David Turgeon and Jim gained a son-in-law. Dave and Kathy have two daughters, Stacy and Jamie. They loved going to the farm and helping with the everyday chores. The girls spent a lot of time at the farm and Stacy worked several summers for them.

Jim also loved to hunt pheasants with family and hunters from all over the US. But he was always in a hurry to get a limit, especially if there was a sale to go to. Jim’s happy place was any sale barn. He’d get up extra early so he could go out and look at the livestock he was interested in buying for someone.

Jim and Lou liked to dance. He was a member of the ZCBJ Lodge and the dance hall was located on his property by Hamill where many weekends were spent. Jim was a life-time member of the American Legion also. He loved to play cards with family during the holidays and taught his granddaughters to play pitch.

Jim enjoyed celebrating birthdays and anniversaries by going out to eat, especially because this gave him a reason to go to the casino.

Jamie spent more Friday’s skipping school to go along with grandpa and grandma to the sale barns than she spent in the classroom, from middle school on. Especially her senior year.

Kathy always called Jim and Lou the “weed patrol”, as they were out looking for thistles all summer long. When Stacy worked for them, she would dream about chopping and spraying thistles for they did it so much!
Jim is survived by his wife, Lou Jean, daughter Kathy (Dave) Turgeon, granddaughters Stacy Turgeon and Jamie (Jay) Turgeon-Drake, great granddaughters Samantha Peppel and Jaymes Lou Jean Drake, and brother Donald Beranek, brother-in-law Don Moerike, and sister-in-law Yvonne (Don) Umburger.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Mary, sisters Rosie (Walter) Jordt, Mary (Elmer) Foss, Libby (Arthur) Hecht, and Emma (Tony) Cervanka, sister-in-law Dorothy Beranek, sister-in-law’s Tillie Creemur, & Tiny Johnson, and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Gary F. Davis, 79, husband of Janice L. Davis died on November 28, 2019 at Baptist Health Lexington.

He was born on May 9, 1940 in Millboro, SD to the late Kerr A. and Lela J. (Mann) Davis. Gary was a graduate of Winner High School.

He went on to travel the country: LA, Miami and Louisville, where he met his wife; they moved to Lexington in 1971.

Before retirement, his career was in the wholesale agriculture chemical business.

Gary was a member of Grace Baptist Church for over 40 years. He organized the annual benefit concert for the Bob Brown House, which is a special needs facility, for many years.

Gary enjoyed gospel and country music festivals and was an avid supporter of Woodsong’s Old Time Radio Hour.

He loved travel- even a 60 day RV trip to Alaska and back.
Gary is survived by his wife of 56 years; his son, Kevin W. Davis; siblings, Opal (Davis) Booth, Steve Davis, and Daniel Davis.
He is proceeded in death by his parents; and his brother, Ray Davis.

Funeral services for Anna Fiala, 69, Gregory, were held Dec. 17 at the Methodist Church in Gregory. Burial will be at a later date.

Anna Mae Fiala was born on July 10, 1950, in Gregory, SD to Frank and Anna (Svoboda) Fiala. She had one sister Rosetta Marie. They grew up on a farm near Iona. Anna attended grade school at South Fairview from first through fifth grade and then Lincoln school from sixth through eighth grade finally attending Gregory High School and graduating in 1968.

She helped her mother on the family farm after her father died when she was young, they farmed and raised cattle the whole time. Anna eventually took over all the farm duties after her mother passed away. Anna mostly planted corn and wheat. She grew up working hard on the farm, milking cows at age seven and helping raise sheep. Anna always had chickens that the family would butcher and occasionally had geese or ducks.

Anna had one daughter Laurie born in 1972. Laurie continued the farming tradition by living on and working the farm with Anna.

Anna had lots of hobbies. She loved gardening, cooking, and riding the four-wheelers. If she wasn’t busy on the farm, she was enjoying time with her three grandkids. She was also a member of the Hamill ZCBJ Lodge.

Anna passed away on Dec. 12, 2019, at the Avera Gregory Hospital and the age of 69 after a short fight with cancer.

Anna is preceded in death by her parents Anna & Frank Fiala, and her sister Rosetta Marie (Fiala) Boerner.

Grateful to have shared her life is her daughter Laurie (Paul), and granddaughters Cassidy Fiala, of Cambodia, and Chelsea Backous of Aberdeen and Jonathon Fiala of Gregory.

Robert Blomstrom, 91, of Winner, SD passed away on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 at the Avera Rosebud Country Care Facility in Gregory, SD.

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 26th, 2019 at 10 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation will be held one hour prior to funeral service.

Robert Wayne Blomstrom was born April 1, 1928 in Winner, SD to George and Helen (Frohburg) Blomstrom. One of six children, he was raised on a farm a few miles southwest of Winner until his father died when he was nine. Soon after the family moved into town to find employment.

He helped out the family financially from a very young age and recalled his first job working at a soda fountain cleaning up. He continued to work throughout high school making gas deliveries for his cousin Lloyd Blomstrom.

He graduated from Winner High School in 1945 and worked at the Co-op until he entered the service. He trained as a half track driver and served during the Korean War in Germany as border patrol. Upon his return from the service he resumed work at the Co-op and there he met Elinor Walton, who worked in bookkeeping. They married Oct. 2, 1954. To this union six children were born.

Soon he purchased the Conoco service station and operated it for many years. His family remembers many late night and holiday phone calls from the police station requesting him to open up for some traveler passing through who needed fuel. He never turned anyone down.

In 1982 he began subbing as a rural mail carrier, and not long after sold the Conoco and carried mail full time. His dedication to his work earned him the honor of being named South Dakota rural mail carrier of the year, of which he was very proud.

He resided in Winner his entire life until May 2014 when it became necessary to move to an assisted living facility in Gregory, closer to his daughters. It wasn’t long before he and Elinor moved to Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in Gregory, where he resided until the time of his passing.

Robert was a faithful servant of his church and community and volunteered wherever he was able to help. He served as a council member to the Trinity Lutheran Church (WELS) for years. He was a member of the VFW and American Legion, spending many evenings calling bingo or assisting with steak night. He served on the draft board during the Vietnam war, a job that troubled him dearly, and also served as a city councilman.

He never missed volunteering putting up the flags at the cemetery for Memorial Day, or serving the free meal on Labor Day. He was a volunteer fireman for years as well as a volunteer deputy for a short time when needed. He served as an honor guard at numerous funerals and never missed carrying the flag in the Labor Day parade. He was named parade marshal of the Labor Day parade in 2007, for which he was very humbled. If a volunteer for church or community was needed, he was there as his community meant so much to him.

In later years his grandchildren were his passion and he rarely missed an event. He swapped the purple and gold colors of his alma mater for Cowboy green and Gorilla red and wore them proudly. “Papa” as called by his grandchildren was best known for his joking around and ability to make them laugh. His use of props such as goofy hats and googly eyeglasses were well received with smiles and laughter. An April 1st birthday suited him well.

He is survived by his children: David, Seattle, WA; Neil (Brena’) , Yankton, SD; Beverly (Rod) Graesser, Dallas, SD; Laurie (Mike) Spartz, New Hope, MN; Barbara (Steve) Nallick, Golden Valley, MN; Jeannie Fortuna, Gregory, SD. Also eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren: Glenn (Kirsten) Graesser, Walter, Henry and Edward, Platte, SD; Jordan (Cassie) Graesser, Brisbane, Australia; Leah Graesser, Sacramento, CA; Emilee (Max) Hendricks, Rowan, Sacramento, CA; Nolan Fortuna, Gregory, SD; Josie Fortuna, Bismarck, ND; Alyssa Fortuna, Spearfish, SD; Nathan Fortuna, Gregory, SD. Allyson Spartz, New Hope, MN. Cierra Bordeaux and Lashya Farmer, Dallas, SD.

Gregory Sherman, 67, of Colome, SD suddenly passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019.

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019 at 10 a.m. at the Colome High School Gymnasium. Burial followed in the Colome City Cemetery. A visitation was held on Sunday, Dec.15, 2019 from 6-7 pm at the Colome High School Gymnasium with a prayer service at 7pm.

Greg was born on April 19, 1952 in Clear Lake, SD to Harold and Helen (Spartz) Sherman of Goodwin, SD. Greg and his six brothers managed to keep their mother and father very busy. Greg attended grade school at Kranzburg Catholic School and Goodwin Elementary. He later attended Clear Lake High School where he was very active in athletics. Greg graduated from Dakota State University with a BA in Physical Education in 1974.

After graduating from college, Greg took his first and only teaching job in Colome, SD. There he met the love of his life and future wife, Miss Renee Brown. They first dated in secrecy to avoid teasing from students but soon fell in love. They became inseparable. They spent their time taking summer classes, listening to records, and traveling to see family. Greg and Renee were married on Dec. 27, 1975, and together had three sons.

Greg was involved in all aspects of the Colome Community. He was a devout Catholic in the St. Isidore Catholic Church and was on the Parish Council. Greg spent 25 years on the Colome Volunteer Fire Department and held the offices of secretary treasurer and assistant fire chief. He was also on the Colome City Council. Greg spent numerous years preparing the baseball and football fields and helping out in any way he could around the community.

Most would say Greg’s greatest contribution to Colome was his years spent teaching, coaching and the impact he had on the lives of countless students. He taught at Colome Consolidated Schools for 43 years, and he was just as excited to start his 43rd year as he was his 1st year. He put as much energy into the Legion Oratory Contest, Junior Prom, and Field Day as he put into coaching basketball and football.

In 2004 he received the American Legion Educator of the Year award. His number one priority was his family and never missing one of his sons’ events or games. He put 100% maximum effort into everything he did. To mention all of his contributions to the school and community would fill pages too numerous to mention. He was truly enjoying his retirement. He loved the trips he took with Renee, family, and friends.

Greg is survived by his wife Renee; his three sons, Michael and his wife Monica and two grandchildren Benjamin and Ellasyn of Waconia, MN, Christopher and his fiancé Erin of Denver, CO, and Joshua and his wife Ashley of Denver, CO; his sister-in-law Maritta Brown, and his six brothers, Harold (Larry) and his wife Mary, Dennis (Dimes) and his wife Pam, Ronald and his wife Emmie, Daniel and his wife Nancy, Joseph and his wife Eleanor, and Douglas and his wife Val; and numerous nieces and nephews

Greg is preceded in death by his grandparents George and Lucy Spartz and Joe and Ada Sherman; parents Harold and Helen (Spartz) Sherman; infant brother; nephew Jason; and infant niece April.