Category Archives: Obituaries

Jo Anne Bainter, 80, of Winner, SD passed away on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at the Winner Regional Health Care Facility in Winner, SD.

Funeral services were held on Friday, June 15, 2018 at 2 p.m. at the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner. A visitation was held one hour prior to the service.

Jo Anne “Jodee” Bainter was born on Nov. 29, 1937 in her home in Coffeyville, Kan. She was the second youngest of 9 siblings born to Edgar and Iva Hepner. Her presence came as a surprise to her siblings. As her sister, Mary, said “I did not know that Momma was expecting. I came home from school… there she was. I did not have a doll… but I had a real baby.”

Jodee shared many fond memories with her sister, including the fact that the reason she was such a good speller was because her older sister would play “teacher and student” with her. Yes, Jodee was expected to actually learn- not just play. It proved beneficial as Jodee went on to skip 2 full grades, graduating high school at age 16. A few years later, she met Max while he was the quarterback for Coffeyville Junior College. She won Max over with her compassionate personality and striking beauty- which had won her a beauty contest at the age of 14. They were married Aug. 25th, 1957. Jodee and Max went on to have 3 children, Rebecca (Becky), Steven, and Kirk. They moved around for Max’s teaching career, eventually settling in Winner, South Dakota. While Max was busy teaching, fishing, and hunting, Jodee found her niche selling Avon and engaging in volunteer work. Thanks to her love for Avon (which she sold for close to 50 years), Jodee’s children and grandchildren always received an abundance of Avon-ordered gifts for every birthday and Christmas.

She was also highly involved in the national Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA) Women’s Sorority for several decades. There, she played an important role in successful fundraising for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and was voted ESA’s South Dakota State Woman of the Year.

Once Jodee became a grandmother, she never stopped “showing off” her grandkids. If she went for “coffee with the girls,” or visited a friend- she had her grandkids in tow if they were visiting. With her spunk and humor, she always enjoyed “tricking” her grandkids into thinking that the football, baseball, or other games they were looking forward to watching were “cancelled due to bad weather.” Of course, it was her way of wanting to spend more time with them. Overall, her grandchildren are grateful for their time with her and realize that they could never spend enough time with Grandma.

Jodee Bainter is survived by two of her siblings: Mary Atkinson and Bobby Hepner; three children: Becky (Duane) Hatch of Hartford, SD, Steven (Mary) Bainter of Opelouses, LA, and Kirk (Mary) Bainter of Winner, SD; 10 grandchildren: Trevor Bainter, Sara Bainter, Stephanie Hatch, Michael Hatch, Kristin Bainter, Steven Hatch, Robert Bainter, Eric Bainter, Lauren Bainter, and Kierra Bainter. She is also survived by her 7 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Max Bainter; her siblings: Leon Hepner, Wilma Tesh, Clarys Alvey, Edgar Hepner Jr., Kenneth Hepner, and Donny Hepner; and her parents: Edgar and Iva Hepner.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting for a donation to a charity of your choice.

Funeral services for Charles Edward Vobr, 73, Colome, were held June 16 at Calvary Chapel, Colome. Burial with military honors followed at the Colome City Cemetery.

Charles Edward Vobr was born on June 9th 1945 to the parents of Albert H. and Kathryn Vobr, the 6th of 10 children. Charley was born in the Joey Holden home with Margaret Holden assisting with the birth. Albert’s family moved to various places in his childhood. They settled in the Bagley, Minn., area in 1957 where Charley graduated from Bagley High School in 1963.

Shortly after graduation, Charley joined his brother Al working for the Brezina Cattle Company south of Colome. That is where he met Judi, and they were married on Oct. 23, 1965. Charley then joined the South Dakota Army National Guard on Aug. 22, 1966 taking his basic training at Fort Lewis, Wash. He was honorably discharged upon completion of four years of service.

In 1967 they purchased land where they built a home and still reside today. To this union 4 children were born, Paula Rae, Melanie Jean, Valerie Dawn and Matthew Charles.

Alongside of being a full time farmer/rancher; Charley enjoyed feeding cattle, harvesting crops, trucking for Engel Trucking, and occasionally helping out his neighbors. He also enjoyed cheering on the local teams of the Cowboys and Cowgirls. He was very supportive of his children and grandchildren in all sports. He was involved in several activities; his favorite was running the time clock at the Fetzner Field for the Colome Cowboy football games. He also was a church board member of Calvary Chapel and Sunday school superintendent, Colome School Board Member and Chairman, American Legion member also participating with honor guard. One of the many things that were important to him were his siblings, they chose to get together yearly with this year being the 40th family reunion.

Charley is survived by his wife Judi and children; Paula (Jerry) Hrabanek, Melanie Cole (Roy Stevicks), Valerie (Scott) Horgen, Matt (Desirae) Vobr; grandchildren Kristen (Duane) Wetzel, Jake Hrabanek (Jesse Ulrich), Ethan Vobr (Tasha Welch), Evan, Adam, Joey Cole & Mattie, Allison and Jacob Stevicks, Ezra and Micah Horgen, Eli, Rayma and Kyler Vobr; Great-grand children Keira, Tyson & Cody Wetzel & Bentley Welch. Siblings: Margaret, Albert (Ardith), Ted, Helen, Joann (Jim), Fran, David, Larry (Loretta), Philip (Nan), and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Kathryn Vobr, and parents’ in-law Gus and Orene Weidner, and several brothers-in-law.

Phyllis Catherine (Lane) Marts, age 82 of Bonesteel, SD, gained a heavenly home on Memorial Day, May 28, 2018 at the Burke Community Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services were held on June 1 at the Bonesteel City Hall at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Annie Henninger officiating. Burial was in the Rosebud Cemetery of Bonesteel.

Phyllis was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 19, 1935 to Walter and Marie Lane with 4 brothers and a sister.

After getting the name of an active Air Force member from her neighborhood friend, Phyllis wrote letters back and forth to Ralph Marts for 2 years. They met and were later married Nov. 19, 1955. They also shared June 19 as their birthday. Phyllis left electricity and indoor plumbing at her Ohio home to find a home on the prairie without these necessities! They raised 7 children; 5 boys and 2 girls, on the family ranch north of Bonesteel. She enjoyed attending her kids and grandkids school activities, excelled at league bowling, was an avid card player and always enjoyed a good baseball game or western movie.

She loved to crochet pot holders as gifts for all she met. She took great care in choosing their favorite choice of colors. Many were mascot colors for her college bound grandchildren and their friends. Any gifts she received were deeply cherished, loved, and displayed. She attended many Cincinnati Reds baseball games and acquired several autographs from players (George Foster, Pete Rose) and manager (Sparky Anderson). She was a dedicated “Reds” fan.

Phyllis was a member of the All Saints Episcopal Church and The Order of the Eastern Star for over 50 years. She held many offices at both the local and state levels and enjoyed many lasting friendships.

She worked as postmaster relief for the USPS for a number of years before retirement.

Two short months ago, March 2018, Phyllis was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and began chemo treatments with the hope of a cure. She was surrounded by loved ones as she passed away suddenly from a cardio-pulmonary event.

Phyllis is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph of 38 years of marriage, her father, Walter, her mother Marie, her brother, Allen (Marlys), and sister, Laura Maher (Walter).

Phyllis is survived by her 3 brothers: Walter (Patricia), Thomas (Mary Ann), Gregory (Beverly) Lane; 7 children: Lee (Beverly) Marts, Troy, Ohio; Dr. Pamela (Jerry) Moore, Artesian, SD; Cliff (Brenda) Marts, Ignacio, Colorado; Edwin (Dr. Teresa) Marts, Winner, SD; Mary (David) Jones, Burke, SD; David Marts, Bonesteel, SD and friend (Carey); Glen (Lisa) Marts, Canton, Georgia; 22 grand children: Bret (Vanessa) Marts; Rachelle and Dillon Moore; Tiffany, Janelle, Erin, Richard, Kelly, Ryan (Tessa) and Reed Marts; Trevor and Travis Hickens; Samantha and Abigail Marts; Suzanne (Joel) Jones Pranger, Lindsey (Joseph) McCarthy and Jordan Jones; Kelsi (Bryan) Fuentes, Derik (Bianca) and Karli Marts; Talen and Teegan Marts; 8 great grandchildren: Isla, Isaac, Kaelyn, Reagan, Emily, Felicity, Colton and Veyron “Rad.”

Funeral services for Ronald L. Moore, 83, of Kennebec, SD were held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 24, 2018 at the Kennebec Methodist Church in Kennebec with burial in the Kennebec Cemetery at Kennebec.

Ronald L. Moore passed away on May 22, 2018 at Sanford Care Center in Chamberlain.

Ronald Lewie Moore, son of Lewie and Leola (Paige) Moore, was born Dec. 18, 1934, at Kennebec and was raised on a farm two miles northwest of Kennebec. He attended school from first through twelfth grade in Kennebec. Ronald enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for two years.

On Sept. 5, 1959, Ronald was united in marriage to Frances Beth Caslin in Kennebec. To this union, four sons were born Wesley, Scott, Clayton, and Cody.

Early in his career Ron worked for Lyman County Highway Department, Kennebec City Maintenance, and then he became manager of Kennebec Co-Op Lumber and Hardware. The family then owned and operated Moore’s Truck Stop from June 1984 until November 1992 when it was sold. In June of 1994, they purchased the Kennebec Co-Op Lumber and Hardware. Within his career, he made many trips with friends driving truck.

He enjoyed working with wood and had done so most of his life. Another favorite past time was working with horses with his boys, grandchildren, and close friends.

Gratefully sharing his life are his wife Beth of Kennebec; four sons Wesley of Lower Brule, Scott (Beth) of Ipswich, Clayton (Karla Brozik) of Kennebec, and Cody (Heather) of Winner; 10 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; two brothers Raymond (Jean) Moore of Chamberlain and Lyle (Gay) Moore of Kennebec; a sister Fern (Roger) Best of Brandon; a brother-in-law Phillip Caslin of Sioux Falls, and sister-in-law Kathy Caslin of Kennebec.

Preceding him in death were his parents, infant brother Albert David, nephew Russell Caslin, great niece Carli Caslin, mother and father-in-law Donnie and Jennetheve Caslin, brother-in-law Howard and sister-in-law Eva Marie.

Funeral services for Calvin Hofer were held May 26 at the Trinity Community Church on Bridgewater. Burial was in the Bridgewater city cemetery.

Calvin Dean Hofer (90) was born on Dec. 14, 1927, in a stone house on the family farm near Wolf Creek southwest of Bridgewater, SD. His parents were Joseph R. and Anna Rose (Tschetter) Hofer. He attended Bridgewater Schools.
He married Evelyn (Hossle) Hofer of Hamill, SD, on Sept. 16, 1951. They had two children.

Calvin was active in sports, community, and church. He organized and played in a church basketball league in his young adult years, officiated high school basketball, and played baseball or softball until he was 67. He served the community as McCook County Republican Chairman, as member of the township board, and as a school board member for many years. In his church (Trinity Orthodox Presbyterian/Trinity Community Church), he served as an elder for over 55 years.

Calvin drove red tractors and raised red cattle and crops as a farmer/rancher on the family farm which was declared a Century Farm in 2007. He was actively farming until his 89th birthday. He resided in the Bridgewater Diamond Care Center since January 2017 and went to heaven on May 18, 2018.

Calvin was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Alvin, and his sister Ruth Thaden.

He is survived and will be missed by his wife of over 66 years, Evelyn; his son, Robin Hofer of Bridgewater; his daughter Trudi (Dave) Nelson of Sioux Falls; three grandchildren — Dusti (Aaron) Jones of San Antonio, TX; Kyle (Kathryn) Nelson of Lincoln, NE; Kensi (Patrick) Proehl of Owatonna, MN; six great-grand- children who Calvin thought were the smartest kids ever; and brother-in-law Everett (Carol Jo) Hossle of Hamill, SD.

Justin Muhs, 40, of Winner, SD passed away on Friday, May 18, 2018 in Rapid City, SD.

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Mt. Vernon City Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, SD. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 from 6-7 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with a prayer service beginning at 7pm.

Justin was born on Dec. 27, 1977 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, SD to Harlan and Brenda (Cobb) Muhs. He passed unexpectedly on May 18, 2018 at his home in Rapid City, SD.

Justin’s early years were spent in Murdo, SD where he enjoyed playing outdoors, riding bike, and building robots out of his toys. Justin knew right from wrong and if he was going to do something where he would get into trouble, he would take Kendra with him.

In 1998 Justin moved to Winner with his family and graduated from Winner High School in 1996. Justin enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1995 when he was a Junior in high school serving six years as a combat engineer with the 153rd Engineer Battalion. In July 2002, Justin enlisted with the Army and joined the First Armored Division, “Old Iron Side.” This led him to nearly three years of service overseas, including Germany, which he loved, and a 15-month tour in Iraq.

After the military, Justin worked various jobs in Parkston, Chamberlain and Rapid City. He was a lifetime member of the Winner VFW and American Legion. Justin loved history, electronics, camping, playing with his nieces, and visiting with family, friends and former strangers.

Justin will be missed by his parents both of Winner, sister, Kendra (Phillip) Ringstmeyer and three nieces Kali, Dani, and Kori of Pierre. Several aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Justin was greeted at heaven’s door by his maternal and paternal grandparents, Andy and Elaine Cobb, Walter and LaVee Muhs, and maternal uncles Jim and Doug Cobb.

Dorothy Edwards, 92, of Winner, SD passed away on Monday, May 14, 2018 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Facility in Winner.

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Dorothy Marie (Komer) Edwards was born on Nov. 28, 1925, in St. Peter, Minn., to Fred and Margaret (Sharkey) Krueger. On Sept. 3rd 1928 she became the adopted daughter of Leonard and Johanna Komer at the age of 22 months. Sadly, Johanna passed away in September of 1931.

Dorothy grew up in the Star Valley/Ideal area being raised by her father Len. Dorothy graduated from the Ideal High School in 1944, the last class to graduate.

Dorothy married Alton Edwards on Jan. 16, 1946 and to this union 4 children were born; Betty, Dale, Joyce and Norma Jean. In February 1953 they moved to Custer and returned to the farm in February 1963. On January 16, 1971 Dorothy and Alton celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary at their home. On Feb. 25, 1971, Alton passed away. Dorothy then moved into Winner where she resided until moving to the Long Term Care Center in Winner. She was a housewife and a homemaker. Her family was of utmost importance and she was known for always putting the wants and needs of others before her own.

Dorothy and family always believed and celebrated her birthday on Nov. 23rd, until doing genealogy and discovered that it was in fact the 28th of November. It was too late to change so Dorothy and family continued to celebrate on the 23rd.
Dorothy worked every Friday afternoon preparing for Friday steak night at the American Legion for thirty years and was named Outstanding Worker in 1982. Dorothy was a lifelong member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, the VFW Auxiliary and the Legion Auxiliary.

Dorothy is survived by her son Dale, (Freida) Edwards of Ardmore AL, daughters; Joyce (LeRoy) Jelinek of Winner and Norma Jean Stoner of Hartford, SD and 8 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Through genealogy research Dorothy was notified that she had family living in Illinois that she never knew about, a first cousin, Stan and his two children.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Alton, daughter Betty, 2 sons-in-law; Noel and Douglas Stoner Sr. and an infant granddaughter.

Dan Lee Murphy, 70, Brandon, died Monday, May 7, 2018, as a result of a homicide while visiting friends in Baltimore, Maryland.

Funeral arrangements are pending at this time.

In lieu of flowers, family requests memorials be given in Dan’s name to Brandon Baptist Church.

Danny Lee Murphy was born on June 5, 1947, in Winner, SD. He attended Catholic school and then public high school where he graduated. He attended SDSU to study teaching. Dan started teaching 7th Grade English at Brandon Valley in 1969, retiring in 2004 after 35 years. He also worked during his spare time and in the summer as a contractor building and remodeling many homes in the Brandon area.

On October 15, 1980, Dan married Joan Kerslake in Sioux Falls. Dan and Joan began attending Brandon Valley Baptist Church in 1980. Dan was always the first one in the kitchen whenever there were treats and he loved the potlucks at church.

Dan was an avid fisherman and loved camping all over the state of Minnesota. Traveling was another of his favorite pastimes including the family’s yearly trip to Disney World and had traveled to Mexico, Canada, and every state in the U.S. except Alaska and Hawaii. Dan also took many tours with students and parents to Europe.

Dan will be deeply missed by his wife, Joan and son, Matt, both of Brandon; one sister, Patricia Hollenbeck, Sioux Falls; brother-in-law, Wayne Kerslake, Sioux Falls; one niece and three nephews, Katie (Andy) Abernethy, Wheaton, IL, Jay (Jody) Hollenbeck, Valentine, NE, Shawn (Mardee) Hollenbeck, Hutchinson, KS, and Christopher (Jessica) Kerslake, Chicago, IL; one aunt, Agnes Koos, Aurora, IL; and many, many cousins.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, George and Margaret (Speckman) Murphy; step-father, Alfred Koos; one sister-in-law, Gayle Kerslake; one nephew, Andrew Kerslake.
Online condolences at www.heartlandfunerals.com

Robert Fronek, 91, of Wood, SD passed away on Friday, May 4, 2018 at the Pine View Good Samaritan Center in Valentine, NE.

Funeral service were held on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Wood Community Hall in Wood, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. Bob was born on Nov. 21 1926, in Lynch NE to William and Julia (Angel) Fronek, lived in the Lynch and Spencer NE area for a few years until the family moved to South Dakota in 1941 Bob graduated from Mission High School in 1945. It was always Bob’s highest priority to attend every high school reunion, often times cutting short a vacation so he could be home to attend the class reunions.

On Sept. 8 1952 Bob and Mary (Maulis) Fronek were married. To this union 5 children were born. Jerry, Wayne, Kay Massingale, Tina Marie and Lyndon Fronek

Bob loved to visit and tell jokes; he made a lot of friends throughout his lifetime. To Bob there was never a stranger, if he didn’t know someone he had no problem walking up to them and start up a conversation

Bob spent his life farming and ranching. His hobbies were socializing and attending farm auctions. Although Bob worked many long hours farming/ranching, Bob and Mary traveled a lot, whether it be to the many Golden West conventions they attended or family reunions. They always had their bags packed and ready to go.

He was a South Dakota Brand inspector for 33 years. He was a director on the Golden West Telecommunications board for 32 years. He made several good lifetime friends while serving on the board.

In 1981 a new adventure began – he became a grandpa for the first time. He enjoyed spending time doing things with Tandi and helping her get into mischief. He was a father figure to several neighborhood kids, nephews and nieces, family were very important to him. He enjoyed telling stories of his youth and driving around old family homesteads looking for treasure, sharing the history of the land, buildings and those who lived there.

Bob is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary, children; Jerry Fronek, Kay (Bill) Massingale and Lyndon Fronek, granddaugher Tandi Massingale of Sioux Falls and grandson Jace Koskan of Wood

Bob was preceded in death by his son Wayne, daughter Tina Marie. Parents William and Julia Fronek, his twin brother Ronald and sister Donna Nibblelink.

Barry Horstman, 75, of Winner, SD passed away on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center.

Funeral service were held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Winner. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation was held one hour prior to funeral service.

Barry Franklin Horstman was born at home in Mellette County on June 2, 1942 to Frank and Majel (McManigal) Horstman. He attended grade school at Schmidt rural school in Mellette County and graduated from Winner High School in 1960.

On May 9, 1964, he married Carol Cole in Witten. They made their home on the farm in Mellette County and raised three sons. Barry loved to fish, particularly in his boat on the river with his boys. He especially looked forward to pheasant hunting season with family each year. Also, he enjoyed numerous elk hunting trips to Montana and Wyoming with the guys.

After moving to Winner in 1988, Barry still made daily trips back and forth to the farm and ranch. He remained active in farming and ranching until approximately 2015 when his health declined. Living in Winner until the time of his death, he continued to be interested in cattle and agriculture.

Grandpa Barry enjoyed spending time with his grandkids and made numerous trips to athletic events over the years. He will always be remembered for his sense of humor, loud laugh, and “colorful remarks”. Family members are quick to recall Barry’s unique voicemail messages.

He is survived by his wife Carol; sons: Bryan, Brad (Johnyne), and Blake (Cara); grandchildren: Brady (Casey), Chelsea (Danny), Barry Michael, Zachary, Baylee, and Kylie; great-grandchildren: Grace, Harper, Finley, and Jaxson; brother Ronnie (Bonnie), sister Donna (Alvin) New; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents, Frank and Majel, preceded him in death, as well as an infant nephew, and his brother Darrell.

Barry will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends