Category Archives: Obituaries

Zaylee King, 2, of Winner, SD passed away on Saturday, April 28, 2018. Funeral service were held on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at 1 p.m. at the Winner Ideal Community Hall. Burial followed in the Ideal Cemetery. A wake service began on Monday, April 30, 2018 at the Winner Ideal Community Hall.

Zaylee was born Aug. 11, 2015 to Donald King Jr and Tasha Hopkins, brothers Jace King, Zayden King and sister Zaya King.

Proceeded in death by her grandpa, Donald Dale King Sr., to whom she was very close with.

Zaylee was a beautiful, kind, caring, and generous joyful little girl. She loved to sing and dance. She loved her brothers and sister, so much, every time she was given something; she had to have one for her brother. Tiny was her nickname. She was truly loved and brought so much joy and happiness to her family. She will be greatly missed.

Verna Marie (Kahler) Mayer, 74, of Winner, SD passed away on Sunday, April 29, 2018 at Sanford Medical Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Funeral service were held on Friday, May 4, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner. Burial followed at the Winner City Cemetery.

Verna Marie (Kahler) Mayer of Winner SD was born on June 17, 1943. Daughter of Fred Kahler and Ruth Marie (Rajewich) Kahler of Colome, SD. Verna had three children, Valerie Jo Benko, Vicki Marie Moser and Alan W. Deutsch.

Verna was one of the most generous and non-judgmental woman you could ever meet. Her family and friends remember her vibrant spirit and zest for life. One of her favorite things to do was to go camping with her family.

She enjoyed quilting, scrapbooking, and cooking (especially her green chili) and would always cook extra in case friends or family would stop by. She loved dancing and spending time with her family on the holidays.

Verna had a great passion for helping others. She often reflected on her time working at the University of Wyoming Student Health Services, where she met some of her very best friends. Verna also worked 30 years at Iverson Memorial Hospital in Laramie WY.

She met her husband, Del Mayer in Laramie and was married almost 30 years. Verna moved back to Winner to be with her mom and family in 2003 and was there until her passing. She was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church and her faith was very important to her.

Verna was preceded in death by her husband, Del Mayer and her brother, Richard James Kahler. She is survived by her 3 children, Valeria Jo Benko (John) and children, Luke, Daniel, and Patrick, Vicki Moser (Chad) and children, Mark and Michael O’Rear, Tina Espinoza Miller (John Allan) stepchildren Austin Moser, (Jill) Aspen Moser (Jon) and Layne, son, Alan W. Deutsch (Susan) and Stephanie Simmons. Verna is also survived by many great grandchildren. She will be eternally remembered, missed, and loved.

Joyce Marie Swedlund, 98, of Winner, SD, passed away on Friday May 4, 2018 at the long term care unit of Winner Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner on Wednesday May 9, 2018 at 11 a.m.

Joyce (Bridgman) Swedlund was born on Sept. 10, 1919, in Witten, South Dakota to Claire and Marie Bridgman. The second of two children, Joyce grew up in Witten and graduated from Witten High School. She attended Nettleton Commercial College, graduating in 1938.
Joyce married Dale Swedlund on Dec. 24, 1940 and to this union five children were born, Ronald, Carol, Keith, Russell, and Jeanette. Her family was of utmost importance to Joyce and she was known for always putting the wants and needs of others before her own.

Joyce was a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Witten where her church family was very important to her.

She is survived by her son Keith of Winner and daughter Jeanette of Grand Junction, Colo. plus 10 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale, three children, Ronald, Carol, and Russell, plus her brother, Harold.

William Harrison Furrey, 81, of Winner, SD passed away on Friday, April 27, 2018.

Memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation will be on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 starting at 6 p.m. with a vigil service at 7 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. William Harrison Furrey was born Aug. 14, 1936, in the Ashurst Hospital in Rosebud, South Dakota. He was the third child of Harry and Louise Furrey of Okreek, South Dakota. He was baptized as a Catholic in St. Peter’s Church in Okreek.

In the fall of 1936, the family moved to another farm, and from there he later attended grade school in Nelson School. He attended and graduated from Todd County High School; his senior class photo states, “Sometimes I sit and think and sometimes I just sit.” After high school, he returned to the farm. In 1971, after his father’s death, he and his brother Harley formed a partnership, Furrey Bros., to farm and ranch. This partnership lasted for 47 years until his passing.

In 1988 he married Laurine Adams Whiting and acquired two stepsons and a step daughter. He was a charter member of Mission Council 4077 Knights of Columbus and also 4th Degree Knight. He also served on the 1st board of Commissioners in Todd County. He was a very well-liked man and had very few, if any, faults.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Louise Furrey, and two half-brothers, Gerald and Del Furrey.

He is survived by his wife, Laurine, his brother, Harley, two sisters, Dorothy Schultz and Mary Cournoyer, two stepsons, Dustin and Rod Whiting, and a stepdaughter, Bernice Whiting, as well as nephews, nieces, and cousins.

While writing this, for some reason, I think of Mark Anthony in Julius Caesar, “The evil that men do lives after; them the good often interred with their bones.” Anyone who tried to list Bill’s faults would have a lot of empty paper.

Dale Lewis Thompson 85, of Colome, SD passed away on Sunday, April 22, 2018 at Lake Andes Healthcare Center in Lake Andes, SD.

Funeral services were held on Friday, April 27, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Isidore Catholic Church in Colome, SD. Burial followed in the Colome City Cemetery.

Dale passed away peacefully and surrounded by love on Sunday, April 22, 2018 at the Lake Andes Senior Living Center in Lake Andes, SD.

Dale L. Thompson was born May 3, 1932 to Lewis and Gertie (Hansen) Thompson. Dale was born in the Mitchell Methodist Hospital in Mitchell, SD. He graduated from high school in 1950 in Letcher, SD. He worked on the family farm with his father.

Dale was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1950 and served until 1955 in the 26th Infantry Dog Scout Platoon as a dog handler where he earned the Korean Service medal.

On July 5, 1974 he married Marianne King. To this union 2 daughters were born. He and Marianne lived in Colome, SD. Dale drove gravel trucks for Carlson Construction for many years. He was a handyman and willing to help anyone with any task.

Dale enjoyed cutting down trees and chopping firewood for his pride and joy wood stove that heated the family home.

Dale is survived by his wife Marianne of Colome, SD; sister Donna (Joe) Muth of Bismarck, ND; two children, Robin (Adrian) Hamilton of Norfolk, VA and Holly Thompson of Sacramento, CA; two grandchildren, Christian Hamilton and Camryn Hamilton.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Marian (Earll) Gregg, 77, of Carter, SD, one of God’s special angels here on earth, was called home to be with the Lord April 25, 2018, surrounded by all of her children and special friends, Les and Shareen Canfield.

Funeral services were held on Friday, April 27, at 2:30 p.m. at the Winner Community Church. Burial followed at the Winner City Cemetery.

Marian was born July 14, 1940, the second of two daughters born to Lloyd A. Earll and Geraldine J. (Schmidt) Earll in Valentine, NE.

Marian graduated from Winner High School in 1958. After graduation, Marian attended cosmetology school in Sioux Falls and earned a cosmetology degree, a talent she used for many years including setting up a salon in her home “Country Cut and Curl”.
On Oct. 14, 1961, Marian married the love of her life, James “Jim” Gregg. To this union, three sons and two daughters were born.

Marian was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, a wonderful friend and neighbor. A fervent Christian, Marian welcomed the day she would be home with the Lord, and instilled in her children the importance of strong Christian values. Marian loved her family and demonstrated that love until the day she died.

Marian is survived by her husband of 56 years, Jim, Carter, SD; her sister, Lorraine (Earll) Dohmen, Winner, SD; children Jeff Gregg (Heidi Ode), Carter, SD; Julie Gregg-Bubac (Duane), Omaha, NE; Jill Christensen (Joe), Arlington, SD; Jerred Gregg (Kara) and Jason Gregg, all of Carter, SD; grandchildren that Marian loved so very much, Jamin Hartland (Sarah), Rapid City, SD; Jessa Ellendorf (Gabriel), White River, SD; Jadyn Gregg, Spearfish, SD; Mark Bubac (Timmi), Rapid City, SD; Christi Bubac, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Dustin Christensen (Samantha), Edgemont, SD; Gary Christensen (Kayla), Sioux Falls; Sara Wollen (Bryce), Sioux Falls, SD; Jacey Gregg, Belle Fourche,SD; James, Jacob, Josey and Jenna; Justus, Jaynee, Jentry, Jude, and Jett, all of Carter, SD; great grandchildren Sage Bubac, Rapid City, SD, Claire and Chloe Christensen, and Brody Wollen, Sioux Falls, and baby girl Christensen coming in June, Edgemont, SD, and Zylias; brothers and sisters-in-law Josephine Klein, Hidden Timber, SD; John Gregg (Jeanne Carpenter Thelen), Evansville, WY; Dennis Gregg (Kay), Martin, SD; and many, many special nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Geraldine Earll, mother and father-in-law Florence and Herbert Gregg, brothers-in-law Lawrence Klein and James Dohmen, and sister-in-law Loyce Gregg.

Marian touched many lives and brought joy and happiness to family and friends. She will be missed dearly. Until we meet again, Toots!… We love you.

Funeral services for Opal Ann Boes were held April 21 at Grace Lutheran Church in Burke with Pastor David Schmidt and Pastor John Schwartz officiating. Burial will be in the Herrick Cemetery at a later date.

Opal Ann Boes was born Aug. 19, 1930, at St. Charles, South Dakota to Darwin and Fern Wilson. She passed away quietly, holding her son’s hand, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, South Dakota at 4:09 p.m. on April 13, 2018 after a courageous battle with health issues.
Opal was the middle child of three and grew up on a farm south of Herrick, South Dakota. She was a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Burke, South Dakota and was confirmed and baptized at St John’s Lutheran Church in Herrick as a child. At the age of 15, she met Naven Boes at a dance in Herrick, they dated for one year. They were united in marriage on Dec. 13, 1946 at the Naper Lutheran Church in Naper, Neb., in front of their witnesses Art and Erma Boes. This love would remain and sustain them for the remainder of their lives. To this union seven children were born. They would live on several farms within the Burke area prior to purchasing the Boes family farm from Naven’s parents in 1961. There they continued to live and raise their children until Naven’s death on Sept. 13, 1999. After his death, she sold the farm and moved to Gregory, South Dakota for a short time before moving to Ft. Pierre, South Dakota in 2002. She worked at the Community Youth Center until suffering a stroke, while working in 2009.

Some of Opal’s favorite activities included dancing with Naven, as they spent many nights gliding across a waltz floor as their children watched. She loved listening to music, especially Daniel O’Donnell and Lawrence Welk. She enjoyed hosting card parties for the neighbors and was always willing and able to play a hand of six point pitch or checkers at the drop of a hat with her grandchildren. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and any other child. Nothing would bring a smile to her face faster than a visit from a young person. She enjoyed all of her grandchildren’s sporting events, graduations, marriages and proms, and loved watching her favorite Chicago Cubs.

During her years on the farm she was known to raise large gardens of vegetables that she would use to feed her family or to sell. Acres and acres of tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, muskmelons, and onions. She also raised and butchered hundreds of chickens each year. She worked side by side with Naven, but was known for always having a chocolate brownie and cup of coffee ready for her family or guests.

Opal was preceded in death by her husband, Naven; her daughter, Joyce; her grandson, Steven; her great-grandson, Stetson; her parents, Darwin and Fern; her step-mother, Olive; her sister, Dorothea, her brother, Edwin; her in-laws, Jacob and Hulda Boes; 9 brothers-in-law and 5 sisters-in-law.

Opal is survived by her children and their spouses: Twila (Kenny) Combs of Dallas, SD; Bradley (Elaine) Boes of Rapid City, SD; Lorna (Richard) Whiting of Gregory, SD; Krista (Steve) Cerny of Rapid City, SD; Douglas (Candi) Boes of Ft. Pierre, SD; Timothy (Jen) Boes of Johnston, IA; her son-in-law, Sonny; 21 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren; as well as many other relatives and friends.

Ruth Marie Kahler, 98, of Colome, South Dakota passed away on Monday, April 9, 2018 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center in Winner, South Dakota.

Funeral service were held on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner. Burial was at 1 p.m. at the Winner City Cemetery on Monday April 16.

Ruth Marie Kahler of Colome, South Dakota was born Dec. 26, 1919 daughter of Martin and Johanna (Hansen) Rajewich of Gregory, South Dakota. She attended the Lapour School north of Gregory South Dakota till March of 1929. The Rajewich’s moved from Gregory to northwest of Witten South Dakota. Marie went to South Curlew School and worked for different people. She was united in marriage to Fred Kahler on May 6th 1941. They worked out the first year of their marriage, and then moved south of Winner, South Dakota. They worked for neighbors. They had two children, Verna Marie Mayer and Richard James Kahler.

Marie Kahler liked to crochet, embroidery, and make quilts. She always had a big garden and raised lots of chickens and helped milk cows. She also helped work in the fields. She loved to play cards and other games with her grandchildren and friends.
Marie Kahler was baptized and confirmed at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, south of Colome.

Marie Kahler was preceded in death by her husband Fred Kahler and her son Richard James Kahler, Dell Mayer son in law, and one sister Ruby Miller and brothers Mervin and Clarence, Martin and Walter, Don and Donald Rajewich. She leaves to mourn her daughter Verna Marie Mayer and 3 grandchildren; Valerie Jo Benko, John and children, Luke and Patrick, Vicki and Chad Moser and children, Mark and Michael O’Rear, and Tina Espinoza Miller and John Allan, Austin and Jill Moser, Aspen and Jon, and Layne. Many Great Great Grandchildren and one Grandson Alan Deutsch and Susan and Stephanie Simmons.

A brave three-year-old girl was surrounded by a herd of half wild horses in the neighbors pasture. Her terrified mother screamed for her father to rescue her. Rafe told Jane not to worry because she would soon run out of carrots. Sure enough the horses ran off. Janie came back crying because they left. Rafe picked her up and promised her he would get her more carrots and her horses would come back.

The Lord gave Janie many carrots of talent to use in her life.

Listening and loving all of us. Singing and inspiring every chance she could. Cooking and welcoming us every day. Celebrating with each birthday and holiday year round. She loved the water, swimming and teaching the kids to swim and to water ski. She love the wilderness, camping, boating fishing and hunting.

She had to slow down the past 15 years, but found the fullness of life enriched with her two granddaughters and her dozen grandsons, more card games, more conversations with her friends and family and performing with Java Jives, her vocal group. She loved being a mom and raising all her daughters and their friends. The multi family trips to games was a treasured time for celebrating community and finding lifetime friendships. She delighted in the snow ski caravan trips and giving out the foolish skiing awards to the kids. Every kid got one, every time.

Janie grew up in the Rouge River Valley between pear orchards and horse pastures near Jacksonville, Oregon. She was a tomboy trying to hang with her older brother Rafe. Her mother Jane taught her to sing, cook, ride horses and to act like a lady. It helps that she developed a world-class soprano voice and spectacular mane of thick long strawberry blonde hair, both good for a lifetime. She took nursing classes at Southern Oregon College and met a tall Nebraska farm boy named John Malm. We fell in love and married in 1970. Laura was born in 1970, Janie found being a mother was her true calling in life. Four years in Portland, Oregon followed for John’s medical school. Jenny was born in 1973. We moved to Sioux Falls in 1975 to train for three years with Dr. Lou Hogrefe in family practice residency. Christi was born in 1976. We moved to Gregory, South Dakota, in 1978 to start doctoring and raising our family.
Janie loved all her friends and the community welcoming her with open arms. Katie was born in 1980. Janie relished singing at church, weddings, and funerals. In 1982 she starred as Calamity Jane, along side Nels Miller as Wild Bill Hickock in the community musical Calamity Jane. She enjoyed every day on stage, practicing, singing and enjoying her friends. She got very sick two weeks later, with kidney failure, progressing to dialysis in 1983. Her brother Rafe donated one of his kidneys to her in 1984, bonding us all into an even tighter family.

The Lord blessed her with the next 34 years of a full and happy life, raising her family in Gregory. She tried to cheer and encourage all of us to enjoy our lives. She wouldn’t let her daily struggles with her kidney disease get her down. God blessed us with her presence until last Thursday… I guess she ran out of carrots.

Benjamin “Ben” Sherwood, 94, of Wood, South Dakota passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center in Winner.

Funeral service were held on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 1 p.m. at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. Benjamin James “Ben” Sherwood was born on May 14th, 1923, to John and Nellie (Weeda) Sherwood on their homestead in Mellette County, north of Wood, South Dakota. He went to be with the Lord on March 31st, 2018 at the age of 94 years 10 ½ months in Winner.

Ben was raised on the family’s homestead, the youngest of seven children. There were four older brothers, Edwin, Irvin, Evertt and Howard and two sisters, Margaret and Arlene. Ben attended Springview, a rural school near the homestead, and there he graduated from the eighth grade. Ben had many fond memories of country life. He told stories of breaking horses, feeding cattle, and using horses to work the land while he was growing up.

Ben married Adelyne Maria Jackson on March 17, 1950 in Pierre, South Dakota. To this union, six children were born, two sons Cleveland James (Jim) and Benjamin Bradley and four daughters Joyce Marie, Jayne Ellen, Mona Lynn, and Sandra Lee.

He continued ranching as they raised their children in the Wood area. Through his life he also had various other jobs which included working construction when Highway 44 was being built, building dams, and worked with Donovan Construction when they built the Wood Community Hall. In addition, he was a policeman for the city of Wood. He always had a deep passion for raising cattle, and in later years, he raised bulls as a hobby in which he took great pride. He also enjoyed a good game of cards. He had spent many good times playing cribbage with local men at Piper’s Station. Ben wouldn’t turn down a good game of poker.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Nellie, Brothers; Edwin, Irvin, Evertt, and Howard, sisters, Margaret Johnson and Arlene Vesley, sons Cleveland James and Benjamin Bradley, grandson Ben Almand, son-in-law Ralph Longcor, and two great-grandchildren.

Ben is survived by his daughters Joyce Colombe of Rapid City, SD, Jayne Longcor of Valentine, NE, Mona (John) Massingale of Wood, SD, and Sandye(Dave) Goad of Ralston, OK, seventeen grandchildren and thirty one great-grandchildren.

He will be missed by many family and friends.