Category Archives: Obituaries

Robert Benda, 86, passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family on March 9, 2018. He will be laid to rest in Winner, SD.

Bob was born on Nov. 26, 1931 in Millboro, SD to John and Belinda (Hendrickson) Benda. The family moved to Winner, SD where he graduated from high school in 1950. He attended college at the University of South Dakota and Ohio State University.

In 1951, Bob married Leona Rice and 5 children were born to this union. His primary occupation was as a carpenter, and he built Hidden Paradise Resort on Spider Lake near Nevis, MN; where he also lived for several years. Once Bob retired, he moved to Mexico and built Minnesota Bob’s restaurant before returning to the U.S. to live in Iowa.

Bob was very social and always had a morning coffee group to start the day. He loved the outdoors, animals, playing cards, dancing and politics. His family will always remember his adventurous spirit, and will miss him dearly.

Left to cherish his memory include his children: Terry (Patti Griffith) Benda of Altoona, IA, Vikki Lewton of Bettendorf, IA, Roxanne (David) Neary of Des Moines, IA, and Robin Large of St. Charles, MO; grandchildren: Kindra, Kody, Kelsey, Jacque, Erin, Lauren, Danielle, Trevor and Christopher; 9 great-grandchildren; and siblings: Mazie Brandt of Rapid City, SD, and John Benda of Sparta, Il.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents: John and Belinda; son: Monte Benda; grandchildren: Van and Kelly Lewton and Kalyn Large; siblings: Peggy Ballou, Cornelia Yost, Russell Benda; and brothers-in-law: Larry Brandt and Leo Sieler.

Dee was born on Dec. 31, 1936 to Ed and Rose (Schamber) Steinke in Colome, SD. She met the love of her life, Donald Zimbelman, and they were united in marriage on Sept. 27, 1952 in Winner, SD. They moved to Rapid City in August of 1961.

Dee worked in Food Service for the Rapid City School District for over 33 years, retiring in 2003. She was a faithful member of Bethel Assembly of God. She sang in their choir and was active with the missionetts. She also taught Sunday School and served as a greeter at the church. Dee loved to read and take walks with her friends. She always welcomed strangers and friends warmly into her home with the cookie jar always full. Dee always had room at her table for people and loved spending time with her family, especially the grandchildren (10) and great-grandchildren (12).

Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Valorie (Vern) Turner, Cindy (Gary) Zeller, Tim Zimbelman, all of Rapid City, and Diane (KC) Kopaska of Republic, Missouri; brother, Harry (Doris) Steinke of Loveland, CO; sister, Helma Goff of Denver, CO; and son-in-law, Mark Kostaneski.

Preceded in death by her husband, Donald; parents; five sisters, Esther Jacobson, Elsie Blanchette, Lorraine Donnelly, Leona Stark, and Dorothy Kahler; one brother, LaVern Steinke; one daughter, Lory Kostaneski and son, Bryan Zimbelman

Visitation will be held from 6pm – 7:30pm on Wednesday, March 7 at Kirk Funeral Home. Funeral services at 11 am on Thursday, March 8 at the funeral home. Burial at Black Hills National Cemetery.

An online guestbook may be signed at kirkfuneralhome.com

Benjamin Bradley Sherwood, Brad to his friends and family, passed away on Jan. 8, 2018 in Vermillion.

Brad was born on Sept. 27, 1955 to Benjamin James Sherwood and Adelyne Maria Jackson Sherwood in Winner, SD. He was the fifth of six children raised in Wood, SD. Brad attended the Upward Bound program at the University of South Dakota in the summer. Through this experience, he met Dr. Wayne Evans who was his mentor and became a very special friend. During this time, Brad developed a deep love and appreciation for his Lakota heritage. After graduating from Wood High School in 1976, Brad joined the US Army. Following his service duty, he returned home to spend time with his father in Wood before relocating to the Vermillion area. During his life, Brad was a trained barber, worked at a packing plant, and had various other jobs before being employed at McDonalds for several years. He enjoyed working at McDonalds until he was no longer able to work due to his health. Throughout his life, he enjoyed Sun Dances and Pow Wows where he made many friends.

Brad is survived by his father Ben Sherwood of Wood, SD and four sisters Joyce Colombe of Rapid City, SD Jayne Longcor of Valentine, NE, Mona (John) Massingale of Wood, SD and Sandra (Dave) Goad of Ralston, OK and a host of nephews and nieces, cousins and close friends.

Brad was preceded in death by his mother Adelyne Sherwood, brother Cleveland James (Jim) Sherwood, nephew Ben Joseph Almand, brother-in-law Ralph James Longcor, paternal grandparents John and Nellie Sherwood and maternal grandparents Cleveland and Phoebe Jackson.

Mona Marie McDonald Schaeffer was born Dec. 4th, 1930 in Alfalfa County in Oklahoma to Lloyd Evertt McDonald and Iona Charlottie Summers McDonald.

Mona and her sister Donnas made many moves with their family from job to job in early childhood including Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas before settling down so the girls could go to school in one place. In 1947 Mona and her family moved to Wood South Dakota where she finished high school in 1949 and met her future husband Dwight Schaeffer. Before marrying, Mona attended Sioux Valley Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in September 1952. Mona traveled to England where Staff Sargent Dwight Schaeffer was stationed in the Air Force. Mona and Dwight were married Dec. 13 1952 at Dunmoe, Essex, England.

Mona and Dwight returned home to the farm at Wood in November 1953 to take over the farm because of Dwight’s father’s failing health. Four children were born to this union, Daniel Lowell, Brian Kent, Lisa Marie and Craig Todd. During the years on the farm Mona taught Sunday School and Bible School and served as the Sunday School Superintendent for 17 years. In October 1964 Mona and Dwight started work as a Mobil fuel agent taking over for Lee McDonald who retired. In April 1969 they bought the business from Mobil to become Schaeffer Oil Co. In August 1970 they bought out a Mobil distributer in Winner, South Dakota and moved there to run the business. Mona worked as the head bookkeeper for many years until she and Dwight relocated to Tempe, Ariiz., in the 1990’s.

One of Mona’s favorite hobbies was genealogy and she made numerous trips to Salt Lake City, Rapid City, and many eastern states researching her family “roots”. Mona compiled and printed books for both the Summers and McDonald sides of her family as well as Dwight’s family.

Mona and Dwight returned to Winner in 2012 and took up residence at the Golden Prairie Manor to be closer to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mona is survived by her husband of 65 years, Dwight, children: Daniel Schaeffer, Brian (Jan) Schaeffer, Lisa (Robert) Koskan, Craig (Lori) Schaeffer, Grandchildren: Brandi Schaeffer, Logan Schaeffer, Lindsay Sletten, Lacy Schaeffer, Christopher Schaeffer, Shannon (Ronnie) Weir, Ryan Koskan, Devin (Kelsie) Koskan, Alex Schaeffer, Marlee Schaeffer and 9 great-grandchildren.

Mona was preceded in death by her sister Donnas and husband Francis Leat, her parents Lloyd and Iona McDonald, Dwight’s parents Luther Schaeffer and Astrid Schaeffer Kositzky, and step-father Bill Kositzky.

Jason “JR” Robbins, 44, of Hamill, SD passed away unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, March 1, 2018. A visitation was held on Saturday, March 3rd, 2018 from 6-7PM at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Funeral service and burial will follow in Pawnee, Oklahoma at a later date.

Jason Ray Robbins was born on December 5,1973, to Roy Lee Robbins and Francis Ann (Moss) Robbins, in Pawnee, Oklahoma. He passed away on March 1, 2018.

Jason grew up on a farm outside Pawnee, Oklahoma. He attended Pawnee Public School and graduated from there in 1991. He attended Oklahoma State University, he lacked 2 hours in getting his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture / Agronomy. He once told a friend, he didn’t need to get up in front of anyone to work on the farm, so he never took the mandatory speech class required to graduate.

Jason grew up helping his father on the farm. He loved taking care of the animals. Every summer his family would go to South Dakota and help Jason’s uncle Wayne with wheat harvest. After he stopped going to college, he decided to join the part of the Robbins family that had migrated to South Dakota. He went to work with his uncle Wayne, cousin Roger, brother David, and their families.

Jason was a shy quiet man. He kept to himself most of the time. As the saying goes, children and animals know a person’s heart, and children and animals loved being around Jason and he loved them as well. His shyness would slip away as he played games with the children.

Jason is survived by his father and mother Roy Lee, and Francis Ann Robbins, of Pawnee, OK, brother David Robbins, of Hamill, SD, and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Melvin Allen Hibbs was born Feb. 25, 1941 to Guythal and Alice (Bartels) Hibbs near Primrose, NE. Melvin was the 4th child born of a family of 7 children. The family moved from Nebraska to Tripp County, SD and lived on several farms until 1947 when the family moved into Winner. He attended the Winner Public School and graduated from the Winner High School in 1959.

Melvin liked being around animals so shortly after graduation he went to work on a ranch for Donald Dobberstien of Academy, SD. When Dobberstien moved to a ranch near Victor, Mont., Melvin went with him.

Several years later he returned to Winner and was employed for the late Earl Burtz on the farm. From there we was employed by the City of Winner for several years before starting work for the Winner School System. He drove school bus and worked doing janitorial work. He like being around the children and had their respect. Melvin retired in November 2017 due to ill health. Melvin was a member of the First Christian Church.

He is survived by his sisters, Ethel Evans of Winner, Patricia Heumiller of Winner, and Mary Wranek of Summerset, SD; brothers, Wayne Hibbs Sr. of Petaluma, Calif., Donald (Marlyeen) Hibbs of Superior, NE and Cleo (Mary) Hibbs of Yankton, SD. Melvin is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Melvin is preceded in death by his parents and maternal and paternal grandparents and 3 brothers-in-law; Dale Evans, Joseph Heumiller, James Wranek and a sister-in-law Eugenia Hibbs. He will be greatly missed.

Brooks Dean Hurley, 3, of Witten, SD passed away on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Winner. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation will be held one hour prior to funeral service.

Brooks Dean Hurley was born on Oct. 31, 2014 to Thomas Barry Hurley and Katie Jo Hurley. He went to be with the Lord on Feb. 16, 2018.

Brooks loved animals and enjoyed helping dad and Bo feed the animals or going out to see the horses with Keasha and Berkley. He stole the hearts of everyone with those big blue eyes. He loved dressing up as his favorite superheroes to save his family from the bad guys. Brooks was able to become a superhero himself with the donation of his heart.

Brooks had quite the collection of cars that he liked to try to bring everywhere with him. Brooks was his Uncle Kelly’s biggest fan. He loved to watch him play college football. One of Brooks’ favorite places to sneak away to was Great Grandma and Grandpa Schwinler’s house where he learned one of Grandpa’s many quotes “A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do” which he would run around repeating.

Brooks was preceded in death by his great-grandparents Joe and Pat Clifford, Bo Hurley, and Ole and Audrey Faldalen.

Brooks is survived by his father Barry Hurley, mother Katie (Faldalen) Hurley, siblings; Bo, Keasha and Berkley, great-grandparents; Trudy Hurley, Bill and Shirley Schwinler, grandparents; Bill and Emma Hurley, Roger and Sue Robbins, Lisa (Schwinler) Faldalen and Rocky and Penny Faldalen with several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Brooks’ energetic and loving personality will be missed by us all.

Anita Lois Deming of Granbury, Texas, 64, passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018 after a brief battle with Stage IV breast cancer.

Anita was born on May 17, 1953 in Cassville, Missouri to Carl and Nita VanSchoonhoven. She lived in Winner, South Dakota and Greeley, Colorado before she moved to Granbury after marrying Rodney Beech Deming, Jr. on Dec. 6, 1980. Anita worked in the title and abstract business for close to 40 years, both in Colorado and Texas. She had a love for history, reading and research and was an expert in Hood County property history and title insurance, because of her work at both Central Texas Title and Porter Title. Anita made her choice to serve God at the age of 10 and was faithful until her last breath. Her faith, Christlike example and trust in his will for her life,have been and will continue to be an encouragement to many.

Anita was preceded in death by her parents Carl & Nita VanSchoonhoven and her granddaughter Adelaide Lois Deming.

She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Rodney Beech Deming, Jr., son: Matthew Deming and wife Reagan of Granbury, daughter: Katie Shuman and husband Michael of St. Croix, USVI, daughter: Anne Müller and husband Moritz of Frankfurt, Germany, grandsons: Rylon & Owen Shuman, granddaughter: Arianisa Deming, brother: Henry Van Schoonhoven of Greeley, Colorado, sister: Carol Roth and husband Jerry of Greeley, Colorado, sister: Effie Lewis of Sheridan, Wyoming and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation was held at Wiley Funeral Home in Granbury from 6-8pm on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018.

Her funeral service will be held at Granbury Resort Conference Center at 11am on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, followed by a reception for family and close friends. A graveside service at Rough Creek Cemetery will be held Saturday afternoon for family and her local church members.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that that persons please consider donating to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: 3840 Hulen Street #600, Fort Worth, Texas 76107, in honor of Anita’s late granddaughter, Adelaide Lois Deming.

Donald Kemnitz, 77, of Wood, SD passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018 at his home near Wood.

Funeral service were held on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018 at 10 a.m. at the Wood Community Hall. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Donald LeRoy Kemnitz was born Feb. 26, 1940, to Kermit “Bud” Kemnitz and Mildred (Eaton) Kemnitz. He was the first born son in a family of five children. It was a family that loved getting together and spending quality time with each other.

Don passed away at his home in rural Wood on February 13, 2018, at the age of 77 years, 11 months and 18 days.
Don attended country school a mile from his home and later went to high school in Wood, SD graduating in 1959. He was a great basketball player; at least that is what he told us.

In July of 1961, he married Elaine Harter, who was the love of his life. They were the perfect match. To this union, four children were born: Valinda, Lori, Linette, and Darrell. Together they made themselves a home in Winner. While in Winner, Don worked for the police department, delivered fuel, and was parts manager for the Ford Garage, but his true calling was ranching. In 1973, he picked up his family and moved to the ranch northeast of Wood. He was a member of the Witten Baptist Church where he served as treasurer for many years. He also served as Mellette County Commissioner for 8 years.

Don’s years in ranching were a great success. Don and Elaine left a grand legacy through their family. He and Elaine raised four children and taught them the values of hard work, discipline, honesty, and most importantly Christian values.

The family learned how to wrangle cows, shock cane, put up hay and harvest crops. Long days spent working cattle were some of the best and worst days of their lives.

And then came 11 grandchildren. It was evident of Don’s love of his grandchildren and great grandchildren through him attending many sporting, school, and life events. In later years, it became more difficult for Don and Elaine to participate to a great extent in their grandchildren and great grandchildren’s lives, but birthdays, weddings and family celebrations were still a huge part.

The measure of a man can be found in his family. Don’s family loved him dearly. Surviving Don are his wife Elaine of Kadoka, SD, his daughters; Valinda (Casey) Bridgman of Wessington Springs, SD, Lori (Robert) Etrheim of Tyler, MN, Linette (Scott) Christensen of Flandreau, SD and a son; Darrell (Cindy) Kemnitz of Vivian, SD, 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by siblings; Gary(Sue) Kemnitz of Platte, SD, Sharon Paulson of Neosho, MO, Lyle(Arlis) Kemnitz of Mobridge SD and Bonnie (Ed) Watzel of Colome, SD and his beloved cow dog Boots.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Bud and Mildred, sister-in-law, Leanne, and brother-in-law Stanley.
The family sincerely appreciated Joe Meinen, Don’s faithful co-worker and friend.

George Francis Mowry, Presho, stepped into Eternity on Feb. 16, 2018 at Mary House in Pierre, SD. George’s wish after cremation was to have his ashes scattered overlooking the White River on the “the little ranch that I love so much”.

George was born April 28, 1928 on a farm near Alexandria, SD, the fourth of five children born to George H. and Nora (Ehret) Mowry. George graduated from Alexandria High School in 1947. He was to become Corporal Mowry after being drafted into the U. S. Army in 1951, taking with him a new bride to Camp Rucker, near Enterprise, Alabama. George and Shirley (Mizner) remained faithful to their wedding vows for the next 67 years. George and Shirley purchased their White River ranch property south of Presho in 1961 and raised three sons down on the White River.

George loved visiting with friends and family from near and far, and he loved anything to do with the ranch. Among the many of his memorable quotes was the following: “That name – ‘Dad’ – now that’s special!”
George was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Robert and wife Rita (Kaiser), his sister Virginia Boling and husband Don, his sister Phyllis Peters and husband ‘Dub’, his brother-in-law Curt Hedman, nephew Ronnie Mowry, nieces Jean Ann Wibben and Kathleen Ann Clark, great-niece Shelly Burleson, and great-grandson Zion McKillop.

Surviving George is his wife, Shirley, children- Craig (& Amber), Presho, Connie, Sioux Falls, Mark (& Paula), Custer, Steve (& Deb), Presho, grandchildren- Cade (& Desi), Spokane, Amanda (& Chris) McKillop, Anchorage, Chase, St. Paul, Allison (& Jamie) Coin, Spearfish, Callie (& Jordan) Wilson, Sioux Falls, Kahle, Spearfish, and Shalayne, Spearfish, Sage and Shilo, Presho, and great-grandchildren- Breckon, Ogden, Nevada, Edan, Lava, Terec, and Ezrah.