Category Archives: Obituaries

Carol Jean (Tharnish) Hazuka was born on May 3, 1928 in Creighton Nebraska, daughter of Henry and Leona Tharnish. She had two older sisters, Marcelline and Alma, both deceased.

She married Glen Bloom of Winner, SD in 1948. They had seven children: Sandra Diane Uttecht (Jim), Hartford, SD; Glenda Jean Rogers (Bill), Georgetown, TX; Clifford Anthony Bloom who passed away in infancy; Michael Frederick Bloom (Ann), Bismarck, ND; Trudy Jane Harris (Jim), Payson, AZ; Margo Ann Kolbo (Larry), Bismarck, ND; and Bonnie Marie Swartwood, Cheyenne, WY.

She married Anton (Tony) Hazuka in 1977 and resided in Winner with him until his death in 2011. She was moved to a Bismarck nursing home to be near her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She has 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Carol Jean is fondly remembered for her love of music (there was always singing in her house), hot meals on the table every night, being the nurse for one of her children that lead to nursing two, three and eventually 6 kids sick all at one time, and the fun of games and cards. She always made Easter and Christmas a special family time. She and Tony loved camping and gardening in their backyard. Catholic Daughters and the Catholic Church were very important in her life, many times she would join clubs and be voted in eventually as president. She had a great dry sense of humor. Most importantly, if ever you were in trouble or having a hard time, she was the one to go to. She always had a listening ear and nonjudgmental attitude.

Darnytia Kucera died peacefully on May 29, 2017 at the Winner Regional Hospital in Winner, SD after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 85 years old.

Darnytia Ioma Boes Kucera was born on July 20, 1931 on the family farm in Spring Valley Township, Gregory, SD to Jacob and Hulda Boes. She was one of 8 children. She attended Allum Country School south of Burke, SD.

Darnytia married Joseph William Kucera on December 4, 1949. They lived on a farm south of Gregory until 1970 when they moved to Gregory. The couple had five children: Linda, Robert, Richard, Darla, and Brenda. She worked a variety of jobs and excelled at whatever she did. She impacted the lives of the children she cared for in her in-home daycare. Darnytia was an avid bowler, loved to garden, and did a variety of canning. She loved to dance at Carlock and listen to Polka music. Mollie B Polka Party was a favorite. She moved to Winner in 1978.

On June 6, 1981 Darnytia married Robert Heying. They enjoyed traveling and took many trips. She enjoyed her job at Burns Pharmacy where she managed the soda fountain and served several generations of Winner youth. Making salads at the American Legion filled many Friday afternoons. Telling her jokes and stories with a group of friends over a cup of coffee was a favorite pastime. Friends will fondly remember Darnytia’s “love taps” and have the bruises to show for it.
She married James Kucera on March 24, 2001. She and Jim enjoyed camping and fishing and traveling to many vacation spots. They enjoyed their Sunday afternoon drives to different casinos and taking the bus for overnight trips. As Jim says, “Mom was never a loser.”

Mary Kaiser, 84, of Pierre, passed away Friday, May 26, 2017 at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital.

Mary Kaiser was born at Prosperity Flats, east of Westover, SD at the home of her maternal grandparents on August 23, 1932. She passed away on May 26, 2017 at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital.

She married Harold Kaiser in Pierre, SD on Dec. 1, 1955.

Kathleen was born in Hamill SD on Nov. 24, 1924, the 5th of 7 children to Ollie and former Tripp County Commissioner, Millian Kulbel. During World War II she moved to Santa Monica CA where she worked as a secretary while waiting for her sweetheart, Keith Gushwa of Colome SD to return from the war in the Pacific.

The high school sweethearts wed in 1946 in Colome. After several moves they settled in Escondido California in 1961. Kathleen worked in food service for Escondido Schools for 27 years and also served as a food team leader for 1st United Methodist Church where she was a devoted member for 56 years. Memorial service was June 1 at 1st United Methodist Church, Escondido, CA. Memories can be posted at Legacy.com

Esther was the second child, including two brothers and two sisters born into the Rang family. In 1935 the family moved to a farm south of Burke, South Dakota where one more brother was born. She attended the McCumber School and had to leave school after the third grade because she was blind in one eye. She taught herself to read. She made her home on the farm until her dad sold the farm and moved into Burke. It was in Burke where she loved to work in the yard and with her flowers. She also loved to sew, especially making dolls. She was a nanny to her nieces and nephews, the neighbor kids and their dog Skamp.

Esther remained here until she entered the senior housing in Burke, where her sister, Edith, looked after her. Due to declining health, she entered the Lake Andes Health Care Center where she was a resident for the past 19 years.

Chase Christopher Novotny was born to Chris and Kami Novotny on Oct. 12, 1989. Chase was born in Winner, South Dakota. He grew up on the family ranch just west of Winner. He attended college at Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, SD in 2008 and 2009. He graduated with his degree in welding. After spending part of a year working in Winner he joined the United States Marine Corps. In January of 2011, Chase left for boot camp in San Diego, Calif. On his leave after boot camp graduation, Chase proposed to Misti Dawn Hofeldt, also of Winner. He and Misti were married the following year on May 26, 2012. After their marriage, Misti moved to live with Chase in Jacksonville, North Carolina where he was stationed.

Chase served 4 honorable years in the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Division stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC. During his service, he worked as a Motor T Mechanic and Wrecker Operator. He did one deployment in Afghanistan in 2013. In February of 2015, Chase completed his USMC duty and left The Corps. He and Misti moved to Avondale, AZ in June of 2015 where he began taking motor enhancement and mechanic courses at Universal Technical Institute. He had completed the general mechanic courses, the Ford program, and was in the process of finishing the diesel program. Chase is receiving his Honorary Degree.

Chase is survived by his wife, Misti Novotny; his parents, Chris and Kami, Winner, SD; his sisters, Kristyn Schuyler (Jayd) Winner, SD, Aryn Koupal (Dan) Dante, SD; his nephews, Tatum Swan, Waylon Koupal, and Coleton Schuyler; his nieces, Sidda Schuyler, and Raye Schuyler; and his grandfather, Gene Green, White River, SD. He is also survived by many other aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, and friends.

Chase is preceded in death by his grandparents Leo and Frances Novotny and his grandmother Winnie Green.
Chase was an ambitious, kind, and caring individual who left us too early. At 27 years old, Chase’s death was sudden and unexpected and with the loss of a loved one it is always hard, but to lose someone so special to many is unbearable. Chase’s ambitions were to make those around him happy, especially his loving wife. He always had a way of placing a smile on your face and will be missed by everyone who knew him. Chase made sure to never miss a moment in life to support his wife and anyone he met. This entire family, including those throughout the world, will know that this hero and friend will forever be in our hearts and prayers. The family wants to express their deepest appreciation to all of those that have provided support during this time.

Luree Wacek was born to John and Rosa (Forst) Wacek in the Murdo Hospital, June 26, 1922. She passed away peacefully in the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD on May 11, 2017.

Her parents had come to Mellette County in 1912 when the land was opened for homesteading. Her father, John, had registered for the land drawing and was among the 3000 whose names were drawn to “prove up on” land in Mellette Co. He built a one room house 8 miles north of the town of White River. In 1913, Luree’s sister Rosa Marie was born and her brother, Bernard in 1915. Luree was born in 1922 and was baptized Gertrude Luree in the Catholic Church, but she always went by Luree. She attended a one room school thru the 8th grade; she said, drinking from the same tin measuring cup that she had brought to the school the first day of the first grade. It is still one of her prized possessions. Interestingly her sister, Rosa, was her fourth grade teacher.

Luree was about 10 when her father passed away, leaving them to take care of the farm through some very hard times in the 1930’s. When Luree began High School in White River in 1937 they left the farm and moved into town. After graduating from high school, Luree attended one year of college at Spearfish, SD and then began teaching in a rural school. Next, by taking state exams, she got a State Teacher’s Certificate that qualified her to teach in a town school. She then taught, along with her sister Rosa, in Mission for 7 years.

Luree went back to Black Hills State College and got her Bachelor’s Degree and later a Masters from the University of Wyoming for School Administration. She served as the last County Superintendent of Schools for Mellette County and then as the Elementary School Principal in the Mid-70’s in Hill City, SD.

After Retirement, she and Rosa spent time doing things that they liked best; some of which including traveling, sewing, collecting antiques and refinishing old furniture. Luree loved to garden and took pride in the assortment of flowers and rose bushes in the large shaded yard around the house she and her mother had moved into when she as a sophomore in high school. On occasion, when talking about her tree covered “garden-like” yard, she would reminisce about when they moved into the house the was nothing around the house but bare ground (and being in the drought-stricken 30’s it undoubtedly was BARE ground!) What a difference 80 years can make as it became one of the loveliest , tree-shaded yards in White River as long as she was able to maintain it.

Growing up during difficult times, Luree became a strong, persevering woman; who treasured special items, special occasions, special people and special places. Her appreciation for learning and growing in knowledge kept her interested in in world affairs and politics. It also kept her humble and she was thankful for all of her blessings. Her strong faith in God kept her going, even when it grew very hard to continue on. Luree’s compassion for God’s creatures was evident, and she never gave up trying to take care of the many cats and kittens that would come into her life. She loved them all! Even authoring a book title “Blackie”, memorializing one of her many cat-related adventures. Luree was a gifted writer, and over the years, she maintained contact with many of her friends and classmates by writing long letters to them. She has kept those people updated on White River’s progress while, at the same time, her book entitled “Back Then-Early Days in Mellette County”, continues to keep the younger generations updated on what life was like when our area was being settled. Luree did not want these “times” and circumstances to be forgotten.

Robert J. “Bob” Peklo, 80, passed away May 6, 2017 in Omaha, NE.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1956-1960.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Emil & Elsie Peklo (Spicknall) and 2 sisters.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Lou Peklo; Daughters: Kathy English & husband Rick, Karen Peklo; Grandchildren: Ryan English, Katrina McKeagney & husband Adam; 3 great grandchildren; 2 brothers & 2 sisters.

Born April 11, 1934 at Dallas, SD to Emil and Christina (Drefs) joining the family Leona, Annetta, Ervin, & Elta.

Leonard grew up in the White River area. He entered the Army in 1956. After his discharge from the Army he married Thelma Evans. Leonard went to work for Terrace Park Dairy a career that lasted 28 years. He delivered to small towns around Winner, Murdo, and Pierre. The family moved to Winner to help his brother Ervin run the Westside cafe.

Missing the milk business the family moved to Pierre. Leonard worked for Pierre Public School as he enjoyed working around the children. Leonard enjoyed people he liked to prank, scare or tell a story and make people laugh. Leonard loved hunting and being out in nature.

Harold Gidion Bender was born in Dallas, SD on Jan. 31, 1934 to Robert and Emma (Hoffman) Bender. Harry grew up in the Dallas and Gregory area. He entered the Army in November of 1956 and served his country until his honorable discharge in November 1958. Part of Harry’s time in the Army was spent in Germany. Harry then transferred and served in the National Guard.

Harry was a trucker and hauled cattle and grain for several area companies. He enjoyed trucking and did it well. Harry married Vera Condon Dooley on Dec. 19, 1969 and became the father to her four children. A few years later their son Andy was born.

When it came to fixing and tinkering on things–from cars and tractors to working with wood–Harry could do it. He was an excellent mechanic and carpenter.

Harry passed away on May 12, 2017 at Sanford Long Term Care in Chamberlain, SD at the age of 83.