Category Archives: News

Lil’ Feller in Winner has been sold to RF Buche

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The Lil’ Feller has been sold to RF Buche, who owns a chain of Buche Foods and Gus Stop Convenience Stores.  Buche will take over on Tuesday November 30th, 2021.  The store will be open during the transition with no disruption to customers. 

The name will change to The Gus Stop and will remain open 24 hours.  Charge customers will stay the same along with the same process with their charge card.  All current Lil’ Fellers team members will be making the jump to the GF Buche Co team and will keep their years of service with the Buche Company.  “Brian has a built a great team and we are excited to work with his team,” said RF Buche. 

“We are looking for a manager as well as a few other positions so please go to buchefoods.com if you have an interest in full or part time.”  Stated RF.  All GF Buche Co team members are able to get up to a $2,000 sign on bonus as well as great benefits and competitive wages.  “So if you are looking for a change or just want some extra spending money, please check us out” said Buche.  

The Gus stop deli will be enhanced and the casino will be expanded along with the same great service Brian and have team have provided to Winner for many years.  More updates and the new look is scheduled for mid-2022 and the store will remain open to customers while that happens.

“Brian Schaeffer has worked very hard and has done a great job for the community of Winner.  He has left big shoes to fill but I think Winner will love the finished product.” stated Buche.  “We hope everyone stops in to say hello!”

RF’s dad, Robert named the first “Gus Stop” convenience store in 1998 after the GF Buche Co. founder Gus Buche.  RF also has a 13-year-old son named Gus.  Obviously, RF hopes for Gus to continue in the family business. 

GF Buche Co was founded in 1905 by RF’s great grandfather in Lake Andes and the company has remained in the Buche family since.  Currently the company has 20 locations throughout South Dakota consisting of grocery, convenience, auto, and hardware stores along with a Taco Johns location and another Taco Johns coming to Winner in the spring of 2022.

Pravecek named to Elite 45

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Charley Pravecek of the Winner football team, has been named to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader Elite 45.

Each year the Argus Leader selects the best football players in the state.

Pravecek was both a guard and tackle for a Winner team that was thoroughly dominate. Pravecek led an offensive line that rushed for over 3,600 yards this season.

He was almost as dominant as a defensive presence for the Warriors. He had 36.5 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks on a Winner team that rarely gave their opponents room.

“Defensively, he was dominant. He played with incredible effort and technique,” said coach Trent Olson. “He was one of the best linemen I have ever seen in 11B.”

Named honorable mention in the Elite 45 was Kaden Keiser of Winner. 

Lil’ Feller changes ownership

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Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Brian Schaeffer is retiring as owner of Lil’ Feller in Winner. He has sold the business to R. F. Buche who took over on Nov. 30. Lil’ Feller opened in 1984 in Winner.

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

The ownership of Lil’ Feller in Winner changed hands  yesterday (Nov. 30).

Brian Schaeffer sold the business to R.F. Buche. The business will be called Gus Stop 6 and there will be a new manager.

Lil’Feller Covenience Store in Winner opened in October 1984 and was built by Dwight and Brian Schaeffer.

Schaeffer explained he was talking to one of his suppliers about the idea of selling the business. The supplier said she knew someone who might be interested. She put Schaffer in touch with Buche and the two were able to come to a deal.

“I am blessed to have found R.F. to take over the business,” said Schaeffer as he sat his office the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Buche plans to keep the business open 24 hours a day seven days a week.

Schaeffer says he has good employees. He feels fortunate  to have all the customers who have been here year after year. “They are the ones who made the place go,” he said.

The first Lil’Feller store was in Miller in 1981 The Schaeffers owned six Lil’ Feller stores in Valley City, N.D., Carrington, N. D., Lemmon, Mobridge, Miller and Winner.

Of the  six, the only store left is the one in Winner.

Brian noted  did not want to be on the road that much so he sold off all the stores to concentrate on the one in Winner.

The store in Winner was originally Car Care Center. It was torn down to build the new convenience store. There have been two additions in 1989 and 2005. The additions expanded the size of the building. In 1993, new gas tanks were put in and  a new canopy was built.

Brian said his dad came up with the name of the convenience store. Brian’s mother, Mona, drew the lil feller figure which was a combination  of two to three characters put into one.

Brian is amazed at how many people he sees who have worked at Lil’ Feller.

Cal Berg was the first manager. In December 1985 Craig Schaeffer became the manager and Brian worked the night shift.

Brian explained that his dad always insisted the store be open 24 hours a day more as a convenience to the community.

Barb Lovejoy was hired as the manager in 1991  and she hired Diann Suess as the assistant manager.

Brian and Lovejoy managed the store together starting in 1996.

Brian talked about some of the long time employees incuding Judy Edwards, Donna Papke, Carolyn Reiss, Delores Palmer. “They were a fun crew. They would dream stuff up and I always said those were my smooth years because I did not have to worry about emploees”

Nancy Turgeon

Brian said one of the biggest challenges was getting someone to work the midnight to 7 a.m. shift.

“I   would work at Schaeffer Oil during the day and come here and work the midnight shift,” said Brian. He did that for nine months.

Finally, he found two guys to work that shift and they are Duncan Reidl and Paul Cornell and for two years Orville Schroeder worked the night shift.

“Finding Duncan for the midnight shift was a blessing,” said Brian.

Duncan has worked at Lil’ Feller for five yeas, Paul for 10 years and another long time employee is Nancy Turgeon who has worked there for 10 years.

Also working at the store since 2012 is Chris Schaeffer who served in the military and came back to help his dad at the store. “I needed someone and Chris just pitched in.”

Brian says he enjoys getting up in the morning and going to work. “I am going to miss a lot of the people who come through the door every morning.”

Schaeffer says he plans to take a year off. He and his wife. Jan, hardly have had any time to travel. Brian has missed family gatherings due to working at the store.

As he leaves the store on Nov. 30  he says Lil’ Feller has treated him well and will be in good hands with Buche.

Holiday festival is Dec. 4

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The holiday festival sponsored by Winner Regional Foundation will be held on Saturday, Dec. 4, at St. Mary’s Hall.

The social hour will begin at 5 p.m. and the dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

There will be a both a live and silent auction. There will be wonderful items to bid on in the live auction. Following the live auction there will be a dance.

The event is essential to help support numerous improvements at Winner Regional Health. The primary focus where the money will go this year is to raise $15,000 for a security alarm for the long term care center. Money will also be raised, an additional $40,000, for a 3D software for the CT scanner.

Silent auction items and live auction items are to be brought to St. Mary’s Hall on Dec. 1 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The  success of the festival is a community effort with the purchase of tickets, bidding on items and the donation of live and silent auction items.

Come and enjoy a wonderful evening filled with the joy of the holiday season.

Cynthia Marie McCormick, 63

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Cynthia Marie McCormick passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021 after her courageous battle with ovarian cancer at the age of 63.

Cindy was the third of nine children born to Ivan and Florence Fischer on Sept. 13 1958 in Winner South Dakota.  Cindy was born and raised on the family farm where she enjoyed nature, the many pets, and riding horses.  She learned all her hard work, dedication, family staples, and wonderful cooking at a young age when she would help care for her younger siblings.  During her teenage years, Cindy worked for a traveling combine crew which allowed her to travel the harvest fields from North Dakota to Oklahoma.

After graduation in 1977, Cindy went to work for the USGS surveying crew and the combine crew which lead her to start her career in construction in Sioux Falls.  Cindy moved to Spearfish in the fall of 1983 and started a career with Fisher Sand and Gravel where she learned to run various types of heavy equipment, which she loved for 20 years.  In addition to running heavy equipment, Cindy worked for the Homestake Mining Company where she operated the hoist to lower miners and scientists into the ground.

During her time in Spearfish, Cindy met Bob McCormick and they were married in 1986 in Las Vegas.   They bought their forever home where they were able to raise their two children Jessica and Christopher.  Bob and Cindy spent many happy hours taking their children camping in the Big Horns to boating on the Missouri River and family vacations to Disney Land and Mexico.  There was always laughter, smiles, and love within the walls of their home.

After the kids were grown, Cindy and Bob each fulfilled a lifelong dream to own their Harley Davidson motorcycles where they could enjoy the freedom of the road.  Their motorcycles took them to many beautiful destinations together, and enjoying the Sturgis Rally every year.

Cindy strived to help others in all aspects of her life.  She was involved with her church and the president of the chapter in Spearfish called Alpha Nu which was part of the Beta Sigma Phi.  Designating her heart and time for the church and Beta group allowed Cindy to raise money for the community homes, the Humane Society, delivering gifts to the Angel Tree Children, and visiting the elderly.

Although Cindy was always on the go, in her free time she enjoyed sewing, making beautiful quilts, canning, gardening, crafting, riding her bike, and cooking for all her beloved family and friends.  The doors of Bob and Cindy’s home was always open for all their loved ones to come to eat, drink, and be merry.  There was never a dull moment in Cindy’s life.  Her biggest joy was spending time with her beautiful granddaughter, Adelynn.  Cindy and Adelynn were best friends and would do everything together, creating memories and love that will last a lifetime.

Cindy filled the hearts of every person she met and created great memories with her family, friends, Beta Sisters, and Rally Family.  From the many Bitch N’ Stitch quilts made with her Sisters and Beta Family, to spreading her love with spaghetti sauce, and the miles put on with the bikes that traveled for the yearly Rally gathering there will always be happy memories to remember.

Memorial services will be held at 2 pm, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021 at the United Methodist Church in Spearfish. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established.

Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com

Clara Ulmer, 86

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Clara Ulmer, 86, of Winner, SD passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021 at the Winner Regional Hospital in Winner, SD.

  Funeral services were held at 2 p.m.  on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021 at the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner. SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Clara Belle (Shutt) Ulmer was born to Alvin and Florence (Dodds) Shutt on Jan. 26, 1935, north of Paxton, SD.

Clara attended the Prairie House Country School near Paxton. While growing up Clara helped work on the family farm. Clara would do anything on the farm and help take care of her 6 brothers. Clara also would help the neighbor lady Mrs. Lambert cook during thrashing season. She also babysat and did the chores at the Don Bowling farm, Vernon Jamos farm, and Shirley Beck which became one of Clara’s best friends.

Clara met and fell in love with Ray Ulmer her lifelong husband of 65 years on Nov. 3. To this union the two had 5 children. Shortly after they married, they moved with their son Morris to Johnstown, Colo., where Ray worked a dairy and irrigation farm. There they had brought into the world a little girl named Connie Marie. In November of 1957 they moved back to Gregory where the lived and worked at the Kaupp Brother Ranch for a short while.

Ray and Clara then moved to Steve and Mabel Sharkey Farm east of Winner. Clara loved to raise chickens and a big garden. They brought to their family three more children: Cheryl Elaine, Diane Rae, and Gregg Leon. They lived on the Sharkey Farm until the kids started school in Winner, 1971. Clara then worked at the school lunch where she would help cook. For a short time, she worked with her youngest daughter Diane until Clara went to work at the Lil Feller Store in Winner as a cook where she met all kinds of different people from all over. She did this for 14 years.

Clara then went to work at the ROCS Dining Service. This is where they cooked meals for the elderly or anybody. Mostly served people that would come there to eat. Everybody was special but there were a few extra special people.

Clara worked at the Senior Citizens for 16 years. Clara worked the last few years with her daughter Diane. Clara worked until the day she had a stroke in 2018.

Clara enjoyed bowling, gardening, puzzles, crocheting baby blankets for her grandkids, making dollies, fishing, and playing with all the grand and great grandkids. Clara collected bells and spoons of all the states as well.

Clara lost battle with dementia passing away at the Winner Regional Hospital on Nov. 24, 2021, with some family members present.

Joining Jesus, Clara follows her son Morris; parents: Alvin and Florence Shutt; parents-in-law: Albert and Hilda Ulmer; brothers: Art, Duane, Jerry; brothers-in-law: Harold, Larry, Joe, Wayne, Don; sisters-in-law: Irma, Clarice, Leola.

Clara is survived by her husband of 65 years; children: Connie (John) Blazina, Cheryl (Mike) Eilmes, Diane (Jr.) Schroeder, Gregg (Shawn) Ulmer and Daugher-in-law Diane Shutt. Clara’s 18 grandkids, 52 great grandkids and great great grandkids; multiple nieces and nephews and all her friends and 1 special friend Marie Reagle. Clara will be greatly missed.

Colome FFA members at National Convention

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Submitted Photo
Colome FFA members who attended the national convention in Indianapolis, Ind., include Morgan Gill, Klayton Heath, Jesse Larson, Joseph Laprath and Jack Anderson.

Five of the Colome FFA members attended the national FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. Those that attended include Jack Anderson, Morgan Gill, Klayton Heath, Jesse Larson, Joseph Laprath, and advisor Sarah Manderfeld. The students and advisor left on Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 7 pm.

 The first stop of the trip was Fair Oaks Farm on Wednesday, Oct. 27. The students participated in a swine experience by seeing the process of piglets being born and raised. The visitors also got to witness a calf being born. The night ended at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a performance from Alex Miller and Brett Young that started at 7:30 pm.

Opening session started at 8 am on Thursday, Oct. 28, where they got to see ‘Fancy Lady Cowgirl’ Courtney DeHoff talk about stepping up to challenges. The members then got to explore around the FFA Expo Center to receive information about college and agriculture groups. Free items were also received during the Expo exploring.

Later that afternoon, there was a tour given of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Jack, Morgan, Klayton, Jesse, and Joseph upheld the tradition of kissing the bricks. The students then had some fun enjoying a haunted house later that night.

On the last day of the National FFA Convention, Friday, Oct. 29, those attending went to the fourth general session at 8 am. Students then got the chance to explore the convention hall. That afternoon, the members went to Beasley’s Orchard and got to talk to the owner, Calvin Beasley. Beasley talked about young entrepreneurs and how to thrive with their own small businesses. The students ended their day with the sixth general session at 7 pm.

On Saturday, Oct. 30, the students attended the American Degree session at 7:30 am and the seventh general session at noon. After finishing sessions, they then started their journey home.