New Ag building named after Taylor Watzel

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
The new building on the grounds of the Tripp County fairgrounds was named after Taylor Watzel. It will named the Taylor Watzel livestock building. The announcement was made at the Mid Dakota Fair on Saturday. Pictured from left are Tripp County Commissioner Mike Novotny, Dean and Barb Watzel, Bonnie Rutten, a member of the building committee and commissioners Joyce Kartak and Dan Forgey. Prior to the premium sale, the building committee was recognized for their efforts in putting up the new structure.

Alberta Crabtree, 89

Alberta Crabtree, 89, died Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021 at the Fall River Health Services Hospital in Hot Springs.

Alberta Minnie Horst was born March 6, 1932 at Mission, SD to August and Bertha [Hartman] Horst.

Alberta married Delbert Crabtree on Sept. 27, 1949 in Mission and Delbert was involved in forestry and farming. Alberta was a bookkeeper. Delbert died March 22, 2014.

Survivors include five sons: Charles [Pam] Crabtree of Guthrie, OK, David [Kelly] Crabtree of Arcadia, CA, Glen [Cindy] Crabtree of Rapid City, Lyle [Joanie] Crabtree of Edgemont, SD, and Ross [Joan] Crabtree of Pierre; one daughter: Denis [Kevin] Pryor of Rapid City; daughter in law: Brenda [Mike] Haverhals of Le Mars, IA; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one sister: Hortense Artichoker of Rapid City; and one sister in law: Norma Elsasser of Winner, SD.

Alberta was preceded by her parents, husband, son Lee, brother Dewey Beselin, sisters: Helena Hansen, June Ringstmeyer, Linda Horst, Verna Duke, Bobby Case, and Twila Dvorak.

Her private Celebration of Life memorial gathering will be held at a later date.

Her inurnment was held at 2:30 pm on Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at Black Hills National Cemetery.

Arrangements with Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

Richard Allan Bertram, 73

Richard Allan Bertram, of Winner South Dakota passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 73. 

A celebration of life was held Aug. 7 at the Colome American Legion.

Rich was born on July 7, 1948 in Ainsworth, Neb., to Allan and Neva Bertram.  He attended Colome Public Schools, graduating from Colome High School in 1966.

Rich married his wife of fifty years, Karen Kauer on May 3, 1971 in Winner SD.  To this union they were blessed with five children:  Allan, Lance, Cody, Stephanie and Blakke.  Rich held a few jobs managing stores such as the S & S Store and Big A Auto Parts, but for the last 28 years of his working career he truly found his calling as a correctional officer for the Winner City Jail.   He loved his work at the jail and he was able to make such a profound impact on so many people through his patience and timely advice on life.

His impact was also made on the baseball and softball diamonds.  He coached many young athletes in the Colome Community in both sports and was extremely proud of the 1989 Clearfield Teener Team that he coached to a State Runner-Up Finish.  He spoke often about all of his former players and how important they were to him and the pride he had in their life accomplishments.

Rich’s entire being was centered around his family.  He was extremely proud to be a Bertram and instilled the many values and ideals that were passed down to him through his father, uncles and grandparents.  He never missed a game of his children’s and over the years and traveled thousands of miles to ensure that he was in the stands for his grandchildren’s athletic contests, concerts, recitals and major events.

Rich is survived by his wife, Karen Bertram, children Allan & Shelby Bertram, Lance & Jen Bertram, Cody & Melony Bertram, Stephanie & Justin Schuyler, Blakke & Emily Bertram.  11 Grandchildren – Skyler, Kylie, Ashtyn, Olivia, Landon, Trevor, Mason, Marlie, Owen, TaShawn, Zaeda.  Brothers Russ, Ron (Kim) Roger and Sister Rae Jean (Jeff) and a very special uncle Larry Bertram along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents Allan & Neva Bertram, Father & Mother in Law – Paul & Lorraine Kauer and sister Reva Horstman.

Rich made a lasting impact on so many, he will be missed daily but his legacy will live on forever.

In lieu of flowers any monetary donations will go towards the Richard Bertram Law Enforcement Officer Annual Employee of the Year Award.

Mcdonald classroom kits

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
McDonalds of Winner and Leonard Management handed out classroom kits to teachers on Aug. 2. Receiving her kit is Winner Middle School teacher Robin Curtis, center. Making the presentation is Brittany Lunderman. Looking on is McDonald manager Dustin DeSersa. Leonard Management provided kits to teachers who stopped in McDonalds from the Winner, Colome, Gregory and Mission School Districts.

Legion falls in state tournament

Winner/Colome Legion baseball team was eliminated from the state tournament after falling to Madison and Groton this weekend.

The state tournament was held in Groton.

On Saturday. Groton defeated Winner/Colome 4-2.

The game was tied at two with Groton batting in bottom of the fifth when an error scored one run for Groton.

Both teams had a run each in the second and third innings.

Aiden Barfuss had a triple for Winner and he was 2-3 at the plate.

Also getting hits were Jesse Colson, Charley Pravecek, Kameron Meiners.

Meiners pitched four innings and was the losing pitcher. Evan Farner pitched two innings.

The Royals opened state tournament play on Friday and lost a heartbreaker 6-5 to Madison.

Madison scored five runs in the third inning.

Ashton Klein, Aiden Barfuss, Aaron Gilchrist, Evan Farner, Meiners and Pravecek each collected one hit for Winner/Colome.

Gilchrist and Pravecek had doubles and Barfuss had a triple.

Jacob Beckers took the loss for the Royals.

He pitched six innings and threw 102 pitches.

Colome advances to state tournament

Linda Kinzer Photo
Shea Connot bats for the Colome Chaos in the game with Miller-Wessington. Colome
won 14-4

For the first time in franchise history, the Colome Chaos has punched their ticket to the state amateur baseball tournament.

Colome defeated Miller/Wessington 14-4 on July 28 in Chamberlain.

Ethan Vobr drove in four runs for the Chaos. In addition, Vobr had both a double and triple. He went 3-4 at the plate to lead Colome in hits.

The big inning for Colome was the fifth when they scored five runs and in the fourth and first innings they scored 4 runs each.

Top hitters for Colome were Shea Connot, 1-4, Jackson Kinzer, 2-4; Ben Connot, 2-3; Jake Luse, 1-3; Terrance Kinzer, 2-3; Vobr, 3-4.

Carter Brickman took the win for Colome. The right hander went seven innings allowing four runs on ten hits and striking out nine.

Brickman threw 121 pitches.

The state amateur baseball tournament will be held in Mitchell.