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John R. O’Malley, age 69, passed away Nov. 15, 2020, in Phoenix, AZ.

Born in Winner, SD on January 5, 1951, John was raised by his father Shannon P. O’Malley (deceased 2004) and his mother Carme O’Malley (deceased 2020) in Winner, SD alongside his younger brother Marty O’Malley (Las Vegas, NV).

John excelled in scholastics and athletics as a young boy and well into his high school years. John graduated from Winner High School in 1969 lettering in golf, football and baseball. John’s passion stood out in baseball. As a highly recruited high school pitcher, John accepted a scholarship to play at the highly touted baseball powerhouse Arizona State University. John, a left handed pitcher, competed and played at a high level. John transferred to Yankton, SD college in 1971. Setting numerous pitching records his college career ended in 1973. John received two Major League Baseball minor league contracts from the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians. In 2014, John was inducted to the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame.

John’s early career was in hotel/restaurant management. His professional career coincided with the start of his most important career, his family. Marrying his high school sweetheart, Donneen Ainsworth O’Malley (Payson, AZ) in 1971, and in 1972 his first children were twins, John M. O’Malley (Payson, AZ) and Shani P. O’Malley (Phoenix, AZ). John and Donneen’s third and last child Katie J. O’Malley (Scottsdale, AZ) was born in Pierre, SD.

John was the general manager of many SD properties including the historic Hotel Alex Johnson in Rapid City. In 1983 John made a critical, risk taking move at the age of 34 to switch careers and geographic location to start new in the automotive sales industry in AZ. Uprooting his family from South Dakota and moving to Scottsdale, AZ, John started as an entry level salesperson. In 1985 John went to work for ANC Nissan. Excelling through management positions he became General Manager/Dealer partner at Camelback Toyota in 1991.

Another highlight was marrying his beloved Gina Burton O’Malley (Phoenix, AZ). John and Gina attended numerous Toyota awards events and trips. Representing Camelback Toyota like JFK and Jackie O. did on trips and at dignitary dinners. John would remain there until his bittersweet retirement in 2019. John built a culture of taking care of his customers and his people. The key ingredient to his success was being firm but fair and taking care of his 275+ employees. In 2002, Camelback Toyota received the honor of being the number one business to work for in AZ by Phoenix New Times magazine.

Because of his compassion for his people, his employees gave back tenfold to beat and exceed sales and service goals for ten years in a row. John O’Malley with his loyal employees put Camelback Toyota on the map. Camelback Toyota was and still is recognized as sales and service champions on a national level.

Alongside all of these Camelback Toyota accomplishments, John’s generosity was unmatched. When he became the President of the Toyota Dealers Association he changed the dynamic of the advertising budget. John used the budget to bring awareness to the homeless Arizona and U.S. Veterans. Toyota was now assisting U.S. veterans in building and renovating motels for them, sponsoring additional medical supplies and counseling for our forgotten veterans. The Valley Toyota Dealers Association immediately impacted the veteran’s problem and made a difference in the community. Because of his tireless efforts, in 2017 John was awarded the Copper Sword Award by the Arizona Veterans Society. This award is the most prestigious award given to a non-veteran.

In his retirement years John had the time and opportunity to hone his skills on his passion, golf. Always known as a fierce competitor John loved to play and compete with his friends and family as well. John and Gina even organized an annual family Easter golf tournament. John loved traveling with Gina and always prioritized his life around his family. His seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren brought so much joy and love into his life. John will be sorely missed by hundreds, perhaps thousands of people he personally touched.

The true Patriarch of the prideful O’Malley family, his traditions will continue and his legacy will live on. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to: Homeless Veterans, P.O. Box 6325, Glendale, AZ 85345.

View video of services at: youtube.com John O’Malley Tribute 2020.

Clair Turgeon, 91, of Winner, SD passed away on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020 at the Avera Healthcare Facility in Gregory, SD.

Lawrence “Clair” Turgeon was born Aug. 9, 1929, in Burke, SD to Marie and Abe Turgeon. He was the youngest of ten children. When he was a few years old, they moved to “the ranch” near Mission. Clair remembered the dust storms. He and his brother, Don, gathered tumbleweeds and placed them into feed bunks. His father told the boys to sprinkle salt water on them so the cattle would eat it.

When he was 8, his family moved to Littleberg where his parents ran a grocery store. The store was near the country school which made Clair happy because he did not have to walk far to get there. A special memory he talked about was when he had 25 cents and he purchased admittance to a movie, popcorn, an ice cream cone, and rides at the carnival in Valentine, Neb., while visiting his older sister. The movie was “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

In 1941, they moved to Mission where Abe ran a gas station. During lunch, Clair would run to Hoffine’s Cafe and wash dishes in exchange for a hamburger. He was an Altar Server all the years they lived in Littleberg and Mission. He served till he was taller than the priest. The priest said masses at more than one parish and he rode along. He even served at his oldest brother’s wedding.

After Abe passed away in 1943, Marie moved the house from Littleberg to Burke. Clair went to high school there and graduated in 1947. After high school, he spent time helping Cornell Siler wire houses.

During this time, Clair played baseball for his hometown. At a  game in Dallas, he saw a lovely blonde girl.. He went home that night and told his mother that he “had met the woman he was going to marry”. At the time, he did not even know her name. Clair was right. In 1949 on Oct. 3, Clair and Shirley (McKenzie) were married wearing matching brown suits.  They lived with Clair’s sister Alvina Larimer near Mission until their first child was born in 1950. Clair  helped his older brother, Bob, dig wells.

They moved back to Burke and Clair worked for Fullerton Lumber and Melvin Bresee in the hardware store. Shortly after, he bought the ice cream store. Clair and Shirley ran Clair’s Ice Cream Parlor for a year. He returned to Fullerton Lumber and managed that until 1958. He was then offered and accepted the Burke City manager job.. During that time, he was a member of the fire department and ambulance crew. In 1970 he took the city manager job in Winner, which resulted in moving his family to Winner.

Clair enjoyed taking his family to the Black Hills for vacations. They would take their van and everyone would sleep in it. Great memories were made on these trips. Clair also loved to go fishing. His kids remember their dad coming home after work and wanting to go fishing. The lucky two who were chosen to go were told to go to the bathroom, get a jacket, keep quiet, and get in the car.

Clair retired from the city in 1979 and at that time he and Shirley bought the Speed Queen Laundromat and Car Wash. They ran those businesses for 22 years. After all those years, Clair and Shirley enjoyed retirement together. He drove vehicles for Harry K. Ford during retirement too. He seemed to know where every Arby’s was in the Midwest. He enjoyed driving until 2015.

Clair and Shirley enjoyed their time with their loved ones. He was a wonderful son, brother, uncle, cousin, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

He would say that he was a jack of all trades and a master of none, but his family would argue differently. He was an electrician, plumber, carpenter, baseball player, golfer, bowler, hunter, trapper, fisherman, and gambler (and a BSer). He liked to introduce his family to different things. He helped his family raise chickens and rabbits. He had bait tanks to sell minnows. There was always a huge garden and they would do lots of home canning. One year, the family raised cucumbers and sold them to Gedney’s. Clair and Shirley would take the family to pick wild grapes to make jelly and grape juice. In recent years Clair especially loved the apple tree near the house. He would peel the apples and take them to all his friends.  He also enjoyed brightening the neighborhood with his vibrant Christmas displays.

He was a lifelong devout Catholic and a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Winner.

Clair is survived by his children Sandra (Alan) Hubbard, their children Erin, Scott, Rachel, Andrew and their families; David (Kathy) Turgeon, their daughters Stacy and Jamie and their families; Rick (Joey) Turgeon, their children Jessie, Tony, Paige and their families; Carol Turgeon; Nancy Turgeon, and her children Jenny and Jordan; Ed (Teri) Turgeon, and their daughters Nikki and Tiffany and their families; Doug (Leah) Turgeon, their children Dana and Daria and their families; Larry (Kim) Turgeon and their daughter Blaire;  20 great-grandchildren, one brother Don Turgeon, one sister in-law Maxine Moxon-Davis, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Shirley; an infant son Kevin James; a granddaughter Rebecca Hubbard; a  grandson Alex Turgeon; his parents, Abe and Marie; siblings Bob (Evelyn) Turgeon; Alvina (Paul Larimer); Romona (Robert McKinney); Herbert Turgeon (infant); Rosalie (Art) Wilson; Betty (Roger) Eastlund; George (Irene) Turgeon; Ben (Bernice) Turgeon; parents in-law Homer and Pearl McKenzie; brothers in-law Jim (Loretta) McKenzie; Ken (Mardy) McKenzie; Duane Moxon; and Mort Davis; sister in-law Marjorie Turgeon.