Category Archives: News

Colleen “Connie” Vaughn, 87, of Winner, SD passed away on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Facility in Winner, SD.  Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023 at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD.  Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.  

Colleen “Connie” Annetta Vaughn was born on Jan. 16, 1936, in New Underwood, SD to her parents Elsie “Kink” (Killian) & Howard Connolly. She grew up in Wall and graduated from Wall High School.  She had an older brother Ron whom she loved and looked up to yet found ways to push his buttons. Although if her dad, Howard, was around she could do nothing wrong.  She was the apple of his eye.  Howard was very musical and passed along his talents to Connie.  She played the saxophone and piano along with singing, which she continued throughout her life. 

 After graduating from Wall High School in 1954, Connie went on and completed one year of business school in Rapid City before being united in marriage to Frank Vaughn on June 2, 1955. To this unity, four children were born, Debra, Pamela, James, and John.  They lived in Rapid City, then moved to Philip for a few years before settling down in Winner in 1966. 

 Connie was a very strong woman.  She worked hard and loved supporting her family.  She was always there supporting Frank in whatever his next dream was.  Whether it was an auto body shop, a hotel, or a farm, she was there helping make it all work!  She even found time to foster her own hobbies like Swedish weaving and embroidering, but we think she loved knitting the most.  She knitted Christmas stockings for all her grandkids and great grandkids.  We joked with her that she must’ve been slowing down just a touch because by the time the great grandkids came along the stockings got a little smaller!  She was also so giving!  Frank was a collector of antiques.  He enjoyed the hunt and bartering for a good deal.  Connie enjoyed the love she could share by giving it to someone else.  Any time you stopped at her house she tried to give you something to take home with you.  That along with a bag of cookies of course.

 She was a wonderful baker.  One of our favorites was her Snickerdoodle Cookies.  She tried her best to write down all the details of her recipes, but as hard as we tried, they never quite turned out like hers.  Perhaps it was the grandkids’ dirty hands helping and her love that made them extra good!  She also used to pull taffy with the kids.  They made homemade donuts and fudge.  And if the fudge didn’t turn out, she’d just make popcorn and let the kids use the fudge as a dip.

 Unfortunately, she was widowed early in life.  But she was blessed to be able to travel to the east coast with her brother Ron and his wife June and traveled to Alaska with her sister-in-law Barb.  She took in the warm Texas weather a few months out of the year with her sister-in-law June during the winter months.  She also loved traveling with her kids to go see her grandkids.  She would try and make it to all her 10 grandkids’ many activities… her lifetime activity pass was still in her purse.

 She was always about family.  Whether it was our extended hunting family joining us for opening weekend, or the kids, grandkids, and great grandkids at Christmas time.  She loved a big Christmas Day.  She would get the good China out for everyone, even for the grandkids.   She had a wonderful smile and laugh!  And she loved to tease.  Even after her stroke she was a jokester and never lost her sense of humor.    She was a daughter, a sister, a wife, an aunt, and a friend…. But to us she was a Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma and she is greatly missed.

 She is survived by her four children, ten grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren: Debra (John) Fisher, Tiffany (Sam) Zoey and Ally Sandmeier. Michelle (Ben) Rayne and Phineas Rohlik. Cindy (Chet) Milo Willer. Pamela (Curt) Leat, Travis Leat and Kirby Leat. James (Diane) Vaughn, Chad (Shannon) Crosby and Gunner Vaughn. Erin, Jyles, Cooper, and Liam Auble.  Jill (Quentin) Iden, Reagen and Boston Myers. John (Penny) Vaughn, Mandy (Cole) Emmet and Avery St. Clair.  Jordan (Amelia) Vaughn. Her sister-in-laws June (Ward) Hogue and Barb (Bill) Dunn. And numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband Frank, her parents, and her brother Ron.

Emmogene Hysell, 95, of Winner, SD passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Facility in Winner, SD.  Funeral service was held on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023 at 2 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, SD.  Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. 

Emmogene was born on July 24, 1928, to Matt and Regina (Horst) Leetch.

She attended country school in the Herrick area where she rode horseback to school.  She graduated high school in St. Charles, SD, in 1946.

Emmogene married Howard Hysell, on May 21, 1949.  Emmogene and Howard had one daughter (Connie).  They lived in Bonesteel, SD for 9 years before moving to Winner.  Emmogene worked at Holmes Café for a short time before she started cleaning homes.  She continued to clean homes until she was 82 years old.  Many close relationships were developed with these families.  These individuals became her extended family.

Emmogene was a very dedicated Lutheran.  She taught bible school and Sunday school for several years.  Her faith was very important to her.  Emmogene’s passion was her grandchildren and great -grandchildren.  She spent her entire life following their activities and sporting events. She enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins games, especially with her family.  She also loved to crochet in her spare time.  She created many family heirlooms that will always be treasured.

Emmogene is survived by her daughter Connie (Bob) Meiners, grandchildren; Scott (Shelly) Meiners, Kelly (Kay) Meiners, Kevin (Lisa) Meiners, great-grandchildren; Cale Meiners, Kameron Meiners, Marissa Meiners, Kelbi Meiners, Taylor Meiners, Jax Meiners, and Harper Meiners, sisters; Marcella Kaiser and Marcelline Dykeman.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and six siblings; Bill Leetch, Bob Leetch, Patty Leetch, Matt Leetch Jr., John Leetch, and Dickie Leetch.

Kenneth Donald DuBray, 97, of Kellogg, MN, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, at Gundersen – St. Elizabeth’s Health Care Center, Wabasha, MN.

Kenneth was born April 5, 1926, to Lillie (Rice) and Peter DuBray in Winner, South Dakota on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. He served in the US Army during WWII, primarily in the Philippines and Japan.

On May 23, 1953, Ken married Opal Pomeroy at Northwood, IA. They lived in Minneapolis for 20 years and then moved to rural Kellogg in 1971 where they owned and operated a melon farm. From 1948-1991, Ken was self-employed as a long-haul trucker.

Ken is a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church and Kellogg American Legion and a former member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Rollingstone, MN and the Spring Lake, MN VFW.

He enjoyed looking at the stars and planets in the nighttime sky, farming, and he was known for his flower and vegetable gardens.

Kenneth is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Darlene Mannikko; Jane (Roger) Maschka; and Connie (Ron) Scamp; seven grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and 25 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Opal; an infant daughter; a grandson William Scamp; granddaughter Deborah Anderson; son-in-law Dave Mannikko; siblings: Delbert DuBray, Myrtle Kewley, Emma Anderson, Alvina Van Epps, Leona Pechota, Wynn DuBray, Violet Rocek, Harry DuBray, and an infant sister.

Funeral Mass was held Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Kellogg, MN, with Rev. Prince Raja officiating.  He was interred at Greenfield Cemetery, Kellogg with military honors.

James Jerauld Erickson, 88, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.

James was born on Oct. 11, 1935, in Madison, South Dakota to the late Orville and Leila Erickson. After graduating high school, he attended the University of South Dakota for one year before joining the United States Army in 1954. During his two years of service, he served in the Korean conflict and ended his career as a Specialist. After the military, he returned to the University of South Dakota, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1959 and a master’s degree in 1964. During his schooling, he began working in education. He became a teacher in Winner, South Dakota for six years before becoming the principal in Gettysburg, South Dakota. From there, he was a principal and teacher in Dell Rapids, South Dakota from 1971-1997.

In 2020, he and his wife moved to Warner Robins, Georgia. In his free time, he could be found spending time with family, spending time outdoors, golfing, hunting, fishing, or woodworking. He enjoyed refereeing sports and was the member and past president of The Optimist Club, The Lions Club, The Rotary Club and The Jaycees. His presence will be missed by all who loved him.

His memory will forever be treasured by his wife, Jacquelyn Marie Erickson of Warner Robins, GA; children, Jon Erickson (Sharon) of Bonaire, GA, and Jan Jastram (David) of Dell Rapids, SD; grandchildren, Amber Erickson of Bonaire, GA, Bradley Erickson (Kristen) of Bonaire, GA, Amanda Jastram of Brunsville, IA, James Erickson of Brunswick, GA, Melissa Christiansen (Matthew) of New London, MN, Branden Jastram of Wichita, KS, and Emily Erickson of Atlanta, GA; great-grandchildren, Wyatt Jerauld, Hunter Bradley, Levi James, Reid Christian, Ember Lynn, and Jaden Lee; along with siblings, JoAnn Trygstad (Ken), Joyce Strom, and Debra Ramirez.

At the family’s request, in honor of James, please consider sending floral tributes to Jacquelyn at The Phoenix at Lake Joy at 100 Lake Crossing Drive Apartment 606, Warner Robins, GA 31088.

Memorial services for Robert Dykeman, 82, were held Oct. 19 at Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory. Burial was in the Colome Cemetery.

Robert (Bob) Allen Dykeman was born on July 5, 1941, in Winner, SD, to Earl and Mabel (Redies) Dykeman. He was the youngest of six siblings, the only one to be born in a hospital. On Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, at the age of 82 years and 3 months, Robert was called home. He was living in Mesa, AZ, at the time of his passing. He lived most of his adult life in Huron, SD.

Bob was raised on a farm south of Colome, SD. He attended school in Colome, graduating in 1959. Bob was the quarterback for the Colome Cowboys, winning the state title his senior year. While in high school he participated in track, basketball and baseball.

 Robert’s father Earl died when Robert was 17 years old. He and his mother remained on the family farm until he graduated high school. He then attended USD in Vermillion, SD, and Huron College in Huron, SD, studying business and participating in track at the collegiate level. Bob enlisted in the Army National Guard during this time. He was stationed in Ft Riley, Kansas, with friend Les Keever and later stationed in Ord, CA.

In 1963, Bob married Carol Cerny. To this union one child, Leslie Jo was born. The family lived in Huron, SD. After college he worked for Sherwin Williams, various insurance companies and later owned his own insurance company.

Bob was a member of the Huron Elks Club for over 30 years, a member of the Huron Country Club for many years, where he taught summer group golf lessons to many children. He was an avid golfer, winning many golf tournaments around the state with his golf buddies. He obtained a hole in one four times during his golf career. Bob enjoyed playing cribbage for hours. Some called him the Master, when it came to cribbage. He bowled in several bowling leagues for many years, having bowled two perfect 300 games. He loved to play cards and referred to himself as PG, professional gambler. Bob was a sports fanatic, enjoying any type of sports event. He was always joking around, smiling and talking about the team, who won the game. He was always up for a bet. He loved driving big blue to the casino to play Texas Hold-em for hours. Bob would call family daily the past few years to read their horoscope, visit about the stock market, the price of gold, the weather in their area and bet on which team he thought would win.

Bob is survived by his daughter, Leslie Smith (significant other Tom), of Shakopee, MN; five grandchildren, Benjamin Smith, Yankton, SD, Nicholas Smith, Pierre, SD, Nathan Smith, Burke, SD, Emily Vitek (Derek), Yankton, SD, Elly Daisy (Jerrod), Yankton, SD, whom he called the Rugrats; his great grandchildren, Charlee, Bailey, Bentley, Arleigh, Mya and Ameila, who called him picker grandpa.

He is also survived by his sister, Marlene Schlaht (Larry), Omaha, NE, brother Ray Dykeman (Pat), Sioux Falls, SD, sister-in-law Mary Ann Dykeman, Los Angeles, CA, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and Phyllis Deis, a special friend.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Mabel & Earl Dykeman, sister and brother-in-law, Bernita & Sherwin “Nick” Carter, sister Betty Dykeman, brother Harold Dykeman and nephew Thomas Dykeman.

As he would say, Fifteen two, Fifteen four, and there ain’t no more. You can bet RAD is enjoying a round of golf, playing cribbage, playing cards and/or bowling in heaven.