Category Archives: News

Funeral services for Evelyn Hofer were held Jan. 20 at the Trinity Community Church in Bridgewater. Burial was in the Bridgewater city cemetery.

Evelyn Jeanette (Hossle) Hofer (87) was born in Winner, SD, to J. Vernon and Jeanette M. (Broline) Hossle on May 25, 1932. She grew up on a farm near Hamill, SD. Evelyn attended country grade school in Tripp County (riding her pony, Trixie).

When her area school was closed, she went to live with her Hossle grandparents in order to attend school in Lyman County. She graduated from Winner High School while staying with her grandmother Broline and also attended SDSU one year.

Evelyn married Calvin D. Hofer on Sept. 16, 1951, at Winner, SD. Evelyn and Calvin lived on their Century farm near Bridgewater where they raised their two children. Evelyn worked at the Bridgewater Post Office for over 20 years, 12 of them as postmaster. Evelyn and Calvin moved into town in 1996.

Evelyn was gifted in a many ways. She was a self-taught architect and gifted carpenter, designing and building their two homes and the church. She was creative (sewing, crafting, painting, quilt- ing) and showed hospitality. She was active in her church (Trinity Orthodox Presbyterian/Trinity Community) and in her community in various roles.

A unique achievement was her experience as one of ten finalists in the Mrs. South Dakota Pageant 1968 where she won an award for her original recipe.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents with whom she spent many years, her parents, and her husband of over 66 years, Calvin.

She is survived by her son Robin Hofer of Bridgewater; daughter Trudi (Dave) Nelson of Sioux Falls; grandchildren: Dusti (Aaron) Jones of San Antonio, TX, Kyle (Kathryn) Nelson of Lincoln, NE, and Kensi (Patrick) Proehl of Owatonna, MN; six great-grandchildren; brother Everett (Carol Jo) Hossle of Hamill, SD; and friends and family.

Ardath Ewing, 94, of Winner, SD passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020 at the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in Gregory, SD.

Funeral service was held on Tuesday, Jan 21, 2020 at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Ardath Maurine Hopkins Ewing passed away on Jan. 15, 2020, at the age of 94. She was born on Nov. 8, 1925 and lived a full and rewarding life. She grew up with her parents, William and Lydiann Hopkins, on their homestead land.

She was the eighth child and grew up with her younger brothers and often said she was somewhat of a tomboy. As a child Ardath loved to play near or in a gentle creek that wasn’t far from their house. She spent much of her childhood days outside working and playing with her family.

Ardath graduated from Winner High School in 1943 and immediately went to summer school in preparation for a teaching position. She was only seventeen! She passed a state exam and received a 2nd grade teacher’s certificate which was being offered at that time because of a shortage due to WWII.

She didn’t have funding to go to college to further her education. Since she wasn’t 18 until Nov. 8, 1943, she was not old enough to hold a certificate. So, she was allowed to teach on a permit until her birthday. She enjoyed teaching and had good rapport with both parents and students.

Later she enjoyed sharing fond memories of her teaching days with family and friends. She taught in rural schools for three years, and during summers worked at the Outlaw.

Ardath had a boyfriend during her teaching days who was serving in the U.S. Army. After his service in WWII Ardath and Ivan “Bus”, were married.

They worked hard to build a beautiful productive cattle ranch and naturally were proud of their accomplishment. It took much of their care and dedication in good and tough times.

During their young adulthood they were blessed with four children: two boys, Robert “Bob” (Mary), Neil (Theresa), and two girls, Carol (Larry), and Marsha (Tim). They had nine grandchildren and many great grandchildren.

Ardath was an active wife, mother and citizen. She began one of many leadership roles in Home Extension and 4-H when her children were young. When she had time, she loved writing, crafts and music. She was also an excellent cook. Ardath loved to read and write. Because of her love affair with words she successfully wrote articles for magazines and poetry, many of which were published.

She wrote and self-published a book about her parents and siblings traveling by wagon through Oklahoma Territory to homestead in Dakota Territory entitled, “Long Road to Dakota”. Ardath was an active member of the little country neighborhood Lakeview Methodist Church near Dog Ear Lake, and eventually was instrumental in getting it moved and preserved at the Tripp County Historical Society after the church was closed. This led to serving the Tripp County Historical Society for several years.

Later Ardath was pleased and honored by the Tripp County Historical Society for her book, “Long Road to Dakota.” She continued her active role at The Winner United Methodist Church where she served in many capacities. She could play guitar, harmonica, piano, and the accordion and much to her delight would join in playing and singing along with others or simply listening to old familiar tunes.

As the ranch grew so did Ardath’s responsibilities. She brought big meals to the fields, helped sort cattle, kept careful records, and more. She joined the local Cattlewomen’s group and served in leadership capacities there and then went on to become president of South Dakota Cattlewomen. She enjoyed supporting the beef industry, making new friends, and traveling and learning with other leaders.

After Ivan retired Ardath and Ivan enjoyed traveling, something they hadn’t found much time to do in earlier years.

Ardath resided in the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in Gregory for the past year. She now resides in a much happier place in heaven.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bus, and her granddaughter, Lana.

Lewis “Bumpy” White, 85, Mission, SD, died on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020 at the Winner Regional Hospital in Winner, SD.

Funeral services were held on Monday, Jan. 20, at 10 a.m. at the Ralph Wells Jr. Memorial Complex in White Shield. A wake service was held on Sunday beginning at 5 pm at the complex. A family gathering was held at Thompson Funeral Home in Garrison from 2-4 on Sunday, Jan 19. Burial will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cemetery in rural White Shield.

Lewis “Bumpy” White beloved father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend made his peaceful journey into the spirit world on Jan. 14, 2020 at the Winner Regional Hospital, in Winner, SD surrounded by his children and grandchildren.

Lewis was 85 years old and born on May 24, 1934 at Elbowoods, ND to Eugene White Sr. and Anna Fliger. He was given his Arikara name, Lightning Runner by his grandmother, Rhoda White. He spent his younger years assisting his parents with farming, breaking horses and playing with childhood friends in the Nishu Bay area, where he grew up. Upon graduation from Elbowoods High School in May of 1950 he enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17.

He served during the Korean Conflict on the U.S.S. Merrimack until his honorable discharge in 1954. He received the National Defense Ribbon during his time in the Navy.

After his return to civilian life he worked on construction projects building dams and bridges in North and South Dakota.

On July 19, 1951 he married Leota Perkins at Garrison, ND and later they had their marriage blessed in the Catholic Church in Pine Ridge, SD on April 2, 1962. John and Teresa Danks served as their witnesses during this special occasion and from this union, 7 children were born.

In 1960 he accepted a position as a patrol officer on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and received his training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center at Chicago, Ill. He worked in this position for eight years and was offered the position as Captain of Police for the Rosebud Bureau of Indian Affairs Agency in Rosebud, SD.

During this period of his employment he was asked to serve as a police instructor with the Indian Law Enforcement Training Center, in Artesia, New Mexico. Lewis was promoted to the position of Criminal Investigator while working on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

In 1974 he accepted the position of Chief Criminal Investigator on the Cheyenne River Reservation until his retirement on May 24, 1984. He worked in the field of government service for 30 years.

Lewis had many pastimes, and enjoyed listening to classic country music, playing cards, cribbage, watching his favorite westerns, and spending time at his favorite fishing hole. He was a life-long Vikings fan and cheered and cussed them on to victory to the end. In his younger years he enjoyed team roping and rode bareback.

He spent quality time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Lewis was blessed with 27 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren.

Lewis “Bumpy” White was a man of integrity and had great respect for people. He had a strong work ethic and was a devoted husband and father to his children. As his brothers and brothers-in-law passed on, he became a father-figure to many of his nieces and nephews giving them guidance and encouragement. Lewis made life-long friends and was well-respected and well-known in the law enforcement community.

Lewis is survived by his children, Louie (Mary) White, Sioux City, IA; Lee Ann (Tuffy) Beardt, Mission, SD; Tom White, Sioux Falls, SD; Don “Pug” (Ruth) White of Eagle Butte, SD; Bonnie Jones, Sioux City, IA; and Greg (Jodi) White of Underwood, ND. Brothers: Donald (Dolly) White, Grove, OK; and Max (Ella) James of New Town, ND.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Leota; daughter, Bernadette; grand-children, Louis Charles White and Weylin Bear Child; great-grandson, Tyler White; Brothers—Eugene White Jr.; Robert White, James White, Joseph James, Tyrone White Sr., Lyle “Bucky” White; Loren White Sr.; sisters: Bertina Chase and Kathy Samuels.