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Robert Blomstrom, 91, of Winner, SD passed away on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 at the Avera Rosebud Country Care Facility in Gregory, SD.

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 26th, 2019 at 10 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation will be held one hour prior to funeral service.

Robert Wayne Blomstrom was born April 1, 1928 in Winner, SD to George and Helen (Frohburg) Blomstrom. One of six children, he was raised on a farm a few miles southwest of Winner until his father died when he was nine. Soon after the family moved into town to find employment.

He helped out the family financially from a very young age and recalled his first job working at a soda fountain cleaning up. He continued to work throughout high school making gas deliveries for his cousin Lloyd Blomstrom.

He graduated from Winner High School in 1945 and worked at the Co-op until he entered the service. He trained as a half track driver and served during the Korean War in Germany as border patrol. Upon his return from the service he resumed work at the Co-op and there he met Elinor Walton, who worked in bookkeeping. They married Oct. 2, 1954. To this union six children were born.

Soon he purchased the Conoco service station and operated it for many years. His family remembers many late night and holiday phone calls from the police station requesting him to open up for some traveler passing through who needed fuel. He never turned anyone down.

In 1982 he began subbing as a rural mail carrier, and not long after sold the Conoco and carried mail full time. His dedication to his work earned him the honor of being named South Dakota rural mail carrier of the year, of which he was very proud.

He resided in Winner his entire life until May 2014 when it became necessary to move to an assisted living facility in Gregory, closer to his daughters. It wasn’t long before he and Elinor moved to Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in Gregory, where he resided until the time of his passing.

Robert was a faithful servant of his church and community and volunteered wherever he was able to help. He served as a council member to the Trinity Lutheran Church (WELS) for years. He was a member of the VFW and American Legion, spending many evenings calling bingo or assisting with steak night. He served on the draft board during the Vietnam war, a job that troubled him dearly, and also served as a city councilman.

He never missed volunteering putting up the flags at the cemetery for Memorial Day, or serving the free meal on Labor Day. He was a volunteer fireman for years as well as a volunteer deputy for a short time when needed. He served as an honor guard at numerous funerals and never missed carrying the flag in the Labor Day parade. He was named parade marshal of the Labor Day parade in 2007, for which he was very humbled. If a volunteer for church or community was needed, he was there as his community meant so much to him.

In later years his grandchildren were his passion and he rarely missed an event. He swapped the purple and gold colors of his alma mater for Cowboy green and Gorilla red and wore them proudly. “Papa” as called by his grandchildren was best known for his joking around and ability to make them laugh. His use of props such as goofy hats and googly eyeglasses were well received with smiles and laughter. An April 1st birthday suited him well.

He is survived by his children: David, Seattle, WA; Neil (Brena’) , Yankton, SD; Beverly (Rod) Graesser, Dallas, SD; Laurie (Mike) Spartz, New Hope, MN; Barbara (Steve) Nallick, Golden Valley, MN; Jeannie Fortuna, Gregory, SD. Also eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren: Glenn (Kirsten) Graesser, Walter, Henry and Edward, Platte, SD; Jordan (Cassie) Graesser, Brisbane, Australia; Leah Graesser, Sacramento, CA; Emilee (Max) Hendricks, Rowan, Sacramento, CA; Nolan Fortuna, Gregory, SD; Josie Fortuna, Bismarck, ND; Alyssa Fortuna, Spearfish, SD; Nathan Fortuna, Gregory, SD. Allyson Spartz, New Hope, MN. Cierra Bordeaux and Lashya Farmer, Dallas, SD.

Gregory Sherman, 67, of Colome, SD suddenly passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019.

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019 at 10 a.m. at the Colome High School Gymnasium. Burial followed in the Colome City Cemetery. A visitation was held on Sunday, Dec.15, 2019 from 6-7 pm at the Colome High School Gymnasium with a prayer service at 7pm.

Greg was born on April 19, 1952 in Clear Lake, SD to Harold and Helen (Spartz) Sherman of Goodwin, SD. Greg and his six brothers managed to keep their mother and father very busy. Greg attended grade school at Kranzburg Catholic School and Goodwin Elementary. He later attended Clear Lake High School where he was very active in athletics. Greg graduated from Dakota State University with a BA in Physical Education in 1974.

After graduating from college, Greg took his first and only teaching job in Colome, SD. There he met the love of his life and future wife, Miss Renee Brown. They first dated in secrecy to avoid teasing from students but soon fell in love. They became inseparable. They spent their time taking summer classes, listening to records, and traveling to see family. Greg and Renee were married on Dec. 27, 1975, and together had three sons.

Greg was involved in all aspects of the Colome Community. He was a devout Catholic in the St. Isidore Catholic Church and was on the Parish Council. Greg spent 25 years on the Colome Volunteer Fire Department and held the offices of secretary treasurer and assistant fire chief. He was also on the Colome City Council. Greg spent numerous years preparing the baseball and football fields and helping out in any way he could around the community.

Most would say Greg’s greatest contribution to Colome was his years spent teaching, coaching and the impact he had on the lives of countless students. He taught at Colome Consolidated Schools for 43 years, and he was just as excited to start his 43rd year as he was his 1st year. He put as much energy into the Legion Oratory Contest, Junior Prom, and Field Day as he put into coaching basketball and football.

In 2004 he received the American Legion Educator of the Year award. His number one priority was his family and never missing one of his sons’ events or games. He put 100% maximum effort into everything he did. To mention all of his contributions to the school and community would fill pages too numerous to mention. He was truly enjoying his retirement. He loved the trips he took with Renee, family, and friends.

Greg is survived by his wife Renee; his three sons, Michael and his wife Monica and two grandchildren Benjamin and Ellasyn of Waconia, MN, Christopher and his fiancé Erin of Denver, CO, and Joshua and his wife Ashley of Denver, CO; his sister-in-law Maritta Brown, and his six brothers, Harold (Larry) and his wife Mary, Dennis (Dimes) and his wife Pam, Ronald and his wife Emmie, Daniel and his wife Nancy, Joseph and his wife Eleanor, and Douglas and his wife Val; and numerous nieces and nephews

Greg is preceded in death by his grandparents George and Lucy Spartz and Joe and Ada Sherman; parents Harold and Helen (Spartz) Sherman; infant brother; nephew Jason; and infant niece April.

Russel Nieman, 65, of Winner, SD passed away on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 at the Wakonda Manor in Wakonda, SD.

A memorial service was held on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Russel Gene Nieman, age 65, was born Aug, 2, 1954. He was raised and spent most of his young manhood in Winner SD. Russ passed away on Dec. 7, 2019 in Wakonda, SD.

Russel loved the outdoors and with a special fondness of hunting and fishing and he was just a fun loving guy. Later in life he was held back from what he enjoyed in life due to health issues. Although Russel had health struggles through his early manhood that carried through the rest of his life, he never stopped providing his fine, friendly disposition and sharing his welcoming greeting to all he met. Russel will be missed but now his health struggles are over.

Russel is survived by four brothers and one sister, Douglas (Kim) Nieman, Ronald (Mary) Nieman, Pamela Molden, Troy (Colette) Nieman, and Hagel (Elaine) Nieman.

He is preceded in death by his father, Ervin Nieman, his mother, Mona Nieman (Welch), grandparents, Bernard and Irene Welch and Emil and Christine Nieman.

Numbers 6:26 May Jehovah lift up his face toward you and grant you peace.