Category Archives: News

Dr. Anita Remerowski passed away in Olympia, Wash., on Thursday, Aug. 31,2023, with her husband at her side. She left her kindness, concern for the poor and less fortunate, sense of humor, and unwavering opinions on the state of the government, religion, and legal and medical issues across the central and western United States. A more committed Democrat and progressive there never was.

Anita was born to Frank and Margaret Remerowski in Philipsburg, Mont., on Sept. 27, 1947. In the 1950’s Margaret, a teacher, moved with her two small daughters to Central California, where she taught migrant workers. Anita attended various elementary schools, then St. Mary’s Catholic Girls School in the Bay Area. In 1969 she graduated from UC Berkeley Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.

Anita went on to get a law degree from Boalt Hall, UC Berkeley.

In 1972 she and her young son Eric moved to Alaska, where she worked first for a private law firm and then for the Alaska State School System, flying in small planes to schools all over Alaska.

An adventurer, she lived with Eric in Boston and Rapid City, South Dakota, before moving to Mission. She met Terry Pechota at her interview for a job with South Dakota Legal Services. She got the job and Terry got a wife. The two were married in 1976 at St. Francis.

Anita worked for South Dakota Legal Services as a staff attorney and eventually became its director in 1978. As she told her friends, it was the best time of her professional and personal life. She undertook and directed litigation that was significant if not monumental, including cases in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals establishing a United States trust responsibility for Indian health care in Indian County and the right of people in South Dakota’s unorganized counties to vote for those who governed them in attached organized counties. In her first case in the South Dakota Supreme Court she clarified the right of women to have their maiden name returned in divorce actions.

Their son Dominic was born in 1978 and son Alec in 1979. Mother Margaret moved from California to Mission to help her raise her sons. Anita made lifelong friends in her professional and private life during her time at Mission including Bill Janklow, Charlie and Vi Colombe, Lionel and Barbara Bordeaux, Father Harry Eglasar, Tom and Judy Tobin, Ryan White Feather, Frank Pommersheim, Phil Baird, Marvin Amiotte, Julie Valandra, and a host of others. In 1980 the family moved to Boulder, Colo., where she went to work for the Native American Rights Fund providing litigation services and other support for Indian Legal Services Programs across the United States.

Anita’s personal mission in life was to help people. In 1984, believing she could help more people as a doctor, she changed career and life paths. She took the necessary prerequisite courses at the South Dakota School of Mines, then enrolled in medical school at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Eric, Dominic, and Alec went with her. Many plane trips between South Dakota and Illinois took place during these years.

She became board certified in internal medicine and practiced in Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Arizona, Washington, and Texas.

In San Antonio, Texas, Anita found immense satisfaction volunteering and administering at Each One Teach One, helping migrants learn English and employment skills. She made many dear friends in San Antonio and elsewhere, including Colleen Walker-Vamos, Diane Warren,

Lea Ream, and Rebecca Stokes who along with her family loved and cared for her.

Anita is survived by her husband, Terry L. Pechota, Rapid City, South Dakota; sister Mary, San Francisco, Calif.; sons, Eric Remerowski, Amarillo, Texas; Dominic Pechota(Heidi), Decorah, Iowa; Alec Pechota (Annie), Boise, Idaho; stepson, Todd Pechota (Shelly),Custer, South Dakota; and grandchildren, Samantha, Will, Bridget, Harper, Jalyn, Tate, Collin, and Lucy Leona. Anita will be laid to rest in Philipsburg, Mont., alongside her dear mother whom Anita had cared for until she died.

Jean Docken, 89, Winner, passed away on Sept. 11 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Facility.

Mass of Christian burial was held on Friday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

A visitation was held on Sept. 14 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church from 6-7 p.m. with  prayer service at 7 p.m.

Jean is the third of four children born to James (Buzz) and Emma (Devish) Sharkey.  She grew up on their family farm 1 mile east of Clearfield, SD.  She met Jack Docken at a Clearfield dance on her 16th birthday in 1950.  They were united in marriage on Sept. 29, 1951.   To this union five children were born: Caryl, Jack Jr., Gail, Lynda and Scott.

Jack and Jean owned the local Clearfield Bar before moving to the present location of the Lazy Anchor Ranch.  In September of 2015 they celebrated 64 years of marriage.  After Jack’s death in December of 2015, Jean moved to assisted living in Winner.

Jean was a very active partner in the farming and ranching operation.  She was proud of her farrowing unit and was quite learned in raising hogs.  Jean was an avid gardener and enjoyed preserving the bounty.  She milked cows and sold the cream and eggs from her chickens for many years to feed her family.

As Jean did not graduate high school with her class, in the early 1980’s she completed her GED along with typing and accounting courses.  She was a strong influence on her children and grandchildren to be educated and have a strong work ethic.  There was very little she was afraid to tackle and did it very well.  She would say “If you don’t have anything to do you aren’t looking hard enough”.

Jack and Jean enjoyed dances in Clearfield and the surrounding area.  They also attended many area card parties.  Other activities included the VFW and American Legion Auxiliary, local Extension Clubs, 4-H, and the Clearfield Youth Baseball Organization.

Jean is survived by her 5 children and their spouses, a sister Maxine Duffy, 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren with another due in 2024.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jack, parents, brother Robert Sharkey and sister Doris Sharp, and brother’s-in-law Wayne Sharp and Jack Duffy.

The children of Jean would like to express their deep appreciation to a compassionate lady and friend, Elaine Meiners.  Her many visits and conversations meant so much to our mother.

Devota Hutchinson, 93 of Kearney, NE formerly of White River, SD passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023 at the Mount Carmel Nursing Home in Kearney, NE. 

Funeral service was held on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the White River Methodist Church in White River, SD.  Burial followed in the White River Cemetery. 

Devota Majel Bechtold Hutchinson was born on Oct. 27, 1929 in Murdo, South Dakota to Julius and (Elsie) Grace Peterson Bechtold. She passed away on Sept. 12, 2023 in Kearney, Nebraska. She grew up in and near White River, SD and lived there all her life until moving to Kearney, NE to be near her daughter Rhonda.

Devota was an avid reader and student and graduated as valedictorian of her class from White River High School in 1947. Shortly after becoming 18 years of age, she married Glen (Buddy) Hutchinson, a loving relationship that lasted for 53 years until his death in 2000.

She loved her community and was a passionate public servant in whatever role arose. This led her to serve the Music Parents and PTA when her children were in school, the White River City Council and White River School Board, as adult advisor for Job’s Daughters, on the White River High School Alumni board and whatever else needed to be done in and for the community. She was especially active in Eastern Star, serving several times as Worthy Matron for her chapter and filling several stations in the state organization.

Devota and Buddy raised four children, all of whom graduated from White River High School. Devota sat through and enjoyed many band concerts, plays, track meets, football and basketball games, rodeos and horse shows in support of her children and other White River School students.

Preceding her in death are her parents, her brothers Dwight and Clellan (Buzzy), her husband Buddy, her son Keith Hutchinson, a grandson Rev. Daniel Ofstehage, and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

She is survived by daughters Glenda (Bernard) Ofstehage, Rhonda (Rodney) Week, and Barb (Keith) Bailey; grandsons Steven (Stacey), James (Heather), Peter (Dawna) and Dr. Andrew (Amanda Johnson) Ofstehage, and Quincy (Darcy) Week; granddaughter-in-law Sarah Ofstehage; granddaughters Dallas (Jade) Lain, Hannah (Jeff) Baker, and Ellen Ofstehage; great-grandsons Rison, Nolan, Augustin, and Bishopp Lain, Hayden and Zane Baker, and Arlo and Henry Ofstehage; great-granddaughters Payton, Keira, Emma and Chloe Ofstehage and Riley and Ansley Week; and brother-in-law Roger Hutchinson. Also mourning her death are many nieces, nephews and friends.