Category Archives: News

Delores Taylor, who co-starred with her husband Tom Laughlin in his productions of the Billy Jack series of films, has died in Southern California, her daughter said on March 26.

She was 85.

Taylor was originally from Winner and her father, Harry, was the Winner postmaster.

Teresa Laughlin told The Associated Press that Taylor died March 23 of natural causes at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Home near Los Angeles. She said her mother had suffered from dementia.

Taylor was born in 1932 in Winner, South Dakota. She grew up near the Rosebud Indian Reservation, an experience which she drew from when creating the namesake character of the Billy Jack films in the 1970s.

Taylor starred in three of the four Billy Jack films in which she played a teacher whose progressive school is defended by Billy Jack — a half-white, half-Native American Vietnam veteran who had come to hate war. The films became counterculture favorites.

In 1986, Taylor returned to Winner to attend her 35th class reunion. She was honored at the coronation as then mayor Duane Patmore presented Taylor with a key to the city and Dennis Meyer, president of the Winner Chamber of Commerce, presented her with a dozen roses.
A front page story in the Oct. 1, 1986, Winner Advocate detailed her life in Winner and as an actress. The story was written by Dan Bechtold.

While she and her husband were in Winner they spoke to Winner High School students.
While at WHS, Taylor was active in band, chorus, student council, pep band, pep club and National Honor Society. She was a cheerleader and a homecoming candidate.

After graduating from Winner High School, Taylor worked at the Tripp County Auditor’s office for two years.

After raising enough money, she went to the University of South Dakota and majored in art.

In an interview for the Winner newspaper back in 1986, Taylor said she had a lot of feelings about Winner High School. “The one thing that has struck me the most is that Winner gave me a good solid foundation, an inner strength that i don’t think i would have gotten any place else,” she said.

Billy Jack was first seen in the 1968 biker movie Born Losers, but became widely known after Billy Jack, the second of four films Laughlin made about him (only three made it to theaters).

Billy Jack was released in 1971 after a long struggle by Laughlin to gain control of the low-budget, self-financed movie, a model for guerrilla filmmaking. The film became a surprise hit and the theme song, One Tin Soldier, was a hit single for the rock group Coven.

Taylor was nominated for a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year in 1972.

Taylor appeared in a small role and as the narrator in the first Billy Jack film, The Born Losers (1967), then played the schoolteacher Jean Roberts opposite her husband as the title character in Billy Jack (1971), The Trial of Billy Jack (1974), Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977) and The Return of Billy Jack (1986), which was never released.

Taylor and Laughlin, who were married from October 1954 until his death in December 2013 at age 82, developed the character of Billy, a mystical half-Navajo, half-white Vietnam veteran and martial arts expert who stands up for the underdog in America.
Laughlin also directed all the films in the series, and for much of their off-camera work, he and his wife adopted pseudonyms, including Frank and Teresa Christina to honor their children. (Frank is a film editor, and Teresa appeared in four of the Billy Jack films.)
The couple also self-distributed their features, which explored themes like child abuse, religious persecution and exploitation of Native Americans. After winning a lawsuit with Warner Bros. over Billy Jack, they rereleased that film, made for $360,000, and it remains one of the most successful independent films in history.

On the eve of the release of The Born Losers, Roger Ebert wrote about her:
“Miss Taylor is an independent producer. But not an independent like John Wayne or Kirk Douglas, forming production companies for tax purposes and releasing films through established studios. She is a real independent — which means that she works out of her own living room and pocketbook, finds financial backers wherever she can and sometimes has to stop filming to dig up more money.”

A song from The Trial of Billy Jack, “Golden Lady,” written for her and performed by Lynn Baker, became her trademark. Taylor had not heard it until her character was brought by Billy into a church in a wheelchair in an emotional scene, her daughter noted.
“Just about every letter that she received from her fans after that called her the Golden Lady,” Christina, her youngest daughter told the Hollywood Reporter.

She met Laughlin at the University of South Dakota and was set to marry another man. But Laughlin hitchhiked to South Dakota, arriving on Christmas Eve to talk her out of that, her daughter said.

They were married in Milwaukee when she was working as a graphic artist and he was a dairy deliveryman, then came to Los Angeles in 1955 in a borrowed car and with $200 to their name to figure out a career in show business.

“They completed each other in a way I’ve never seen with anyone else,” said Christina, who is writing and producing a documentary titled Renegades, about 1971’s Billy Jack.
In addition to her three children, survivors include Taylor’s grandchildren, Ellery, Hutch, Lily, Arlan and Jessica, and her sisters, Joan and Darlene.

Her daughter said Taylor was a “reluctant” celebrity and preferred her roles of wife, mother and grandmother.

“She loved performing but didn’t enjoy the Hollywood trappings,” Teresa Laughlin said.

By Dan Bechtold, Editor

The city of Winner has agreed to purchase the American Legion building and property for $250,000. The Winner City Council made the decision at Monday’s meeting.

The council’s vote was split on buying the building. Councilman Brad Schramm made the motion to buy the building and land. Voting yes on the motion were Schramm, Val Sherman and Isaiah Curtis.  Voting no was John Meyer.  Dave Baker and Jody Brozik both abstained.

Representatives of the Winner American Legion were at the meeting.

City attorney Paul Jensen will draw up the contract for the Mayor and Legion representatives to sign.

The city will use the property for the $1.95 Million expansion of the jail.  The expansion is scheduled for a 20-year repayment.

Voters in the Colome Consolidated School District will be going to the polls on April 10 to elect school board members.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

There are three open vacancies for school board for three year terms. The candidates are Matthew Bolie, Brent Gill, Vince Thieman and Pamela Haukaas.

The polling place in Colome will be at Skatetowne. The polling place in Witten will be the town hall and the polling place in Wood will be at the community hall.

Dan Patmore has a passion for local theater and for his efforts working with students he will be inducted into the Winner School Hall of Fame on April 5. The ceremony will be on the opening night of the Winner High School all-school play at the Winner Community Playhouse. The play begins at 7 p.m.

Daniel Ross Patmore was born and raised in Tripp County. He attended country school until the age of 10 and in 1970 his family moved into town and began running the Coast to Coast store.

While in high school, with the encouragement of Jim Miller (JB) and Don Van Cleave (DVC) he became involved with the theatre group, at that time called the “Thespians.” He found his niche as a member of the technical crew running lights and sound for the plays. Dan graduated from Winner High School in 1977.

Upon graduation he attended Mitchell Area Vo-Tech and earned a degree in electronics. In 1979 Dan moved to Rapid City where he worked for one of the largest printed wire board manufacturers in the country. He co-managed the Coast to Coast store in Sturgis from 1985 to 1989, before returning to electronics until 1997.

In 1997 Dan, his wife Coleen, and their three children; Arianne, Ross, and Samantha, moved back to Winner. Dan and his family helped run the Coast to Coast store with his parents Duane and Velma Jean Patmore. In 2000 the name changed from Coast to Coast to True Value, which Dan and his wife still own and operate.

Within a few months of moving back to Winner, Dan was approached to help with “set stuff” for the upcoming production “Hello Dolly.” He was hooked and in 2001 he tech directed his first Winner Community Playhouse production “Barefoot in the Park.” Dan has been the technical director for nearly every play since that time; approximately 50 productions and nearly 20 years of service.

A few years after “Barefoot in the Park,” Dan was asked if he would be the technical director for the Winner High School Plays. He accepted and soon became a co-advisor for the school’s drama club, “Stage Fright.”

Dan continues to work with the high school productions and the drama club. He has also been seen on stage for some of the community productions with rolls in “Rexes Exes,” “Mamma Won’t Fly;” and most recently, “Dearly Beloved.” He is a member of the Winner Community Playhouse board and is currently president.

Some of Dan’s greatest memories from over the years include building a “glass” atrium for “Savage Dilemma”, constructing a rustic, swamp house for “Sugar Bean Sisters” complete with an outhouse that shoots feathers and smokes because of “spontaneous human combustion,” and playing multiple roles as a cop, a crude, caffeinated truck driver, and a crazy cousin in “Mamma Won’t Fly.”

Dan likes a challenge when it comes to building sets; such as, constructing a spiral stair case in “Lie Cheat and Genuflect,” finding out a way to “hang” a person and how to create a guillotine in “I’ll be Back Before Midnight,” and the many scene changes in the high school production of “Grease.”

Some of Dan’s most treasured moments have been with whom he shares the theater; countless cast members from high school productions; including his three children, community members and volunteers that run the box office, usher, and who donate time and money to the playhouse, the people who encouraged him to be a part of the theater, and of course the audience members, without whom the theater would cease to exist.

“I still think I’m too young to get this award, although I guess I’m not as young as I think anymore,” Dan said.

Well, Dan you’re only as old as you feel and either way you deserve this award. We thank you for sharing your passion and for being a part of what shapes our community and our students though the theatre. Here’s to the memories and many more years together. Dan Patmore Winner High School Hall of Fame.

The opening night of the Winner High School Drama Department production of “Beverly Hillbillies” will be April 5. The play will also be presented April 6 and 7 at the Winner Community Playhouse. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with the play at 7 p.m.

Directing this production are Kara Connot and Kelly Assman. The technical director is Dan Patmore.

The cast includes: Taylor Audiss, Shelby Scott, Cam Irick, Megan Brozik, Meagan Blare, Mason Schuyler, Jack Ducheneaux, Teresa Taylor, Justin Hausmann, Katy Lantz, Hunter Shopene, Sadie Woods, Brielle Bachmann, Gracie Littau, Matt Hartley, Finn Bartels, Andrew Taylor, Mary Calhoon, Shannon Calhoon, Ty Bolton, Heather Rowe, Kendyl Bachmann, Leah Weilchelman, Madeline Watzel, Maggie DeMers, Elijah Blare, Lauren Norrid and Ronae Klein.

For play reservations, persons can call the Winner High School office at 842-8125.

John & Mavis (Miki) Janecke absolutely love living in Winner, SD. When living in Wonder Lake, Illinois, for 37 years, neither felt like they had a sense of community. Miki didn’t know many neighbors and John didn’t know streets that were 2 blocks from their house. Miki states, “It wasn’t as conducive to friendliness as you guys are out here. Everybody was tucked away in their own little cocoon.”

In 2007, they started vacationing to South Dakota. On their first trip to South Dakota, Miki met Mabel Schmit. She said, “I just really enjoyed her and I still do!” During one of the trips, John decided he was going to retire in South Dakota because of taxes, the open area, agriculture, hunting and fishing. Miki adds, “And don’t forget the friendly people. I just love the people of South Dakota.”

Before moving to South Dakota, they had visited everywhere in the state except northwest South Dakota. When asked why they settled on moving to Winner, they both expressed “because we kept winding up in Winner when we would vacation to South Dakota.” Miki said, “Here we are again!”

In November 2015 they purchased the John & Helen Slouka property and moved a house in shortly after that. Miki states there are opportunities in Winner to make long lasting friendships that are sort of like family. She is a member of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, Extension, Catholic Daughters, Quilting Guild, Winner Area Right to Life, and Rosebud Arrow, Rod & Gun Club. John is a member of Rosebud Arrow, Rod & Gun Club, Knights of Columbus, Pheasants Forever, and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The only challenge Miki sees living in the rural area is shopping. If MEMS doesn’t have the fabric she wants, she will look for it in a larger city. Otherwise, she will take a small community any day. John indicates he would like to see a larger selection of building supplies, but he states this is nothing that is unsurmountable.

For fun, John likes to help Glen Novotny on his farm and move cattle with Brozik Angus Ranch.

Both John & Miki state that there is no comparison of urban people to rural people here. John states, “We love it out here”.

John is a retired police officer from Illinois and currently is working part-time for Winner Police Department. Miki worked 25 years for Baxter Healthcare in various departments and retired from the Integrity Customer Database, which insures that the customer information is always 100% correct and compliant with laws. Baxter Healthcare manufactured and distributed medical supplies, such as IV Solutions and some drugs, and manufactured medical equipment.

When asked what advice they would give people moving to Winner, Miki states, “If you have never been here before, come out and spend some time. Get acquainted with shop owners.” John adds, “Enjoy the people. We have not found a jerk yet!”

Dear Editor

Where did the Mayor and City Council find their huge money tree? Some examples of what I’m talking about include:

1) Purchasing five cars for police officers to drive back and forth to work. It’s not just about the initial expense, but this will also include extra money for gas and all of the other maintenance that goes along with it. I was told that these cars being at the homes of the officers will cut down on vandalism. Really?

2) Purchasing pickups for each of the department heads to drive home and back so they can get to work if the weather is bad. This was approved in the name of public safety?

3) The Council is constantly giving cost of living raises to employees far above what the cost of living was. Plus, offering 4% to 8% match for retirement because that is what the State of South Dakota does.

4) They are also giving raises to employees for certifications that they may never use; ie spraying for weeds when you work in the street department.

5) Offering to pay $200,000 for a piece of property that may never be used for the proposed jail expansion that, to the best of my knowledge, they don’t even know 100% what it will cost, nor do the taxpayers.

6) Who negotiated with the local cable company after they completely destroyed most, if not all, of the alleys in town? I understand they have a utility easement that allows them space to work on their utilities, but to accept $14,000 to fix what they ruined makes no sense. If you figure conservatively $500 per alley for approximately 75 alleys that need repair, well you do the math and tell me how the amount the City accepted is just. Now, the garbage trucks can’t get down the alleys when it’s wet because they are junk. So what’s next? CURBSIDE TRASH PICK UP!

The list goes on! In my opinion, the chain of command is broken at City Hall and I think we need to find that tree and cut it down.

-Roger Farley