Category Archives: News

Alexa Nicole McKenzie was born on July 20, 2001 in Gregory, SD, to Myron and Nancy (Giedd) McKenzie.

She was baptized and confirmed into her Catholic faith at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Colome, SD.

Alexa attended Colome School since kindergarten. She was active in volleyball, basketball, and band. She was also a member of the National Honor Society.

Alexa was active in her church community as well, serving as an altar server, musician, and lector.

Alexa was a fun-loving kind of girl who easily made friends and was always willing to lend a helping hand. She enjoyed hanging out with her friends and playing volleyball. She also enjoyed listening to music and going on camping trips with her family.

Alexa passed away on Oct. 19, 2017 at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Alexa lives on through her generosity of being an organ donor.

She is survived by her parents Myron & Nancy McKenzie, her brother Allan, and sister Aspyn; grandparents Sumalee McKenzie and Ken & Ruth Giedd; aunts and uncles, Brenda (Lance) Schmitz, Karen (Randy) Painter, and Brian Giedd; cousins Jasmine Schmitz and Ryan & Katelyn Painter; great grandparents Joseph & Dorothy Hejl; several great aunts and uncles; and a host of friends and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her grandpa Allan E. McKenzie, and great grandparents LeRoy & Donna Giedd.

Daniel J. Jones was born Dec. 1, 1959, in Salina, Kan., the son of Douglas and Marilyn (Dillehay) Jones. Raised in a military family, Dan attended schools in cities throughout the United Sates before moving to Winner, S.D., in 1976. He graduated from Winner High School in May 1978.

He married Brenda Johnsen on Aug. 23, 1980, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner.

Dan’s interest in knowing how things work developed at an early age when he began taking apart his toy tractors, Tonka trucks, his bicycle and even a lawn mower. After high school, he bought a set of tools and went to work for the local John Deere dealer, teaching himself how to repair combines and tractors with the shop manuals.

These mechanical talents served him well throughout his life. His tool box still contains many one-of-a-kind tools that were created by him with a cutting torch and a welder.

Always one who was happiest when working for himself, his entrepreneurial spirit began in Grand Forks, N.D., delivering newspapers, shoveling snow and mowing lawns. Many model kits for cars and airplanes were purchased and assembled with his earnings. Never afraid to take on a new challenge throughout his life, he pursued trucking, farming, feeding cattle, custom farming, hauling hay and grain to market for himself and others. These provided him the opportunity to develop leadership and management talents that he utilized with truck fleets at the Old Home Bakery in Hastings and Norfolk Iron & Metal (NIM) in Norfolk. During his tenure with NIM, he accomplished many notable achievements and ultimately held the position of vice president of transportation, which he was very proud of.

The business venture that brought him the greatest joy was working together with his son, building a successful restoration business, bringing life back to classic Ford Broncos for customers throughout the United States. Their business has grown into one of the premier Bronco restoration companies, Bronco Connection.

His love for the outdoors spilled over into every area of his life. This included hunting with his best friend, Rick, his son and brother. It also founded a bond of families through a love of four-wheeling.

Many wonderful memories were made on vacations with family and friends wheeling Jeeps in the Black Hills, Colorado and Utah. His greatest pride and joy was his family and knowing that he instilled a love for the outdoors while Jeeping with them. His family and friends will carry on his legacy by continuing to Jeep and enjoy time together.

Survivors are his spouse, Brenda Jones of Norfolk; three children, Danielle (Shaun) Sullivan of Raymond, Sam Jones of Norfolk and Katie Jones of Norfolk; his father, Douglas Jones of Rapid City, S.D.; brother Steven (Darla) Jones of Rapid City; along with several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Marilyn (Dillehay) Jones; grandparents Bert and Golda Jones and Merwin and Gladys Dillehay; and grandnephew Brayden Worden.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the family 1200 N. 13th St., Norfolk, NE 68701, for a college fund for their daughter, Katie Jones.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online atstonacekfuneralchapel.com.

Phyllis J. (Jobe) Pinney was born March 18, 1925 in Parker, SD, to Alfred C. Jobe and Margie (Ennis) Jobe. She attended school in Parker. Phyllis married Warren R. Pinney on March 24, 1946.

Phyllis was a dedicated nurse for many years in Deadwood and Winner, SD. She loved the nursery.

One of her favorite things was having her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren come to visit her. Warren and Phyllis enjoyed their retirement years camping.

Phyllis was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was a member of the United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her children Cheryl (Melvin) Littau of Carter, Rick (Bonnie) Pinney of Rock Springs, WY., Teri (Ed) Turgeon of Winner, and Tim Pinney of Winner; grandchildren Danette (Ross) Eckholm of Rapid City, Darcey (Dale) Gordon of Viborg, Laura (Jeremy) Kessler of Viborg, Ryan Littau of Perryton, TX., Duane Littau of Belle Fourche, Nicole Turgeon of York, NE., Tiffany (Ryan) Turnquist of Piedmont, Nick Zimmerman of Gillette, WY., and Richie Zimmerman of Denver, CO.; and 17 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Warren, one daughter and one grandson.

Shirley was born at home November 11, 1938, delivered by a midwife to Clifford and Sadie Sherman. The midwife arrived with a large doctor’s bag, and Shirley’s sister Louise, two at the time, insisted that the midwife take that baby and put it back in her bag and take it with her.

As Shirley grew up she developed an outstanding happy and bubbly personality that resonated to family and friends. She brought joy and laughter wherever she went.

In 1953, Shirley Sherman met Elmer Pigg at a dance in the Valentine Park, and they were married Nov. 20, 1954. From this marriage, Bonnie Jean was born Dec. 6, 1955.

Sewing club was something that Shirley enjoyed and developed life-long friendships, while working on projects, each member taking turns sponsoring and providing some special home baked treats.

When she first came to the ranch, Elmer’s little brother, Earl, and sister, Ruby Mae, were just eight and nine. They loved to spend time with Shirley, having great times swimming, horseback riding and the infamous “Jeep Rides”. Their goal was “To go where no man had gone before!” It was just a bit hair-raising for visitors that were victims of these rides.

Devoted loving wife and Mom, she was always my best friend. Dad loved her by his side helping with field work, animal husbandry, fixing fence and care giver to Elmer’s parents as they grew older. Mom and Dad also fostered a niece, Diane, until she went to live in Arkansas with her Dad, Victor Pigg. Later, they fostered a nephew, Kenny Castle, from Redwood Falls, Minn, until he graduated from White River.

As dad’s business grew and expanded, mom also became his bookkeeper, sending out bills, paying parts houses and doing the sales tax.

Besides all that, Shirley had a huge garden, providing so many wonderful vegetables that would be canned or frozen. Whole tomatoes, juice, pickled beets, and canned green beans were in the pantry for winter. She also tried her hand at making sauerkraut; their friend Frank Perry gave her his special antique grater that she treasured.

Mom spent many hours making her own clothing as well as many outfits for Diane, Rosie and myself. I’ll always remember those three matching polkadot dresses!

Later Mom had another talent emerge after a set of oil paints were given to her for Christmas. Her favorite things to paint were beautiful roses, landscapes and some wildlife. Her outstanding ability was painting clouds. She always paid attention to their special beauty and was looking up at the clouds. Eva Sedlacek, one of Shirley’s best friends, noticed too and laughingly said, “Shirley your head is always in the clouds!”

Grateful to have shared our lives with Shirley are daughter, Bonnie Brahms, (Eric); Their daughter, Heather Brahms, her children Austin and Alexis Brahms; their son, Brandon Brahms (Mercedes) and his child Levi Brahms. Sisters-in-Law, Ruby Mae Astelford and Phyllis Castle; Brother-in-Law Victor Pigg and many nieces and nephews.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Pigg; parents, Clifford and Sadie Sherman; sister, Louise Bernstrauch, and brother in-Law, Earl Pigg.