Category Archives: News

Pearle Mae (Dunkak) Janas was born on Dec. 27, 1925 in Dallas, South Dakota to Henry H. and Louise (Zimbelman) Dunkak. Pearle attended school and graduated from Colome High School in 1945.

Pearle was united in marriage to William A. Janas on June 29, 1947 in Colome. They were the parents of four children: Gary, Doug, Rodney “Scotty” and Linda.

Pearle will be most remembered from her years working at Edie Lori’s Dress Shop and Gregory Drug. Pearle wore many hats in her life. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, very active in her church with teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir and enjoyed performing in cantatas. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women’s Circle, United Methodist Church, and a life-long member of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary.

Her hobbies included ceramics and painting by numbers and being a member of the Red Hats. But her biggest passion was league bowling, which began for her in 1962 at Gregory Lanes and continued until her late 80’s. She was a very successful bowler with many accomplishments. Pearle enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow up into adulthood. Despite a rough childhood, Pearle was true to self.

Pearle passed away Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017 at Avera Gregory Hospital at the age of 91.

Her survivors include sons, Gary and special close friend, Sherry Howell, Peoria, AZ, Doug and wife, Marian, Guernsey, WY, and daughter Linda and husband Randy Moos, Fairfax, SD; one granddaughter Toni Janas, Phoenix, AZ, and three grandsons Erik Janas, Phoenix, AZ, Matthew Moos, Fairfax, SD, and Kyle Moos and friend Tori Wendell, Naper, NE. Other survivors include sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Scotty, husband Bill, her only sibling Harold, along with her daughter-in-law Carol Jean (Wilcox) Janas.

Babe Moeller, age 94, of St. Libory, Neb., passed away on Oct. 6, 2017 at the Marry Lanning Healthcare Center in Hastings, Neb. Funeral Service were at 10 a.m. Oct. 12, 2017 at the United Methodist Church in Winner. Burial followed at the Winner City Cemetery.

Babe (Sweetland) Moeller was born to Gertrude and Parley Sweetland on May 2nd, 1923 at their home in Neillsville, Wis.. She had three brothers and one sister-Parley, Bob, Dan, and Linda (Becik). She also had one brother and one sister who were lost at birth. The Sweetland family moved several times, from Wisconsin to Illinois and Wyoming. Eventually Babe alongside her two sons Patrick and Bill, and sister Linda moved to Winner, South Dakota. This was where she would meet the love of her life, Willie Moeller. They met on Main Street in Winner, and were married in 1956 in Pierre after only two short weeks. To this union also came her two sons, Patrick and Bill McHenry, which Willie saw as his own children.

After marrying, Willie and Babe purchased The Little Diner in 1960 on Main Street in Winner, owning it for three years before moving to Newport, Neb. They bought the Bar 20, which was along Highway 20, and owned and operated it for another three years. Willie had always wanted to move to a large city and work for a big company. A friend referred them to a big plant in Grand Island where they made bombs. Willie phoned the company that very next day, and both got jobs at the bomb plant. Babe worked making trinkets and mini mites, which was very fitting considering her small stature and powerful personality, while Willie was in charge of measuring the powder. They both worked together until the plant closed four years later.

After the closing of the plant, Willie and Babe wanted to settle down and move from the city. They purchased an 80 acre farm near St. Libory, Neb. where they still reside today. Their quaint farmhouse is nestled amongst many fields of corn and trees, alongside their barns and guest house cottage. They always had a big garden, and took great pride in riding their lawn mowers to make their yard look special. They always had many cats to welcome their guests. Babe was known for being an excellent cook, and loved to host friends and family.

Besides gardening and cooking, Babe spent her pass time reading. She would read as many as three books a week. She was a lifelong member of the VFW, thanks to her father who served in World War I, and was still very active in the post in Winner. She was passionate about politics, and was respected for giving her honest opinion.

Babe was always dressed in her very best. Willie said she would never be caught without clean clothes on, even when working with the pigs, in case someone she knew stopped by. Her hair was styled and nails painted, and she displayed a very great sense of style. However, her true beauty was on the inside. Babe was a caring wife, sister, mother, aunt, and friend. It was known to everyone that she also had a lot of spunk in her!

Babe made her journey to heaven on Friday October 6th, 2017 with her loving husband Willie of over 60 years by her side. The two made a lasting impression on the hospital staff where Babe was being cared for, and to everyone they met. Whether it was working in their restaurants or in their yard or garden, Willie and Babe were always together wherever they went.

Babe is preceded in death by her parents Parley and Gertrude Sweetland, brothers Parley, Bob, Dan, sister Linda Bicek, infant brother and sister, and son Patrick.

Babe is survived and forever remembered by her husband Willie; son Bill (Connie); Grandsons: Mark, Scott, and Martin; 4 great grandchildren; and numerous relatives.

Linda Wicker, age 80, of Colome, passed away on October 8, 2017 at the Avera Gregory Hospital in Gregory.

Funeral Services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 11, 2017 at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner. Burial followed at the Colome City Cemetery. Visitation was held 1 hour prior to the service.

Linda Jean (Nieman) Wicker was born on May 8th, 1937 to Ed and Mildred (Patton) Nieman.

Linda worked various jobs in the community. She was a member of the Colome Methodist Church and Colome American Legion.
Grateful for sharing her life are her children are her children Deb (Lemoyne) Strasburg of Cozad, NE, Cam (Cheryl) Dougherty of Colome, SD, and Denice (Dave) Duffy of Colome, SD; Step-children Dynette Wicker and Dean Wicker; Grandchildren Christa Fielder, Kelly (Jennifer) Dougherty, Stacie (Joe) Bolton, Shawna (Jason) Mueller, Pat(Tiffany) Dougherty, Max (Kenzie) Dougherty, Chad (Jennifer) Duffy, and Dustin (Ashley) Duffy; 22 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents Ed and Mildred Nieman, husband Dwain Wicker, granddaughter Heather Klein, step-children Diane Wicker and Dale Wicker, along with numerous other relatives.

Douglas Andrew Rehak, age 63, of Winner, SD, passed away on Oct. 13, 2017 at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017 at 2 p.m. at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to funeral service.

Doug was born in Winner, South Dakota to John Rehak and Beatrice (Kostal) Rehak in 1953. He was the youngest of seven siblings. His family lived in and around the Colome area during Doug’s younger years, until they eventually moved to Winner. At this time, his life consisted mainly of working, as he was on his own at the young age of 15. When Doug had the time, he enjoyed playing football, wrestling, and boxing. Doug then went on to work road construction for many years where he met his one true love, Patricia. The two eventually moved to the Black Hills, where they then got married in 1989. Doug worked in the open-cut mines in Lead, SD for some years until he decided a career change was for the best. He then attended Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. School came easy for Doug, despite his non-traditional status, he graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors. During this time, Doug had to juggle work, school and parenthood as Doug and Pat welcomed their first and only son, John Lewis Rehak into the world in February of 1991. Doug put his business degree to use and began what would be a successful banking career in 1997 at Norwest Bank in Mobridge, SD. He bounced around from Norwest bank to Norwest bank until he ended back up in his hometown of Winner, SD working as an Ag Banker and eventually becoming the bank president of the newly named Wells Fargo. In his spare time, Doug loved to spend time with his family and friends. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and being out at the farm with his son, John, and coaching him and his friends each summer in baseball. Doug used every spare minute he could find helping John study or practice the sport he was currently in. The highlight of Doug’s coaching career was winning regionals in Martin, SD and advancing to the state tournament as underdogs. He was extremely proud of each member of his team and would tell that to whoever would listen. When Doug wasn’t doing any of these things, you would most certainly find him giving someone advice who asked for it or lending a helping hand, as Doug had a one of a kind heart that always put others first. He took pride in being a Naja Shriner and loved participating in the Shrine Circus, parades and other events that were designed to benefit kids in need. Many people throughout the town viewed Doug as a father figure or role model and looked up to him in multiple ways.

Doug’s life unfortunately took an unexpected change when he was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease that forced him into taking an early retirement from the bank. He found refuge from this in his family, friends, and the farm. Doug always had a passion for farming and working on one, and eventually became a full-time farmer, when his health allowed it. Pat was his rock throughout all of this time and Doug said countless times he could not have gotten through this without his wife. Despite this difficult time, people would have never guessed Doug was going through one as his strength and positive attitude was always in full force. Throughout his remaining years, you would find Doug at the farm either working, hunting, or fishing, at the local poker game, or driving around town talking with his friends and dog, Buddy. He loved to hunt with John and always claimed to be the better shot out of the two.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents, John and Beatrice, his brothers, Gene and Jack, his sisters, Gerry Schwinler and Betty Ekroth, Betty’s husband, Mel Ekroth and father-in-law, Frank Soles. Cherishing his memory is his wife, Patricia, of 40 years, son, John (Jessie), grandson, Brantley, sisters, Janet Taggart (Rich Kato) of Puyallup, Washington and Patricia Adams (Steve Smith) of Newcastle, Wyoming, Lucile Rehak, mother-in-law, Dolores Soles, brother-in-law, Allan (Joanna) Soles, sister-in-law, Kathy (Craig) Scott, Linda (Danny) Brunmeier, Kathy (Ron) Taggart along with many nephews, nieces, cousins and close friends.

Kathryn Cole, age 96, of Winner, passed away on Oct. 8, 2017 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Facility in Winner.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Winner. Burial followed at the Winner City Cemetery.

Kay was born Oct. 17, 1920, at her parents’ home north of Winner, to Gustav and Karen Martensen. She was the next to youngest of 7 children. Kay graduated from Winner High School. Together with some of her brothers they played music for dances and other social activities.

She married Harry Cole on Jan. 25th, 1946. They lived north of Witten, south of Carter and just west of Winner. Kay worked different jobs including being a teacher’s aid at Sunnyside School, Joe’s Café , Grossenburg residence, Galaxy Inn, and the Winner Hospital.

After Harry passed away, she remained on the farm until 1988, when she moved to Parkston. While in Parkston she enjoyed going for long walks, shopping with her daughters and taking the van to the casino where she especially liked the music.

In 2008, Kay moved to the Elder Inn in Winner. The things she enjoyed doing there were setting the tables for the noon meal and going to the church services on Wednesday mornings.

In April of 2017, Kay moved to the Winner Regional Long Term Care Facility.

The most important things in her life were loving, and caring for her family, family reunions and holiday celebrations when there was a lot of family around.

Kay is survived by all 7 of her children; Sam (Eunice) Cole of Winner, Connie (Don) Powell of Mitchell, Doris (Dick) Morgan of Helena, Montana, Janice (Dale) Knoll of Sedalia, Missouri, Alice Konvalin Grohs of Winner, Lyle (Bonnie) Cole of Northfield, Minnesota, Joyce (Clint) Breisch of Newcastle, Nebraska, 26 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren.

Preceding her in death was her husband Harry, her parents, 4 brothers , 2 sisters and 3 grandchildren.