Category Archives: News

Donald Bolton, 93

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Donald Bolton, 93, of Winner, SD passed away on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Facility in Winner, SD. 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner, SD.  Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery.  A visitation will be held one hour prior to memorial service.

Donald Wayne Bolton was born on June 5, 1929, in Racine, Wis., to Louis and Clover (Milton) Bolton. They resided in Wisconsin till moving to the Hamill area in 1932. In 1935 they moved to Winner where he attended and graduated from Winner in 1949.

He worked for Paul Peer from 1947 thru 1949 and proceded to work for Summit Construction in Presho, SD for a year and a half at which time he enlisted in the US Coast Guard. He was discharged in 1951. After 6 months of working at a Tree Farm in Boston he returned to Presho to work for Summit Construction until he moved to Lincoln, NE to attend the University of Nebraska to study in the biology field for one year where they did research on a variety of wheat that would have less rust.

He enjoyed working for the Lantz, Calhoon and Frantz farms before returning to construction work in the Presho area. There he met the love of his life, Phyllis M. Stulken. They married on April 10, 1960 in Wessington Springs, SD, to this union three children were born, Wayne Douglas, Deanne Jean and Kamala Kay.

They moved to Reliance, SD where he started work for Shanard Elevator as the Feed Mill Operator until 1966. He moved his family to Winner, SD to begin work at Deaver-Meyer Elevator, that was eventually purchased by Farmers Co-op until his retirement in 2001. With his love for the outdoors, he started Bolton Lawn Care and enjoyed mowing yards until 2021 when his health began to decline.

He was a lifetime member of the BPOE Lodge #2084 in Winner, SD and a lifetime member of the American Legion Post #169 of Winner, SD. Many memories were made on trips with fellow lodge members across the United States, all whom he considered family.

Enjoying any outdoor activities, spending time with his family, especially the grandchildren, Sunday boating trips on the river and wood working were his favorite past times.

Love and Blessed for having shared his life are his children, Wayne (Ann) Bolton, Deanne Bolton,

Kamala (Randy) Kittle. Grandchildren, Michael (April) Bolton, Christopher Bolton, Makayla (David) Poole, Kelli (Craig) Hoffer and Rylee (Destiny) Kittle. Great Grandchildren: Lorelai, Abbygail and Joshua, Scarlett, Liliana (Lily) and Travis. Also, a special daughter, Cathy Mayes.

In-Laws: Bertha Hines, Douglas Stulken, Karen (John) Maciejewski, Kevin (Alice) Stulken, Kenneth (Vickie) Stulken, Catherine (Earl) Siefken, Brian Stulken and John Stulken. Many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his parents Louis and Clover, in-laws Fred and Fannie Stullken, His loving Wife-Phyllis M. His brother James Bolton and twin sisters Ruby and Rachel Bolton, Sister-In-Law Della Bolton. Brother-in Laws, Dean and Fred Stulken, Archerie Millard, Wesley Hines, and Lester Semmler, Sisters-In-Laws, Janeen, Donna, Cora Jean, Donna and Nephews, Steve Maciejewski, Perry Stulken, and Travis Millard.

Ivan Ray Reagle, 76

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Ivan Ray Reagle was born Feb 13,1947, in Valentine, NE to Arthur and Blanche (Howe) Reagle of rural Todd County and passed away peacefully in his home on May 27,2023.

Ivan graduated from Todd Co. High School in 1965 and took 1 year of college in North Platte, NE. After college he came back to the family farm/ranch and worked with his parents and brothers raising crops and cattle. There he spent the rest of his life doing what he loved. He was also willing to lend a helping hand to anyone that needed help with chores, working cattle or anything they needed done in time of need.

In 2007 he met his best friend Sheila and together they worked on the place.  On July 18 ,2016 Ivan and Sheila were married in Winner, SD.  Ivan had no children of his own and gained a wonderful family. Ivan cherished his new family and enjoyed spending time with them whether it was holidays, birthday parties, brandings, working cattle and many other activities.  Ivan was also a great uncle to his nieces and nephews. He was especially fond of his nephew Emerson who came out and spent a lot of time with Ivan and Sheila.

Ivan didn’t have a lot of hobbies but loved Oliver tractors and he loved to visit! He could always find something to talk about with anyone. He didn’t know a stranger.

He is survived by his wife Sheila, her children Amber Kruger, Chuck (Kadie) Kruger, Robert (Megan Schlinz), step-grandchildren Aaron and Jayden Rahn, Lane and Makayla Shelbourn, Sadie Cadwallader, Cooper, Brynna and Easton Kruger, Brother Leonard (Bernadette) Reagle, sister-in-law Marie Reagle and sister-in-law Vicky Reagle. Nieces, nephews and many other family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Blanche Reagle, his brothers, JR and Everrett Reagle, and his nephews, Jason, Craig and Zachary Reagle

Funeral service for Ivan Reagle were held on Monday, June 5 at 2 p.m.  at the Cherry County Fair Grounds in Valentine.  The burial followed at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine.  Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine was entrusted with the service arrangements.

The First Winner Summer Nights of 2023 will be June 9

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Don’t forget to attend the Winner Area Chamber of Commerce first summer night of the season on Friday, June 9.   It will held in the third block of Main Street from 6-9 p.m.

Frontier Motors Ford will be the sponsor.

Be sure to attend to find out who won the May burger battle. There were six businesses competing in the battle.

There will be bouncy houses, little farm, big slide, obstacle course, battle axe, kid train, face painting.

The band will be Uncle Roy and the Boys.

There will be vendors offering a variety of food options.

Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a beautiful evening.

Childrens play set for June 3

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Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Winner Community Playhouse will present a summer kids play on June 3 at the playhouse. “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales” is the name of the play directed by Sarah Taggart. The play will be presented at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Pictured in front from left are Briggs Taggart, Dale Edwards, Dawson Peppel, Liam Grossenburg, Danger Patmore, Haynes Smith, Ruby Nogochi, Gianna Phillips and Hallie Curtis. Second row from left are Baylor Murphy, Carter Peppel, Lucia Harris, Finn Scholmer, Jonathan Schlomer, Lily Fuller, Braxton Olson, Abi Greathouse and Lidia Barfuss. Third row from left are Haydon Grossenburg, Destiny Tracy, Carissa Greathouse, Rogue Patmore, Tynlee Shippy and Tia Farley. In back from left are Evan Taggart, Sharlotte Tuttle, Chianna Balfany, Easton Shippy and Otillia Novotny.

The Winner Community Playhouse will present a summer production which features youth from 2nd to 7th grade on Saturday, June 3.

The summer play, “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales” will be presented June 3 at the playhouse. There will be a matinee at 3:30 p.m. and a play at 7 p.m. Doors will open a half hour before the performance.

The cast includes: Briggs Taggart, Dale Edwards, Dawson Peppel, Liam Grossenburg, Danger Patmore, Haynes Smith, Ruby Nogochi, Gianna Phillips, Hallie Curtis, Baylor Murphy, Carter Peppel, Lucia Harris, Finn Schlomer, Jonathan Schlomer, Lily Fuller, Braxton Olson, Abi Greathouse, Lidia Barfuss, Haydon Grossenburg, Destiny Tracy, Carissa Greathouse, Rogue Patmore, Tynlee Shippy, Tia Farley, Evan Taggart, Sharlotte Tuttle, Chianna Balfany, Easton Shippy and Otillia Novotny.

The play is directed by Sarah Taggart. Assistants are Teresa Taylor, Leah Wiechelman and Addi Heenan.

Dan Patmore is the technical director.

The children have been practicing all week at the playhouse.

Blood drive held

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LifeServe Blood Center held a blood drive in Winner on May 24 and May 25. Fifty-four donors were able to donate and 68 units of life saving blood was collected. The units donated can help save up to 204 lives.

Milestone donors at this drive were Lisa Halverson and Steve Sondegaard.

Ruth Farnsworth and the Southern Belle Cattlewomen coordinated this blood drive.

LifeServe has a student scholarship program. LifeServe will award up to $500 in scholarship funds to students who organize a successful blood drive during the summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) or winter (December and January). To be eligible for the scholarship students must recruit donors, act as the chairperson and register 25 donors ($250 awarded) or 40 donors ($500 awarded). Individual scholarships are offered to any student seeking a higher level of education.

The next blood drive will be July 19 from 10:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and July 20 from noon to 5:30 p.m. at the Winner city office.

Farewell open house at Community Connections Inc.

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Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Melony Bertram, right, was honored at a farewell open house at Community Connections Inc. She will be leaving CCI and started work in a new job at Black Hills Works in Rapid City. She worked at CCI for 24 years and since 2016 has been the executive director. Bertram is pictured with Keenan Knutelski, the new director of CCI and Becca Carlson, the former executive director.

Registration deadline nears for special Colome Consolidated School Board election

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By Dan Bechtold

Editor

The Colome Consolidated School Board will hold a special election on June 20. The election will be on the reorganization plan submitted to the South Dakota Department of Education to dissolve the consolidated part of the Colome School District.

The deadline to register to vote in this election is June 5. Persons can register to vote at the Tripp County Auditor’s Office.

On June 20, the election polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The polling places will be at the fire hall in Colome, the city hall (post office) in Witten and the community hall in Wood.

Persons can also cast an absentee ballot.

A vote for the proposed school district reorganization plan would be to approve the plan as it is written and approved by the South Dakota Department of Education.

If the plan is approved, the Mellette County land area that is currently in the Colome, Consolidated School District would attach to the White River School District. The Tripp County land area around Witten that is currently in the Colome Consolidated School District would attach to the Winner School District and the Tripp County land area south and east of Winner that is currently in the Colome Consolidated School District would become the Colome School District. The school in Colome would remain open.

A vote against this plan would be to deny approval of the plan as it was written and approved by the S.D. Department of Education.
If the plan is not approved there would be no changes to the current district land boundaries and the school would remain the Colome Consolidated School District. The school in Colome would remain open and students living in the Wood and Witten area would be provided transportation or mileage to the school in Colome.

The elementary school in Wood closed last year. Citizens from the Wood and Witten area petitioned to dissolve the consolidated district.

Colome became a consolidated school district in 2009. A public vote approved the consolidation with Wood and Witten. At that time, both the Wood and Witten elementary schools were open.

On Oct. 10, 2022, the Colome Consolidated School board received a verified petition from Wood/Witten area registered voters  requesting the school board develop a reorganization plan dissolving the school district and to hold an election.

If approved, the new plan would take effect July 1, 2024.

Public meetings on the reorganization plan were held Nov. 28 in Wood and Dec. 5 in Colome.

The Department of Education set the election for June 20.

If persons in this consolidated school district want to vote in this election they must register to vote by June 5.

4-H Beef Skillathon and Beef Showmanship Clinic

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On Tuesday May 16 22 Tripp County 4-H Members attended the 2023 Tripp Co. 4-H Beef Skillathon and Beef Showmanship Clinic, which was a certified Youth Livestock Literacy Event.

The skillathon included five stations to test the 4-H members knowledge on Feed Identification, Breed Identification, Equipment Identification, Meat Cuts Identification, and a quiz on Quality Assurance.  This event was open to all ages of 4-H youth ranging from 8-18.  The youth were given 10 minutes at each station.  After the results were tabulated, the youth reviewed each station, were given the correct answers, and were able to ask questions regarding each area. 

The 4-H Beef Project is more than just selecting an animal to show at the county fair.  The Beef Project area includes education in all areas of raising beef animals.  Youth are encouraged to expand their knowledge each year by attending educational events like this.  Youth can also compete at the state level in the Livestock Skillathon that includes information on other livestock species.  The Beef Project area provides the best educational value if members see it as a year long project in which they select an animal as a calf and then see this animal through to becoming a bred heifer and/or an animal fed for consumption, along with participation in educational events like this.

In addition to the Skillathon, this event included a beef showmanship clinic.  Calah Covey, a 4-H alumnus of the Tripp County 4-H Program, presented this portion of the event.  4-H members learned about dress code, proper equipment, handling techniques, show ring etiquette, and the importance of working with your animal at home. 

Roper Moore, a Tripp Co. 4-H member brought his heifer in to demonstrate to the youth.  The youth had an opportunity to ask questions and even work on practicing setting up the animal.

High point individuals for the Beef Skillathon were:

Beginner – Kade Fenenga

Junior – Allie Littau

Senior – Maggie DeMers

This event was put on by Calah Covey and Sydney Hollenbeck members of the Animal & Biological Sciences Committee, Alyssa Streich – 4-H Volunteer, and Dawn Covey – member of the Beef Committee.

A program of SDSU Extension, South Dakota 4-H is the largest youth development program in the state, providing programs to youth ages 5 to 19 regardless of interest. To learn more about 4-H in Tripp County or how to enroll, email tripp.county@sdstate.edu or call (605)842-2858. 

Springfest and St. Mary’s Block Party

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By Bosten Morehart

Staff writer

The Immaculate Conception Church Springfest is taking place June 3.

The events will include the Springfest along with the celebration of St. Mary’s School.

Activities taking place include a silent auction, a meal, and several activities for kids and families.

Doors will open at 4 pm for the silent auction preview and social hour.

Food will be served from 5 pm to 7 pm. There is an event fee of $6 which includes your meal.

Food being served will include burgers, brats, hot dogs, salads.

Some of the activities going on for kids will be face painting, chalk drawing, bubble blowing area, variety of toys and games.

There will be a cash bar on site.

A raffle will be going on, prizes include a 2022 Chevy Trax, $2,000 cash prize and $1,000 cash prize.

You do not have to be present to win the Chevy Trax but you do need to be present to win the cash prizes.

You can purchase your advance event tickets and raffle tickets at Frontier Motors Ford (only raffle tickets) , Hobby Shoppe, Marty’s, Parish office.