Category Archives: News

Doris Elaine Black was born Oct 25, 1934 on a farm near White River, SD to Leo and Lutisha (Baker) Black. She passed away Wednesday, Mar 1, 2017 at Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 82.

She grew up in Winner, SD and attended Winner High School graduating in 1952. Growing up in Winner, she was a member of the First Christian Church where she was actively involved in her church playing the piano and singing in the choir and singing duets with her sister, Marian. Doris helped her dad in the grocery store they owned, Leo’s Market. Her dad wanted her to work in the store after she graduated high school, but she always dreamed of being a teacher.

She attended Southern State Teacher’s College in Springfield, SD, after high school where she was honored with the title of “Miss Southern”. After graduating from college, she taught in Tripp, SD for 6 years and in Jackson, MN for 1 year teaching the first grade. Doris was very blessed to meet many life-long friends during this time.
Dating the love of her life brought Doris back to Winner, SD where she married Donald James Rysavy, on June 9, 1962. They moved to the farm where they welcomed three children, Todd, Judy and Terri. During that time Doris joined the Immaculate Conception Parish and became involved with the music ministry, playing the piano/organ and starting a children’s choir. She taught and coordinated kindergarten CCD and the Junior Catholic Daughters. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters, serving time as a regent. She played the piano for funerals, weddings, and many other celebrations. Her passion for music led her to share her talents by teaching piano lessons for over 15 years.

After taking time off from teaching to raise her family, Doris went back to college at DWU to get her Bachelor’s Degree in teaching. She accepted a position at the Winner Eastside Elementary School to teach First Grade where she taught for 13 years. Her joy was teaching first graders how to read. She was an inspiration to many of her students as they often appreciated her lessons several years after their first grade experiences.

The community of Winner was very special to Doris. She became the “Welcome Wagon” lady during her retirement years along with being a Mary Kay consultant. She thoroughly enjoyed the social aspect of these activities. In addition, she also served as the neighborhood “chicken broker” for a short time. Having an outing with the “lunch bunch” or enjoying chocolate and a good cup of coffee with friends was a sheer delight to her. Making trips back to Springfield to help coordinate the Southern Teacher’s College Museum was another personal highlight. Her retirement from teaching also allowed Doris to enjoy her grandchildren’s various concerts, plays and recitals. She passed on the love of music to her grandchildren. She also enjoyed traveling and especially the travels with her Donnie to various locations through the years, particularly to Germany to visit her grandchildren.

Rose Mary (Bicek) McIntosh was born was September 10, 1917 on a homestead near Pickstown, South Dakota to Frank and Josephine (Scheinost) Bicek. At the age of 2 she moved to a farm south of Colome. She graduated from high school in Dallas, South Dakota in 1937.

She married Riley McIntosh Jr. on May 3, 1943 and to this union 5 children were born; Donald (Mary) McIntosh, Robert McIntosh, Carol (Dennis) Phillips, Marvin (Karen) McIntosh, and William (Delinda) McIntosh.

Riley and Rose worked for various farmers in the area in their early years. They moved to Winner in the early 1950’s when Riley started working at the GTA Elevator and Rose stayed busy working at home.

She was humbled to be a member of the Church of the Nazarene and enjoyed her last years at the Winner Regional Nursing Home where she got the opportunity to meet a lot of new friends and enjoyed playing cards.

Willard Lee Potter was born March 1, 1935 in Faulkton, South Dakota. He was the son of Rolland O. and Hazel (Miller) Potter. Willard grew up on a family farm near Seneca SD and he graduated from the Faulkton High School in 1953. In 1957 he graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines with a degree in Civil Engineering. During the Korean War, Willard served his country in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959.

Following his honorable discharged he married the girl he met at a Black Hills State track meet in 1954. Her name was Marion Foss and they were united in marriage on June 25, 1960 in Winner South Dakota. To this union was born 2 sons and 3 daughters: Lee, Bruce, Joyce, Reva, and Diann.

Following their marriage, Willard worked as an engineer for many years. His career took the Potter family to several towns, including Selby, Pierre and Aberdeen. In 1997 he retired from the B.I.A. in Aberdeen as the Facilities Manager, and then began working as an Inspector for FEMA. From 1979 to 2010, Willard lived near Warner and following his retirement from FEMA Willard and Marion moved to Belle Fourche where they have lived since.

Willard was a determined man who had high expectations. He lived with purpose as it was important to him to contribute in life. He was intelligent and he always wanted to help people throughout his life. He was proud of his family and loved his grandchildren very much. He will be greatly missed.