Category Archives: News

Orval Graber, age 72, of Winner, passed away on Nov. 16, 2016 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Facility.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016 at the First Baptist Church in Winner. Burial followed at the Winner City Cemetery.

Orval Dean Graber, 72, peacefully went to his heavenly home on Nov. 16, 2016, with his family by his side.

Orval was born on Dec. 7, 1943, to Elmer J. and Clara C. Graber. He was the youngest of four children. Orval accepted Jesus Christ as his savior and was baptized on May 17, 1959, at Salem Zion Mennonite Church, Freeman, SD. He attended country school, graduated from Freeman Academy, and went on to receive his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural education from SDSU.

On Aug. 10, 1969, Orval was united in marriage to Diane Tschetter. One week later, they moved to Winner, SD, where he had accepted a teaching position as the vocational agriculture and FFA instructor. After 25 years, he retired from teaching and worked for the city of Winner.

During their 47 years of marriage, Orval and Diane were blessed with three children: Cherie Annette, Carla Ann, and Cory Dean. Their church memberships were transferred to the First Baptist Church of Winner where he remained active serving in many capacities until his death. He was also a member of the Gideons.

In his free time, Orval enjoyed hunting, fishing, singing with the A’Cafellas Chorus, and spending time with his five grandchildren.

Berniece Burtz formerly of Winner, went home to be with her Lord on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016,at the Elms Nursing Home in Macomb, IL where she has resided for the past 5 years. She was 90 years old. She was born Opal Berniece Ruf, daughter of John and Mae Ruf, on the family homestead in Greenwood Township, Tripp County on Aug. 26, 1926. She joined two older sisters, Ariel, born in 1914, and Doris, 1918. In 1932 the family moved to Millboro where John Ruf became pastor of the local church. Four years later in 1936 the Ruf family moved to Rockerville, and the next year to Lake City. In 1939 they settled in Dannebrog, NE where in 1944 Berniece graduated from Dannebrog High School. Following high school Berniece attended Omaha Bible Institute for 3 years graduating in 1948.

Berniece was married to Raymond Burtz of Winner, on June 20, 1948 in St. Paul, NE, and the couple made their home on the Burtz Brothers Ranch in northern Tripp County. The couple’s first son, Durwin Keith was born on March 19, 1951. He was joined by sister Koreen Kay on October 4, 1954, Wendell Ray on July 26, 1956, and Ronald Gene was born April 4, 1960. Through the years Berniece was active not only as a wife and mother, but as pianist for the Witten Baptist Church and the Presho Community Bible Church, as a Sunday school and Vacation Bible School teacher, piano teacher, club member, Women’s Bible Study leader, and church treasurer. She was active in the Gideons Auxiliary, and loved to read and teach the Bible, play the piano, garden, embroider, and sew. Beginning in 1976 Berneice worked alongside her husband Ray and their children to move and remodel a former one-room schoolhouse into a cabin the family enjoyed with friends and neighbors on their farm along the White River for many years. Raymond preceded her in death in August of 1999, and several years later she moved from the farm to Winner where she enjoyed playing with the local Kitchen Band, and continued as pianist for the Witten Baptist Church as long as she was able.

Lee Eddie, age 93, of Winner, passed away on Nov. 17, 2016 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Facility.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Winner. Burial followed at the Winner City Cemetery. Ivor Lee Eddie, of Winner, SD, passed away on November 17, at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center after suffering from complications of a stroke a few days prior. He was 93 years, 1 month, 2 weeks, and 6 days old.

Ivor Lee Eddie, known to all as Lee, was the son of George and Gretchen (Rethwisch) Eddie. He was born on Sept. 29, 1923 in Winner. Lee grew up in the Winner community and attended the South Sunnyside School. He graduated from Winner High School in 1941 and then engaged in farming on the family farm. On Sept. 24, 1947, he united in marriage with Irene Carol Fast and they raised five children: Linda, Dennis, Randy, Ron and Darla.

As a youth, Lee participated in 4-H showing cattle and horses. The Eddie family was community oriented with the local baseball league (including Lloyd and George Blomstroom, Ernie and Emil Konvalin) which were followed with barn dances mainly in John Hruska’s barn. After marriage to Irene, he started taking over the family farm in 1947.

Lee took pleasure in taking his family to Basin League baseball games at the Leahy Bowl and Family reunions in O’Neil, NE. His life centered on his family and the farm. It was not uncommon to host large family suppers on the farm during holidays. When traveling on family trips he never took the same road twice and was quick to notice details to say that he had an “Eagle Eye”.

Later in life, he enjoyed challenging Jumbles and Crosswords and commonly helped his sister Blanche when she was stumped. Saturday nights were spent at the VFW for supper followed with a game of cards with Ryal and Peg Vanneman along with Bob and Fern Ringstmeyer. An avid bowler he enjoyed his Bowling league Wayne Heller, Bud Mayes, and Dale Johnson. Enjoyed taking several Co-op trips across the country including Hawaii. Family vacations were taken with Wayne and Lois Heller as they played cards while their daughters played. In retirement, they enjoyed traveling to casinos with friends. His final years at Golden Prairie, he made lasting friendships at the meal table with his sister, Berniece Hanson, Florence Fisher, Rosie Glynn and Jim Jares. They were known as the fun table at the manor and dad’s humor and finger pointing will be missed by his table mates and staff.

Lee’s thirst of knowledge and learning paired with a curiosity for life was something instilled in all his grandkids. When it came to Lee’s grandkids he enjoyed challenging them to be the best they could be. You could always find Lee watching a western show and loved reading western novels.