Courtney
Steffen, a candidate for state American Legion commander, will be the speaker at the Memorial Day
service at the Winner Cemetery on Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m.
Steffen
is the vice commander of Districts 3-8 of the American Legion. She is from the
Chester Post 136 where she is also the post commander. She is a member of both
the post and the American Legion Auxiliary.
She earned her eligibility in the American Legion through her service in the
United States Air Force where she served as logistics readiness officer in
Alaska, Iraq, Honduras and California. She also maintains memberships in the VFW,
DAV, MOAA and IAVA.
During the work week, Steffen serves as the Brookings County veterans service
officer in Brookings. She loves helping connect veterans and their families to
the benefits they have earned in the service. She has three children: Annika,
James and Kit.
The
Winner American Legion and VFW will be conducting services at area cemeteries.
On
Sunday, May 28 they will be at the Witten Cemetery at 2 p.m.
On May
29 services will be at Novotny family cemetery, Clearfield at 8:30 a.m.
Services
will be at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Clearfield at 9 a.m. Services will
be at the Holy Spirit Cemetery of Ideal at 9 a.m. and at Lenker Cemetery at
9:30 a.m. and ZCBJ Cemetery at 9:45 a.m.
The
Avenue of Flags will fly at the Winner Cemetery on Memorial Day. They are
looking for volunteers to help put up flags. At 1 p.m. on May 27 place crosses
and small flags by veterans grave sites, on May 28 at 4 p.m. lay poles by the
holes for the flags.
At 6
a.m. Monday the large flags will be placed on the flag poles.
At 4
p.m. on Monday will be the removal of the small flags and crosses and the large
flags.
Submitted photo Winner second graders won first place in the Reading Olympics. Pictured from left are Aramina Evans, Liam Grossenburg, Ruby Noguchi, Hallie Curtis and Jozlynn Rolf.
Winner
Elementary hosted its 2nd annual Reading Olympics for 2nd
to 7th graders.
There
were 125 students who participated from Winner, Gregory, Colome and Burke.
Winner
students placed first in the second grade, second in the third grade, first in
the fourth grade, first (team 2) and third (Team 1) in the fifth grade, second
in the sixth grade and third in 7th grade.
Reading
Olympics is a competition where students read a set of pre-selected books and
work together as a team to answer the questions about the books.
Winner’s
2nd-5th grade teams are coached by Monica Ellwanger and
Michelle Sharkey. The 6th & 7th grade teams are
coached by Lisa Jankauskas and LaGrande Woods.
Diane Durrin Photo Winner High School Stage Fright honored students at a banquet on May 8. Pictured from left are Addi Heenan, best actress; Mallory Thayer, outstanding stage fright member; Leah Wiechelman, best supporting actress; Hayden McMurtrey, best supporting actor; Paige Sachtjen, techie award and Justin Hausmann, best actor.
Photo by Katie Larson Persons worked hard to complete the Hamill Cemetery fence project. In front from left are Joy Fott, Katrin VCanZandbergen, Ryland Hannas, Lane Littau, Coop,er Van Zandbergen, Kade Fenenga, Echo Fenenga, Kylee Van Zandbergen, Kelli Van Zandbergen, Geneva Sturlaugson, Kaylea Hannahs, Tracy Childress and Faye Heinis. Second row from left are Hunter Shippy, Austin Blare, Andrew Henderson, Jesse Larson, Jed Blare, Amanda Blare, Ainsley Henderson, Samantha Christensen, Lydia Sturlaugson. Back from left are Easton Shippy, Kevin Van Zandbergen, Holly Larson, Audie Larson, Roger Evans, Tara Fenenga, Brad Fenenga and Trace Larson.
After many years of
fundraising by past and present 4-H kids, in addition to private donations, and
a grant from the Tripp County Community Foundation, the Hamill Hustlers 4-H
Club was able to meet their financial goal.
The club worked on a fence project at the Hamill Cemetery
At times a daunting
task, the Hamill Cemetery fence project is complete.
“ God blessed us with
rain the night before and a glorious day to work on Saturday. We were hoping to
get it all done in one day, (but not overly optimistic), so we ran two diggers
on opposite sides of the cemetery and met in the corner and 11 very long hours
we were done,” said Holly Larson of the 4-H club.
The Hamill Hustlers
appreciate everyone who helped in numerous ways. “We truly could not have done
it without you,”said Larson.
Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo The Colome High School graduating class of 2023 poses for a picture prior to the ceremony on May 13. In front from left are Ashlyn Hoffine, Libbie Petersek and Morgan Gill. Second row from left are Toree Ringing Shield, Paige Paulson, Landi Krumpus, Sophie Hofeldt, Jordyn Ring, Devan Dougherty. In back from left are Sully Shippy, Billy Looking Cloud, Aidan Muller, Taylor Nelsen, Burner Schenefeld, Taitin Ringing Shield, Kaden Pechota and Kash Heath.
Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo Winner High School graduates who are Regents Scholars are in front from left Mali Beehler, Tessa Mann, Faith Covey, Rylee Root and Melanie Brozik. Second row from left are Ainsley Henderson, Aleya Miller, Dalton Petersen, Blake Volmer, Chaz Blotsky, Donny De’Sersa, Kendyl Bachmann and Leah Wiechelman. Third row from left are Brindy Bolander, Kelbi Meiners, Justin Hausmann, Trista Kierstead and Shayne Day. In back from left are Maggie DeMers, Pierce Nelson, Jack Kruger, Ethan Bartels, Clay Sell, Tayden Mathis and Amanda Blare. Not pictured is Joselin Kludt.
Sutton, NE., resident
Helen Ann Hoffman, 80 passed away Monday, May 1, 2023, at the Sutton Community
Home in Sutton, NE.
Funeral services were
conducted a 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Sutton, NE., with Rev. Tim Stacy officiating. Graveside services were
conducted at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Battle
Creek, NE.
In lieu of flowers,
memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later.
Helen Ann (Nebola)
Hoffman was born on May 20, 1942, to Helen Karl (Maska) and Ed Nebola in
Gregory, SD. Helen was a force of nature who was unapologetically
strong-willed, a fighter to the end. She led her family with grace and unending
support for everyone around her. Helen’s passing will be felt by those that
were lucky enough to be in her orbit for all times.
Helen grew up on the
farm outside Gregory. She graduated from high school in 1960. Soon after high
school, Helen married and raised five children with love, patience, and a few
tears. Over the years the family lived in Winner, SD, Grand Island, and
O’Neill. While taking care of the home, she also managed the books and
day-to-day operations for family-owned businesses including, Johnson’s Drive-In
in O’Neill. She met her person, Don Hoffman, on Feb. 13, 1986, and they married
on Feb. 13, 1990. When her nest emptied, Helen started a career in the
insurance industry which continued until her retirement in 2012.
Helen is survived by
her sons, Robert Bromwich and Rodney (Kim) Bromwich; daughters, Kim (Mark)
Henning and Stacy (Matt) Foster; stepsons, Bryan (Diane) Hoffman and Galen
(Kelly) Hoffman; and stepdaughter, Rita (Dennis) Schueth; siblings, Jo
Haffield; Virginia Kingsbury; and Ed (Sharon) Nebola; grandchildren, Ashley;
Jarod; Natasha; Madeline; Mitchell; Colbey; Kanai; Michael; Lauren; Matthew;
Breane; Beau; Brock; and Corey; as well as, 5 great-grandchildren.
Helen was preceded in
death by her father, Ed Nebola; mother, Helen Karl; stepfather, Rudolph (aka
Rudy) Karl; her firstborn son, Willis Bromwich; sister, Frances Lake; and
brother, John Nebola.
Meredith Duane
“Punk” Worth was born on April 3, 1931, in Winner, SD to Elwood and
Frances (McBride) Worth. Punk passed away in his ranch home surrounded by loved
ones May 2, 2023, at the age of 92 years and 29 days.
After Meredith was
born, his mother took him home in a shoebox.
He was so small (weighing just four pounds at birth), his mom called him
her little “Pumpkin Seed”. It didn’t take long for “Pumpkin
Seed” to become “Punk”, and to this day, many people do not know
Punk’s given name on his birth certificate. Punk attended numerous grade
schools in Keya Paha County and graduated from Keya Paha County High School in
1948. On May 18, 1952, Punk married Enid Lorraine Graham in Ainsworth, NE. To
this union, two children were born: son, Ronald Scott, and daughter, Lorraine
Alice. May 18th of this year would have marked Punk and Enid’s 71st wedding
anniversary.
In May of 1962, Punk
and Enid purchased the Charlie Simons Ranch by Norden, Neb. They began raising
Hereford cattle, and over the years transitioned to a totally black Angus herd.
Asking Punk what he liked doing best, he’d
say, “Raising and working with livestock, and producing the best
mother cow possible”. He raised high quality beef cattle and owned some
darn good ranch horses in his day. In
earlier years, Punk also raised and sold pigs, milked cows, farmed and put up a
lot of hay. After selling his cow herd in the early 2000’s, Punk was still
active in developing heifers, feeding and caring for take-in cattle, and
haying. At this time, he also became active in antique tractor pulling
contests.
He was a member of the
Borderline Tractor Pullers for twelve years, winning numerous awards. He still
went to the hayfield every summer, running the swather, rake and baler for the
last time in the summer of 2022 at 91 years of age. This last winter, he spent
many hours in his tractors plowing and moving snow. He was always making
improvements to his ranch, and enjoyed woodworking and welding. If he could
make it with his own two hands, he sure wasn’t going to buy it! Punk had a very
creative and sharp mind right up to the end. Three days before he passed, he
was still giving orders about “things that needed to be done”.
In his younger days,
Punk was an active member of the Meadville Roping Club. He was an avid
supporter of rodeo his entire life. He served as the rodeo chairman for the
Keya Paha County Fair and Rodeo for 35 years, negotiating many contracts with
rodeo stock contractors along the way.
In 2017, Punk was
inducted into the Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame. This nomination and
his induction humbled him greatly. He became a huge supporter of the
association and attended the annual banquet and induction ceremony each year.
Punk loved music and
dancing. He was a drummer and played in numerous country western bands for the
past 66 years. From barns, clubs, bars, pavilions, outdoor stages, garages,
senior centers, and assisted living facilities, he played and danced in them
all. Wherever they went, Punk and Enid
were always the envy of most dancers on the dance floor as watching them dance
together was mesmerizing.
Punk was a staunch
patriot and a Korean War Veteran serving in the United States Army from
September 1952 to September 1954. He is a 67 year member of American Legion
Post #98, where he still held the position of commander at his passing.
Punk was a huge community
supporter all his life. He served on the Keya Paha County Ag Society for 35
years holding the positions of secretary, vice president, and president. He has
been on the Keya Paha County Fire Board for 37 years, a director on the KBR
Rural Public Power Board for 23 years, a 53-year member of the Elks Lodge #1790
and was a Charter Member of the American Legion Post #98 Honor Guard.
Punk was preceded in
death by his parents Elwood and Frances Worth Dixon; step-father Arnold Dixon;
sister Carole (Worth) and husband Gene Cullison; brother Bobby Gene Worth;
father-in-law Casey Graham; mother-in-law Alice Graham; sister-in-law Avis
(Graham) and husband Bill Hollopeter; nephew Robert Gene Cullison, and
great-granddaughter Violet Grace Olson.
Punk is survived by
his wife Enid; son Ron; daughter Lorraine; brother Malvern “Corky”
(Janet) Worth, all of Springview.
Grandchildren: Troy (Angie) Worth of Imperial, NE, Mitch Worth of
Springview, Brittany (Chad) Olson of Valentine, NE; sister-in-law Aliene
(Graham) Clark of Rock Springs, WY; brother-in-law Gerry (Stella) Graham of
Ainsworth; great-grandchildren Hayden, Hadley, Henley, Parker and Kwynn, and
numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services were
held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at the Keya Paha High School in Springview. Pastor Sam Courts officiated at the
service.
Memorials were suggested to Springview
American Legion Post #98, Springview Fire and Rescue Department and the
Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Interment was in the Mt. Hope Cemetery at Springview under the direction
of the Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com
Submitted Photo Austin Blare presents a check to his sister, Meagan following the track event that was held to raise funds for Meagan’s medical expenses. The event was organized and put on by the Winner track and field team. It featured a track clinic for the youth plus a small track meet. Proceeds from the concession stand also went to benefit Meagan Blare.
Loading ...