Category Archives: News

Judy Ann Eldridge, 66

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Judy Eldridge-Tomes died in her home that she shared with her son Zak, his wife Kelly and her son Jon by her side on April 26, 2023. She was 66.

Judy Ann Eldridge was born Dec. 24, 1956, in Winner, SD to Byron and Viola (Holthus) Eldridge.

 She attended school in both Hamill and Winner, SD. She graduated from Winner High School in 1975. Following high school, she attended NAU in Rapid City, Sd and graduated with an associate degree in  business administration.

Judy married a member of the United States Air Force who gave her the opportunity of a lifetime to travel and live abroad when he was stationed at Lakenheath RAFB in England where she gave birth to her first son Zak in 1984 and then she traveled and lived at Edwards AFB in Italy where she gave birth to her second son Jon in 1986. She then came back to the states in 1988 and lived at Offutt AFB in Omaha, NE. 

Judy moved to Sioux Falls, SD in 1991 and purchased the home where she raised Zak and Jon. Judy was a bookkeeper for the Sioux Empire Fair from 1995 to 2001. She worked in sales for the Argus Leader from 2001 to 2006 and then was with the South Dakota Railroad as a dispatcher until 2012 when the company dissolved. She then retired due to a disability she acquired.

The one thing Judy loved the most to do was gardening. She would spend hours and hours outside tending to the flowers, rose bushes, and lilac bushes she planted. She was also a fanatic about collecting frog memorabilia. There was not one space in the house including the bathroom that didn’t have some type of knick knack, ornament, or towel that was frog related. When she wasn’t gardening or finding more frog memorabilia to bring home, she would watch British murder mysteries on TV and would spend time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Judy was also blessed with having her granddaughter Leah, her fiancé Julyus, and her two great grandchildren Juleah and Jakob to live with her at one point.

Grateful for having shared her life are her sons Zak Tomes (Kelly), Sioux Falls, SD, Jon Tomes, Sioux Falls, adopted daughter and friend Jeanette Gaul, Sioux Falls, SD, granddaughter Michelle Moore (Nick Casstevens), great grandsons Jesse and Chevelle and great granddaughter Mireya, Brookings, SD, grandson Michael Moore (Kylie Minske), Sioux Falls, SD, granddaughter Leah Harty (Julyus James) great granddaughter Juleah and great grandson Jakob, Sioux Falls, SD, her brother Bruce Eldridge (Susan), Chamberlain, SD sister Diana Swanson (Emiel), Pukwana, SD, nephew Nathan Swanson, Pukwana, SD, nieces Heidi Elliott (Steve), Herman, NE, Heather Swanson (Josh), great nephew Clayton Swanson and great niece Samantha Walker, Freeman, SD. 

She was preceded in death by her parents Byron and Viola (Holthus) Eldridge.

Memorials made be directed to First Lutheran Church Media Ministries, 327 S Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57104

A Celebration of Life will be held 11am Saturday, June 24, 2023, at Hamill Community Hall 34202 B Street, Hamill, SD 57534 with burial of her urn at the Hamill Cemetery with a reception to follow back at Hamill Community Hall. For online obituary and guest register go to the website at www.millerfh.com.

Students receive academic honor

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Brindy Bolander, center, a senior at Winner High School, received an academic excellence recognition in Pierre on April 24. Making the presentation are Gov. Kristi Noem and Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden.

Brindy Bolander of Winner High School and Morgan Gill of Colome High School were honored at the 33rd annual academic excellence recognition luncheon in Pierre on April 24.

Gov. Kristi Noem and the Associated School Boards of South Dakota honored students who were identified as the top one percent of their senior class.

Students designated as their high school’s honorees received a certificate, South Dakota pin and the opportunity to meet and have their picture taken with Gov. Noem.
“Look at challenges as opportunities. An opportunity to find out who you were meant to be,” Gov. Noem told the seniors. “When you hit a challenge, you become a problem solver.”

ASBSD president Lisa Snedeker noted the day was a celebration of the students and their achievements.

“Before you head out on your next adventure, we celebrate your hard work. Today, we celebrate your achievements,” Snedeker said.

The event was sponsored by A&B Business Solutions, School Administrators of South Dakota, South Dakota Board of Regents, South Dakota Education Association and Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

Grand Re-Opening of Karl’s in Winner

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Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
The ribbon cutting at the grand re-opening of Karl’s in Winner was held April 27. Winner Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the ribbon cutting. Pictured in front from left are Jim Mohs, Sandi Karl Wernke, Karen Karl, Elmer Karl, Jeff Erickson, manager of the Winner store, Cal Stukel, Chuck Bergen and Mike Scott, executive director of the Chamber.

Winner High School Attends FFA Convention

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Winner High School FFA attended the state convention in Brookings. Pictured in front from left are Trista Kierstead, Ainsley Henderson, Amanda Blare, Bailey Fairbanks, Brianna Gilchrist, Sierra McCall, Clay Sell. Middle row from left are Justin Hausmann, Abe Kaiser, Maggie DeMers, Emily Sachtjen, Roper Moore, Kyla Mammen, Leah Wiechelman. In back from left are Stetson Shelbourn, Rylee Schroeder, Rowdy Moore, Hunter Shippy, Austin Blare, Chandler Benedict, Briar Cook and Andrew Henderson.

Colome FFA places at state

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Eight members of the Colome FFA chapter attended the state FFA convention in Brookings. Pictured in front from left are Raylynn Dehning, Morgan Gill and Gracie Rohde. In back from left are Kash Heath, Seth Heath, Jack Anderson, Joseph Laprath and Raelynn Kingsley.

Eight members represented Colome FFA at the 95th FFA convention in Brookings.

The livestock team of Jack Anderson, Morgan Gill, Kash Heath and Seth Heath completed well in a tough contest.

The livestock contest consists of judging six classes of beef, swine and sheep taking a 25 question test over livestock information, giving three sets of reasons, completing a keep/cull class, and answering questions over the classes judged. There were 71 teams.

The floriculture team of Raylynn Dehning, Raelynn Kingley, Joseph Laprath and Gracie Rohde showed their skills of floral design, identification and horticulture knowledge.

They placed sixth and there were 60 team and 200 competitors.

Joseph Laprath was recognized for his ag sales entrepreneuship. His SAE project was Joseph’s Sawmille. He harvests down trees and lumber to cut construction wood, fire wood and make wooden creations such as cutting boards, tables and chairs. He was awarded second place in the state.