Category Archives: News

Marie Valentina (Nespor) Spreckels, 91, a longtime resident of Winner went to be with her heavenly Father on April 26, 2016. At the time of her death she resided at Fountain Springs Healthcare in Rapid City.

Services were held on April 30 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Winner with Rev. Will Harley officiating. There was a reception and lunch at the church following the service.   Private internment will be at the Winner Cemetery at a later date.

Marie was born February 14, 1925, in Hamill, SD to Joe and Agnes (Klima) Nespor. Marie grew up on the family farm east of Hamill. She attended a country grade school through the eighth grade, then attended high school in Winner, graduating in 1943. Marie lived a short time in Omaha, NE working for an insurance company. Thereafter, she met the love of her life, Norman. They were married on December 27, 1945 at Zion Lutheran Church in Colome, SD and shared 57 years of love and blessings. To this union four children were born: Judy, Sondra, Donald and Dona.

Marie was baptized and confirmed on September 16, 1944 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Omaha, NE. She became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Winner, SD in 1946 and was dedicated to her Lord and to her church for her whole life.

Marie was a devoted farm and ranch wife working alongside Norman. During those years she raised chickens, grew large gardens and canned anything she could get her hands on to prepare for the winter months. She was a hostess that always had a coffee pot on and a freezer-full of baked goodies in case company would drop by. In her spare time she would spend time at the sewing machine sewing for herself and her three girls, embroidering tea towels and scarves and also enjoyed making her quilts. Dancing nearly every Saturday night, especially at Carlock, and playing cards were Norman and Marie’s best entertainment, but always up on Sunday morning to attend worship at Trinity Lutheran Church until she became a care-giver for Norman the last eighteen years of his life. Due to declining health, Marie moved into Golden Prairie Manor in Winner in October of 2010; Morningstar Assisted Living in Rapid City in May of 2012; and her final home was at Fountain Springs Healthcare, Rapid City on March 11, 2016. Marie was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be greatly missed.

Joyce Gladys Songer was born to Joe and Bertha (Totton) Story on April 16, 1937 at Norris, South Dakota, and was called home on April 26, at the West Holt Memorial Hospital in Atkinson, Nebraska.

Joyce had four sisters, Melba, Dorothy, Ruby and Vera, and five brothers, Ernie, Jasper, Bud, Bill, and Glen. She grew up around the Dallas and Herrick, South Dakota area, going to school through the eighth grade. Shortly after school, she married William Fred Ronfeldt and together they had five children, Joseph Ronfeldt of Corning, Iowa, Katherine Ronfeldt of Colorado, Stanley Ronfeldt of Washington, Rebecca Baldwin of Red Oak, Iowa, and Connie Ball of Arizona. Together, they lived in Washington, Oregon, Montana, and South Dakota, finally settling in Bassett, Neb., where she remarried and had 2 more sons, Robert Johnston and Raymond Songer. Joyce lived in Bassett for 40+ years, working as a dietary cook, and as a painter and house cleaner while raising her two boys. She enjoyed many hobbies, everything from needle point, antique shopping, cooking, gardening, and bird watching. The times dearest to Joyce’s heart, were spending time with friends and family. She enjoyed having them over at holidays and any other occasion possible. She was also known around the country for her garage sales, baked goods and her service to the community. Joyce lived a long happy life with seven children, 20 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren, and other family members. She leaves behind a life time of loving memories that we all will cherish and pass along to generations to come.

Our loved one went to be with the Lord on April 24, 2016. Marjorie Jean Dart, usually called Jean, was born August 3, 1923 in Winner, South Dakota to Fay and Merrill Kaufman of Wood, S.D. She graduated from Wood High School in 1941 with 6 other seniors. She attended  colleges in S.D. and Nebraska graduating with a BA degree. She was a full-time or substitute teacher for 66 years and loved all of her students. She thoroughly enjoyed going to church in Tipton, CA. and Woodville, CA. where she played the piano and both churches. She also loved reading, bowling, baking with her family, and going to Lemoore Base where she often said, “It’s cheaper at the base!” One of her other goals she attained was traveling in all 50 states.

Betty Beatrice “Bea” Mann a resident of the Michael J. Fitzmaurice SD State Veterans Home, died Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at 89 years old. She was born November 3, 1926 in Hamill, SD and married her high school sweetheart Vernon on December 14, 1946 in Valentine NE. They lived on a ranch at Dog Ear Lake in the Winner area until 1957 when they moved to Hot Springs. She enjoyed working at Jack & Jill’s for many years until she retired. Bea loved playing cards, fishing, camping, gardening, chocolate ice cream, and winning at Bingo. Vernon preceded her in death on July 4, 2011 after 64 years of marriage.

Nancy Ann (Kaiser) Kewley, 59, passed away unexpectedly on March 9, 2016. Nancy was born May 7, 1956, to Francis and Idalee (Johnson) Showalter in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her mother later remarried and Nancy was adopted by her step-father, Arthur “Bud” Kaiser. She grew up in Winner, South Dakota, and attended Winner High School.

She married Harvey Kewley on July 7, 1974 and gave birth to a daughter, Anne Marie, in 1975. Having grown up in the 60’s and early 70’s, Nancy was a bit of a “hippie.” She loved rock music, with the Beatles, Joni Mitchell and the Rolling Stones among her favorites. She burned incense, wore patchouli and collected vintage velvet tapestries in true bohemian fashion. She was also a bit of a clothes horse and liked to bargain hunt for designer finds. Nancy was disabled by severe mental illness. During her periods of wellness, she loved to sew and enjoy a good novel. She was an excellent cook and once dreamed of becoming a chef.

Gregg Michael Schwartz, age 60 of Denver, Colo., formerly of Colome, passed away suddenly on April 24, 2016 at his home in Denver, CO. Gregg was born to the late Richard Lee Schwartz and the late Ruth Marlene Harter Schwartz.

Funeral services were held April 30 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Colome. Burial followed in the Colome City Cemetery.

Gregg’s childhood was a busy one spent with his dog Brownie. Greg and lifelong friend, Dave Cahoy went hunting and fishing every chance they would get. He had an old pickup that was referred to as Mergatroid and he put a lot of miles on it as a teenager. He played ball on the Colome baseball team. He attended eight years of grade school in a country school northeast of their farm. Gregg graduated from Colome High School in 1974. After high school he went to Gillette, WY and pursued work for a short time and then enlisted in the United States Navy. While stationed at Moffet Field in California, Gregg was involved in an auto accident that left him a paraplegic for life. He spent time in the Minneapolis VA Center prior to his mother taking care of him on the family farm. He moved to Sioux Falls, SD where he worked as a volunteer at the Sioux Falls VA Hospital. Gregg moved to Denver, CO March 30, 2001 where he met Marilina on August 22, 2001. They were married October 13, 2005 and purchased a home in Denver where they resided for the last five years. Gregg enjoyed the backyard filled with beautiful flowers tended by Marilina. During those five years Gregg was in the hospital only two days.

Gregg won the National Volunteer of the year award multiple years. Gregg enjoyed attending concerts, collecting baseball memorabilia and clocks, watching movies, and playing pitch. He also enjoyed watching his favorite football team the Kansas City Chiefs. Joe Montana was Gregg’s favorite football player.