Category Archives: News

Robin Heath Star Boy, age 26, of Mission, passed away on January 30, 2016. Funeral Services were held Feb. 4, at the Multi-Purpose Center in Mission. Burial followed at the St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery. Wake services were held Tuesday, Feb. 2, and Wednesday, Feb. 3 at the Multi-Purpose Center in Mission

Nancy Kay (McNamara) Gunner died on the evening of February 4, 2016 in Sioux Falls, SD lovingly surrounded by her children after a long, valiant fight with cancer.

She was born on December 19, 1940 in Watertown, SD to Les and Marge McNamara and graduated with her beloved class of 1959 from Watertown High School. After graduating, she attended college in Aberdeen, SD until she attended a fraternity party at the University of South Dakota and met Larry Gunner. They were married on September 15, 1962 and after Larry graduated from dental school at the University of Minnesota, they settled in Martin, SD where Larry opened his practice and they began their many adventures. They raised their four children: Pam (Longmont, CO), PD/Philip (deceased), Eric (and Bill Roach, Delray Beach, FL), and Anna/Andrea (Sioux Falls, SD) and lived there for 36 years before they moved to Winner, SD and eventually Sioux Falls. In addition to her own children, she helped raise Wauneta (Curry) Lone Wolf McCall (dec.), Steve Johnson (dec.), and Eric Johnson, and several exchange students: Marco Aurelio de Suza (Brazil), Mik Fallesen (Denmark), Jean Francois Pernette (France), Elsa Viscarra Castro (Mexico), and Ignacio Sanchidrian (Spain), as well as Michelle Pernette (Jean’s brother) and Signe Fallesen (Mik’s daughter).

In her lifetime, Nancy owned two stores in Martin: a clothing store named Clancy’s and a craft store called the Happy “Latch” Hooker (an ode to her latch-hooking mother, Margie). She held an appointed seat on the SD Lottery Commission and was the chairman of the Bennett County Republican Party for many years. She worked as the proof-reader/editor of the Lakota Times newspaper and also worked at Gunner Family Dentistry both in Martin and Winner. After she moved to Sioux Falls, Nancy worked at Coldwater Creek and volunteered at the Washington Pavilion.

The Arts held a special place in her heart and Nancy loved seeing plays and attending the symphony. She enjoyed theatre at the Black Hills Playhouse equally as much as Broadway in NYC. She especially loved the Sioux Falls Symphony and was an active member of the SF Symphony League. Nancy was an adventurous soul and loved to travel, visiting many countries around the world and making friends everywhere she went. We often told her to stop telling people “If you’re ever in SD, look me up” because they always did; they all loved her. Her annual girlfriend’s trips to Mexico were a highlight of her life. She seldom had idle fingers and was usually knitting something for someone’s new baby or grandbaby. Nancy was an avid reader and always enjoying a good book – or two or three. Even while suffering the debilitating effects of her cancer, Nancy managed to read 86 books last year.

Always generous, Nancy gave her time and spirit to causes she held dear such as the Berakhah House, PFLAG, the Sioux Falls Banquet, and the Bennett County Library. She touched the lives of so many and her family is so grateful to the staff and doctors that helped her through this brave fight at McHale Institute, the Avera Prairie Center, Avera McKennan Hopsital and the Dougherty House especially Dr. Jerry Walton, Dr. Todd Sorenson, and Dr. Benjamin Solomon. Her infectious giggle and magnetic personality brought sunshine into so many lives. She will be dearly missed by all of those who were lucky enough to meet her.

Louie (Bud) Karel Jr. was born at home on a farm south of Gregory on February 17, 1922 to Louie Sr. and Flora (Bruns) Karel. Bud attended first and second grade at the Carlson School, grades three thru six at the Saathoff School, and Jack School in grades seven and eight. He went to Colome High School and graduated in 1941. He assisted his parents on the family farm during these years.

Bud entered National Youth Association Welding School in Sioux Falls for an 8 week program in 1942. He then moved and became a welder at Seattle Tacoma Shipyard working on destroyers until 1943. His friends Russ Shirie and Virgil Aden went with him.

Bud enlisted in the US Navy on July 23, 1943. His honoree activity was commando North Pacific in 1943-44, Aviation Mechanics Carrier in 1944-45, and Planes AM2/C. Bud served with combat troops as an Honor Man due to his marksmanship. He was part of the Marines where he did his training at Alamedco, CA. Louie served in the Marshall Islands, Roi-Namier, and Gilbert Islands. He recalls servicing the Enola Gay—not even knowing it was loaded with an atomic bomb. Bud was honorably discharged on February 4, 1946.

Bud returned to the farm and farmed with T.J. Brewer. He bought a DC Case tractor, a corn sheller, and a thrashing machine. In 1947 Louie batched with Harold Elliott on Powell land south of the farm. In 1948 Bud and Harold moved to the Holger Cassling place—now the Krizan place.

In 1948 Bud and a friend, Joey Papousek, brought a load of cattle to the stockyards in Sioux City. This is where Bud became acquainted with Ardyth Warnkvist. Later that summer on July 4th they attended a street dance in Gregory. At Christmas time the young man gave her a diamond ring and they were married on February 7, 1949 at Elkpoint, SD by the Justice of the Peace. Virgil and Rose Aden were their attendants with Harlan Warnkvist driving the car.

Bud and Ardyth made their first home on the Holger Cassling place three miles west and 2 miles north of Dallas. They began farming together and in the spring of 1950 they had an opportunity to move onto the Ben Doering homestead west of them. They soon bought this farm and it became home for their entire lives.

On the home farm they raised three children, Gary, Sandy, and Jim. They were good neighbors and had many good times playing cards. The yearly mountain oyster feed was a neighborhood highlight. Bud loved all sports whether following his boys in high school sports or watching the Vikings. Louie enjoyed hunting deer and pheasants. After WWII he and his war buddies would make an annual event hunting together. It was just a good reason to get together and tell stories. Bud had a big heart for animals especially dogs and had several great cattle dogs through the years. Bud would train the dogs to watch an open gate or to round up the cows in a pasture. Bud could be seen with his dogs on the four-wheeler or in the 1974 Green Machine his pride and joy.

Bud served as clerk of Irwin School District #23 from 1949-68. He served on the Rosebud Farmers Union Board of Directors from 1969 to 1987. He served on the Irwin Township Board for several years and was a member of the Colome Legion for 69 years.

Bud was a loving family man. He treasured the times that he could spend with his grandchildren. Bud passed away on January 21, 2016, with his three children by his side, at Avera Gregory Healthcare center at the age of 93 years.