Category Archives: News

Clara Musilek, 94, of Winner, SD passed away on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Facility in Winner.

Funeral services were  held on Saturday, Feb. 28,  at 2  p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Winner.  Burial followed in the Colome City Cemetery.

Clara Musilek was born October 10, 1920 at the farm south of Colome, SD to Frank and Josephine (Scheinest) Bicek. She was the fifth child of a family of six.

Clara attended grade school at highland school south of Colome and High School at Dallas, SD.

Clara worked at various farm jobs after high school and worked at The Phillip Hotel for 25 years. She was a very special sister who helped raised her sister Rose’s family.

In 1964 she married Jim Musilek and they made their home south of Colome on a farm until 1977. They moved to Winner, SD and she worked at the Winner Regional Hospital for twelve years, retiring in 1988. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Winner. Clara loved being a home-maker. She loved attending to her flowers and garden, dancing, and traveling.

Mary Betty Crackel, 91, of Miller, passed away Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital, Miller.

Funeral service were Saturday, Feb. 28,  at the First Presbyterian Church, Miller with Rev. Brian Jones officiating. Burial followed at Morningside Cemetery, Ree Heights.

Mary Betty was born August 31, 1923 to Harry and Edith (Dicks) Snethen near Hamill, South Dakota.  She attended and graduated from Winner High School.  After high school, she moved to Omaha, Nebraska and attended night school while working as a bookkeeper for Baker Manufacturing.  After several years there, she moved to Fargo, North Dakota where she attained a similar job as a bookkeeper.

On January 31, 1954, she married Raymond “Barney” Crackel where they lived on a farm south of Ree Heights.  To this union, four children were born.  Unfortunately, her husband passed away in July of 1964.  Betty and her children moved into Ree Heights where she stayed home with her youngest and babysat her niece.  After her youngest reached school age, she began working for Miller Plumbing and Heating in Miller.  After one year of winter driving every day, the family moved to Miller.  She worked in the Hand County Treasurer’s office for a few years, and then worked at the First National Bank for many years in the bookkeeping department.  After retirement from the bank, she continued to work at the Miller Sale Barn, and then through Experience Works at the Soil Conservation Service and Job Service.  She also worked as the First Presbyterian Church secretary for several years.

Betty was a member of the First Presbyterian Church serving as deacon and was a member of women’s circle.  While living in Ree Heights, she was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Debra J. Allibone, 57, of Kearney, NE., formally of Winner, passed away February 24, 2015 at her home in Kearney, NE. Mass of Christian Burial was held  Monday, March 2, 2015 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner. Burial  followed at the Winner City Cemetery.

Deb was born January 29, 1958 in Winner, South Dakota to John and Jean (McCollam) Farner.  Deb was a 1976 graduate of Winner High School and lived in Winner until 1977 when she married Mike Allibone, the love of her life.  The couple made their first home in Peoria, Illinois.  They also lived in Garner, Iowa before settling in Kearney in 1990.  God blessed them with three children, Emily, Sarah, and Matthew.

Deb worked for various employers throughout her life including the Outlaw Trading Post, and Dairy Queen in Winner, Klaus Radio in Peoria, Cabela’s, Morris Press, and Kearney Catholic High School in Kearney.  She began working at Kearney Catholic in August 1996 and enjoyed witnessing the development of hundreds of students.  She made some of her closest friends in her co-workers.

Above all, Deb was passionate about her family.  She was a devoted wife, and she adored her children and grandchildren.  She did anything and everything for her family and loved doing it.  She contributed her time and talent to the Kearney Catholic Activities Association, Kearney Catholic Wrestling Club, and Boy Scout Troop 139.  She spent countless hours at dance recitals and wrestling meets.

Deb fought cancer fiercely for over 6 years.  During her journey, she blessed countless people by living out her faith and hopefulness.  She will be sorely missed.

Zina Chris “Zike” Hansen died Monday, Feb. 23, 2015 in Casper. He was born Nov. 5, 1934 at Carter, SD to Chancey W. and Alice L. (Adkins) Hansen. He worked on the family farm until he joined the army in Jan. 1954. He was married Aug. 20, 1955 to Virginia Boerner. They were the parents of five children. Family was everything to him and he was a fun father and good example to his children. He was also very attentive to his parents and 9 siblings, visiting or calling often. He worked in construction and owned Rocky Mountain Sheet Metal and then Hansen Ent. He was baptized with his first child at this church and the church became very important to him. In 73/74 he and Virginia sponsored the MYF with 35 to 55 teens every week.  These kids did the first candle lighting service in the church, which then became a tradition.  At the request of Rev Day, he oversaw the construction of the large cross over the alter, then gifting it to the church. He was also very involved in the 3 phases of remodel by the church and served on various Church boards for about 30 years.