Category Archives: News

James Harland Schramm, 83, of Winner SD passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD due to kidney disease complications.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.  at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 from 6:30-8 p.m. with the family present from 7-8 p.m. at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD. 

Jim was born in Winner South Dakota Nov. 7,  1938 to Herbert F. and Harriet C. (Hanson) Schramm. James was raised and spent his adult life in Winner South Dakota. He was blessed to be surrounded by a large family and to grow up with multiple cousins. The Schramm Family Christmas party was an event!

Jim graduated from Winner HS in 1956. He was an outstanding athlete and excelled in baseball, football and track.  He earned a football scholarship at South Dakota State College.   He also went on to throw discus for the Track Team, including being able to throw at the national meet in San Diego, CA. Baseball did remain his favorite sport. Jim was a pitcher and threw several no hitters for the local Legion teams. And he always loved the New York Yankees.

James graduated with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries and a teaching degree from SDSU.   Summers were spent working for the Game Fish and Parks, poisoning prairie dogs and trapping beavers, in the Black Hills.  He moved to Mission SD where he taught biology and coached track for three years.  James was recruited into the insurance industry and served as an independent agent in his hometown.  He served as president of the Independent Insurance Agents of SD and remained actively engaged up to his retirement in 2000. Many of his colleagues became great friends.

While attending State, Jim heard the news of the other Johanson twin joining her sister on campus.  Dearest Cousin Janet Bruun was instrumental in their introduction. Jim and Karen’s first date was a double date in his famous 1950 white, Chevy station wagon with his life-long friend Roger Garrett.  On Aug. 4, 1962 James was united in marriage to Karen Laree Johanson in Aberdeen, South Dakota.  To this union, four children were born Grant, Laura, Jane and Mark.  James and Karen were fortunate to celebrate the 60th anniversary just a week prior to his passing on to his eternal rest

Jim was a baptized active lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church. In his free time James loved to garden, pheasant and goose hunt, golf and work on his meticulously preened lawn. After retirement he enjoyed guiding groups of pheasant hunters and showing off his beloved hometown. He also spent decades with his great friends, perfecting his pitch game at Mel’s Auto (Cahoy’s) and lowering his handicap at the Winner CC.  He spent many years practicing his love of outdoor stewardship as the president of the local branch of the Isaac Walton League.

A beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle, James was preceded in death by an infant brother, his parents, his step-father Bill Bergman, his much loved and sorely missed daughter Jane, and his sister Nancy Giessinger and numerous aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his wife Karen, his sister Cindy (Neil) Quitch of South Carolina and his children Grant (Wendy) Schramm, Laura (Sam) Goodhope and Mark (Bobbi) Schramm. His grandchildren Valerie (Jim) Birch, Eric (Taylor) Schramm, Trevor (Chelsea) Schramm, Chloe (Austin) McPhilamy, Anna Goodhope, Sadie Goodhope, Charlotte Goodhope, Aiden Schramm, Carter Schramm, Spencer Schramm, 5 great- grandchildren; Emily, Caleb, & Daniel Birch, & Amelia, Charlie Jo Schramm. The smile he had when he held the babies will always be remembered.

Amelia Pusl, 107, passed away on July 31, 2022 in Omaha, NE.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022 at 10 a.m.  at the Winner United Methodist Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Colome City Cemetery in Colome, SD with a lunch to follow back at the Winner United Methodist Church basement. Visitation will be held on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022 from 5-6:30 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service at the Winner United Methodist Church.

Amelia C. Pusl, always known as Pat or Patsy, was the oldest child of George and Alvina Manthey.

She was raised as a child of pioneers who were among the first homesteaders to acquire land in 1912 in the newly opened Rosebud Reservation in Tripp County, South Dakota. Their new town, Colome, six miles away, was at the end of the newly constructed Chicago and Northwestern Railroad line.

There were no roads, only trails or other community improvements. Her parents, together with other new families, helped establish roads, build a school, church, and a telephone system along with other improvements needed to establish a community.

She attended Colome’s new country school, (Liberty School District No. 25), then in 1932 graduated from Colome’s newly established high school. Following that she spent a year with an uncle and aunt in Altamont, Kansas while attending a vocational school. Then the Depression years came, and she was unable to find immediate employment. When she did, her first job was at the Tripp County Courthouse as one of the clerks of President Roosevelt’s National highway building programs. She made $12.00 a week.

In 1935 Pat and Frank Pusl were married in Winner, SD. Shortly afterward they moved to the Rosebud Indian Agency in South Dakota where Frank opened a barber shop, and they established a home. Pat found a job as Clerk of the Todd County Selective Service Board. They lived in Rosebud until the first month of WWII when Frank enlisted in the Coast Guard and was stationed in St. Louis, MO. While living in St Louis, she became an employee of the Corps of Engineers involved in inspection and shipping of war supplies.

After the war ended, they made their home in Omaha, NE where their daughter Beth was born. A few years later, she gained employment once again with the Corps of Engineers. She worked for the district office, retiring in 1976 after 29 years. Retirement provided time to better enjoy her beloved family. She always felt having them close by was a special blessing.

Pat was a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), and RODEO (an association of Corps of Engineers retirees). For ten years she served on the Board of Habitat for Humanity.

She enjoyed several things including traveling with family or bus groups, collecting rocks, fossils, and family ‘treasures’ entrusted to her and now a welcome source of information for the younger members of her family. She refinished all the woodwork, removed wallpaper, and painted the walls in their home numerous times over the years. This was a source of considerable pride to her. She corresponded with quite a few people including some from her country school years and remained close to her South Dakota land and roots. Gardening, yard work and maintaining quite a few varieties of plants both inside and out were a special source of fun to her throughout the years. She always had a beautifully groomed yard! She enjoyed listening to music and entertaining guests, both family and friends throughout the years, yet always set aside time for sewing, knitting, crocheting, reading, a bit of volunteering and devoting time to her beloved church.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband Frank Pusl, parents George and Alvina Manthey, her brothers, and sisters-in-law Jack (Donna) and Mike (Vivian) Manthey, and son-in-law Jerry Schueler Sr.

She leaves behind those loved ones who were part of her life: Daughter Beth Schueler, granddaughter Dawn (Keith) Nelson, grandsons Skip (Sarah) Schueler and Jay (Meggie Bravo) Schueler, great-grandchildren Heather (Zach) Gerch, Derick Nelson, and Jilliann Schueler, and great-great-grandchildren Amelia and Maddux Gerch, along with nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She will be laid to rest in her hometown of Colome, SD, Aug. 22, 2022.

Our loved one asked to be remembered by contributing to your favorite charity in lieu of flowers.