Steve Frank Soelzer
Oct 18, 2026
Steven Frank Soelzer, 73, passed away on Sunday, October 18, 2026. Steve was born on September 10, 1953, in Rapid City, South Dakota, to Frank and Helen Soelzer. Apart from a brief stay in Northern California, he spent his whole life in the Black Hills he called home.
For many years Steve worked as a saw filer for sawmills across the...
Johnny Eugene Ross
Oct 20, 2026
Johnny Eugene Ross, 55, of Sturgis, SD, passed away October 20, 2026 at his home.
Johnny was born August 25, 1971 in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Peggy Geyer and Leonard Ross. He was the oldest of five children. He traveled during his childhood because of his dad's military service but spent most of his life in Sturgis. He graduated from Sturgis...
Margit Wilcox
Oct 19, 2026
Margit Kvernan was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and her parents were Gullik Kvernan and Hanna (Johansen) Kvernan; both of whom were born in Norway. Margit had a younger sister, Dagny.
The family moved to Chicago where Margit attended kindergarten and first grade. They were living in Chicago at the time of the St. Valentine’s Day massacre when Al Capone and his...
Louise Dorothy Hess
Jul 2, 2026
Louise Dorothy Hess, 79, of Spearfish, South Dakota, passed away surrounded by loved ones on July 2, 2026, at Edgewood Healthcare.
Louise was born on October 25, 1946, to Dorothy and Harry Langmaack in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. After graduating from Herman High School, she attended nursing school in Fergus Falls. In every place that she lived and worked, her passion for...
Marco Henry Schlomer
Oct 22, 2026
Marco Henry Schlomer passed away on October 22, 2026, at the age of 71.
Marco was born December 19, 1954, in Mobridge, South Dakota to Gerhard and Agnes Schlomer, the third of six children. He was baptized at St. Jacobi Lutheran Church on January 2, 1955, and was confirmed in his faith on May 25, 1969.
He attended school in Glenham, South...
Kathleen Marie Morrell
Oct 19, 2026
Kathleen Marie Morrell was born May 4, 1929, in Rapid City to Pete and Helen Borup. She attended grade school at White Owl and High School in Sturgis. Kathleen married the love of her life, Herb Morrell, April 7, 1948. They were married for 64 years and together had two sons, Gary and Larry. Kathleen worked for 23 years at...
Sandra "Sandy" Craig
Oct 16, 2026
Sandra “Sandy” Craig of Spearfish, South Dakota, passed away on October 16, 2026, after complications from a brief illness.
Sandy was born December 23, 1951, to Roger (Red) and Dora Huddleston in Newcastle, Wyoming. She grew up in Roubaix, South Dakota, and attended Deadwood High School in Deadwood, SD.
She met and married the love of her life Darrell Craig on September...
Connie Henke
Oct 15, 2026
Connie Pauline Henke
February 4, 1953 – October 15, 2026
Connie Pauline Henke, 73, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2026, with her family by her side.
Born in Auburn, California, Connie grew up on a farm surrounded by horses, dogs, and nature, things she would love throughout her life. At 17, she married the love of her life, William “Bill” Henke, and...
David Joshua Clayton
Oct 12, 2026
David Joshua Clayton, age 3, was called home to the Lord Jesus on October 12, 2026 outside of Kimball, South Dakota. He was born on August 31, 2023 in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
Sweet David was the happiest little boy. As a baby, he was very content and always had a smile on his face. As he grew older, his parents taught...
Veronica W. Heimer
Oct 12, 2026
Veronica Wonda Heimer, affectionately known as Vicky, entered the world on July 21, 1953, in Hettinger, North Dakota. She was a beloved daughter of Francis and Martha (Maychrzak) Heimer, who precede her in death, along with three infant siblings and her sister, Sandy May. Vicky peacefully departed this life on October 12, 2026, in the warm embrace of Sherry and...
Stephen Fletcher Clayton
Oct 12, 2026
Stephen Fletcher Clayton, 31, was called home to the Lord Jesus on Monday, October 12, 2026 near Kimball, South Dakota. He was born on June 9, 1995 in Altamonte Springs, Florida and raised in Maitland and Winter Park, Florida. He graduated from Dommerich Elementary, Maitland Middle, and Winter Park High School's Class of 2013. He was a member of the...
Murrin Keffeler
Oct 9, 2026
Murrin Francis Keffeler was born April 25, 1935 at Sturgis, South Dakota to John and Mary Keffeler. He grew up on the Keffeler ranch and attended rural school. Murrin married Shirley Duprel in Bear Butte Valley Catholic Church on October 8, 1956. They began their life together at the Keffeler ranch and later, they moved to the Alfred Duprel ranch....
Audrey A. Merchen
Oct 8, 2026
Audrey Ann Merchen, 71, passed away peacefully on October 8, 2026 at Weston County Hospital. Audrey was born May 29, 1955, in Deadwood, South Dakota to Earl and Doris Miller.
She married the love of her life Lynn Merchen on October 2, 1976. Audrey was a homemaker while balancing a mining career at Homestake Gold Mine as a motorman, hoist room...
Ronald Dean Johnson
Oct 7, 2026
Ronald Dean Johnson passed from this life into eternity Wednesday, October 7th 2026.
Born on February 18, 1946 to Kenneth and Nedra Johnson in Sioux Falls, SD, he joined his siblings Valeria and Floyd where they all grew up on the family farm near Junius, SD.
He met the love of his life, Beverly Knabach in the Harrisburg School District where they...
Janice Nadine Marr
Oct 6, 2026
Our precious mother gained her angel wings on October 6, 2026, surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren at her home. Janice was born in Canyon City, Colorado, March 3, 1936, to Vita and Jack Williams. While in nursery school she met a boy named Max Marr, little did she know that he would later become her husband. They played...
Burnes "Bernie" Masden
Oct 5, 2026
Burnes (Bernie) Buchholz Masden, 98 of Sturgis SD passed away peacefully at the Sturgis Hospital in Hospice on October 5th, 2026.
Bernie was born November 5th, 1927, in Wessington Springs SD to Theodore and Anna Buccholz.
While working as a telephone operator in Avon she met her husband David E Masden and married him on September 20th, 1947. The family moved to...
Richard "Chuck" Charles Dennis
Oct 4, 2026
Richard "Chuck" Charles Dennis, age 78, passed away peacefully at his home in Plymouth, MN on October 4, 2026, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer.
Chuck was born on March 3, 1948, in Kadoka, South Dakota. Early in life, he proved his independence, resilience, and grit. At 17 years old, Chuck enlisted in the United States...
Lois Mae Sorensen
Oct 3, 2026
Lois Mae Sorensen was born at Deadwood, South Dakota on October 14, 1933, to Herman and Agnes (Fenner) Kettelhut. She grew up in Deadwood and graduated from Deadwood High School in 1951. After graduation Lois started working as a Bookkeeper at Fish & Hunter Company. In 1955 she was married to Elmer Sorensen at Deadwood. The couple lived in Deadwood...
Douglas Eugene Willson
Sep 30, 2026
Douglas Eugene Willson, 61, passed away at his home in Seattle, Washington on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Doug grew up on the family ranch south of Whitewood, South Dakota, attending grade school in Whitewood and high school in Sturgis. Doug participated in 4-H, cross country and became very skilled at woodworking and anything with his hands. Through the Job Corps...
