George and Karen Montgomery
Jul 17, 2026
Karen Jeanne Montgomery (Meyer), age 79, of Gillette, Wyoming, passed away July 22, 2026 of cancer and a broken heart just five days after death of her beloved husband of 55 years, George Guy Montgomery who died on July 17, 2026 of complications of surgery.
Karen was born January 19, 1947 in Watertown, South Dakota to Russell and Gladys Meyer. She...
Chance Daniel Dooley
Jul 17, 2026
Chance Daniel Dooley was born on April 3,1998, to Danny and Eleisha Dooley. Chance grew up in Custer with his younger siblings, Wyatt and Kadense. They were his best friends and co-conspirators. The three had a special bond, even when they disagreed on life.
Chance was always very active and involved in sports from a young age. He wrestled from AAU...
Andrew J. Centofanti
Jul 11, 2026
Andrew J. Centofanti, 76, of Sturgis, South Dakota, passed away on July 11, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.
Andy was born on November 1, 1949, in Youngstown, Ohio, son of Guerino Centofanti and Josephine Ciolli Centofanti. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, first responder, outdoorsman, and loyal friend.
For 44 years, Andy shared a loving partnership with his...
Wylee Ancel Nelson
Jul 15, 2026
Wylee Ancel Nelson was born on May 19, 1997, to Wade and Tawn (Tibbs) Nelson.
From the very beginning, Wylee was known for being hard-headed and stubborn. He always wanted the last word, even if it mumbled under his breath. Yet beneath that stubborn exterior was a heart that cared deeply for the people he loved.
Growing up, when Wade went out...
Holly L. Gunderson
Jul 27, 2026
Holly Lane Gunderson, 73, passed away July 27, 2026, in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Full obituary is pending.
Emma Olive Thorson
Jul 27, 2026
Emma Olive (Berry) Thorson, 64, of Newcastle, Wyoming—formerly of Almont, North Dakota—passed away on Monday, July 27, 2026 following a long and courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis and its many complications, surrounded by the love of family and friends. Born on March 13, 1962, in Bismarck, North Dakota, Emma was the first of five children born to David and Lorraine...
Michael "Mike" Paul Leveque
Jul 23, 2026
Michael (Mike) ‘Babe’ Paul Leveque, 67, passed away July 23, 2026.
Mike was born on March 25, 1959 in Deadwood, SD to Nicholas and Wynona (Faye) Leveque and was the youngest of three children. Mike lived in several places growing up including St. Onge, Lead-Deadwood, and parts of Wyoming.
Mike spent several years operating heavy equipment and owned a HVAC business in...
Rose Marie Van Sickel
Jul 20, 2026
Rose Marie (Pickles) Keffeler Van Sickel was born on August 28th, 1930, to John and Mary (Grubl) Keffeler. She grew up on a farm/ranch on the Alkali Divide near Sturgis SD.
Rose Marie married Kenneth Van Sickel on January 6th, 1951. Unable to have children of their own, she spent a lot of time taking care of their nieces / nephews...
Leland William Komes
Jul 17, 2026
Leland was born on June 21, 1959 to Pete and Betty Komes (Griffin) in Sturgis, South Dakota. The family moved to Newell, SD and Leland attended the Newell school K-12 and graduated high school there.
After graduation Leland moved to Sheridan, Wyoming and worked concrete. He then moved back to Sturgis and lived on the “farm” and helped his mom with...
John Scott Lovald
Jul 15, 2026
John Scott Lovald was born on July 15th, 1948, in Rapid City SD, to Scott and Hazel (Johnson) Lovald. John grew up with a deep appreciation for family, education, community and integrity -- values that would guide his life and career.
John graduated from Phillip high school in 1966. He went on to earn a liberal arts degree from Augustana College...
Boyd Daane
Jul 14, 2026
In Boyd’s (Pug’s) words:
Boyd Daane
Born November 8, 1931, at Opal, South Dakota to Harold and Emma (Taylor) Daane. He grew up in Sturgis, graduating from Sturgis High School in 1950. Served in the Army 1952 – 1954, 15 months in Korea, where he was awarded the Bronze Star.
On May 11, 1957, Boyd married Marlene J. Dietrich in Sioux Falls, SD....
Helen Eleanor Vandenberg
Jul 11, 2026
Helen Eleanor Vanderberg, age 93, a longtime resident of Deadwood and most recently Sturgis, SD, passed away in her home with family members by her side. Extended illness took her life on July 11th, 2026.
Born in Kettle River, MN on March 30, 1933 to parents Matti and Lulu Aijala.
A dedicated mother and housewife, she was preceeded in death by her...
Lynn Gilbert Merchen
Jul 11, 2026
Lynn Gilbert Merchen, age 85, of Newcastle, Wyoming passed away July 11, 2026 at Fort Meade VA Hospital. He was born February 10, 1941, at home in Long Valley, South Dakota, to James and Margret (Gibson) Merchen.
Lynn joined the U.S. Army in 1963 and then married Sharron Parker in 1964. To this union two children were born; Edward on December...
Debra Lee Oban
Jul 8, 2026
Debra “Tiny” Lee (Dauer) Oban, age 71, of Sturgis, South Dakota, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on July 8, 2026. She was born on October 4, 1954, in Faulkton, South Dakota. Her nickname, “Tiny,” came shortly after her birth, when the doctor who delivered her jokingly told her father in the waiting room that she was “tiny”—even...
Gregory A. Disney
Jul 7, 2026
Gregory Allan Disney
February 23, 1955 – July 7, 2026
Gregory Allan Disney, 71, passed away peacefully with family at his side on July 7, 2026, at the Hospice House in Rapid City, South Dakota, following a brave battle with cancer.
Greg was born on February 23, 1955, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to Lila (née Lidgett) and Keppel Disney. His early years were spent...
Laura "Jane" Knapp
Jul 6, 2026
Laura Jane Knapp was born February 1,1944, at home during a snowstorm.
Jane suffered from polio and rheumatic fever at a young age. She lived in Opal, South Dakota and went to school there, through the 8th grade.
She met John Knapp in 1952; they went together until they were married in 1961, and lived in Dunlap, Nebraska on a farm.
Their first...
Eugene Nonnast
Jul 4, 2026
Eugene Nonnast was born November 14, 1939 in Sturgis, SD to Jenny (McKenzie) Nonnast and August Nonnast. He was the 5th of six children born to a hardworking German-Scottish farming family just south of Whitewood. Eugene attended eight years of school at Whitewood and four years in Sturgis, graduating in 1958. He was drafted into the Army in July of...
Kathy Lou Johnson
Jul 4, 2026
Kathy Lou Johnson (Schlichenmayer), was born on January 2, 1952, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Surrounded by the love and presence of her cherished husband and dearest friend Roger, Kathy gently left this world on July 4, 2026, at the age of 74.
From her earliest days growing up in Aberdeen, Kathy was known for her indomitable spirit, infectious energy, and a...
David Paul Gano
Jul 3, 2026
David Paul Gano, 82, of Meadow, South Dakota, passed away on Friday, July 3, 2026.
David was born on April 25, 1944, in Buffalo, South Dakota, to Walter and Dorothy (Dippert) Gano. He grew up on the family ranch alongside his nine brothers and sisters. At the young age of 14, David was sent to Buffalo to attend school while working...
