Obituaries

Dec 22, 2024

Donald R. Luckie passed away December 22, 2024 at Ft. Meade Hospice care at the age of 83. He was born February 15, 1941 in Deadwood, SD to Robert D. and Cleda B (Shroll) Luckie.

After attending school in Deadwood, he served in the United States Navey aboard the USS Ticonderoga and was honorably discharged.

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Dec 21, 2024

Bonnie Lee (O'Dea) Jones of Vale, South Dakota passed away at Monument Heath Hospital in Sturgis, SD on December 21, 2024. Bonnie was the youngest of five, born August 13, 1946 to Michael and Virginia (Martin) O'Dea in Oral, SD.

She attended school in Hot Springs, SD and is remembered stating she, "played along the banks of...

Dec 20, 2024

Esther Ruthlee Kornmeyer, 101, died on December 20, during a short stay at Monument Health Hospice House in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Esther Ruthlee Bender was born on April 12, 1923, in Bunker Hill, Kansas, to Henry Phillip and Anna Elizabeth (Schneider) Bender. Both her parents were immigrants from the Volga German colony, Kratzke, in Russia. Esther...

Dec 19, 2024

Ellen Lorraine (Reese) Price was born at home on April 5, 1931 in Ziebach County, North of Faith, SD. Her grandmother Hattie Knittel assisted with her birth. Ellen was the daughter of Clifford and Estella Reese.

At age 4, Ellen and family moved to a ranch in the Bixby area. She attended Deep Creek School, about 2...

Dec 19, 2024

Dec 16, 2024

Maynard Lee Rude was born May 9, 1936 in Marvin SD to Helmer and Edith Rude.   Youngest of 9 brothers and sisters.   He lived in Marvin till spring of 1946 when his parents sold the farm and moved to Rapid City SD.

From then on Maynard was on his own working for various ranchers breaking horses and...

Dec 15, 2024

Loran Michael Van Cleave, age 58 of Chamberlain, SD passed away on December 15, 2024. A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024 from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm at the Black Hills Funeral Home in Sturgis, SD.

Dec 14, 2024

Maxine Rennemo Sandvig, 88, passed away peacefully December 14, 2024 at Monument Health Hospital, Spearfish, SD.

Maxine was born June 2, 1936 to Ingvar and Esther Rennemo of Kelliher, MN in the Shotley area. She graduated from Kelliher High School. Maxine married Jim Petrowske of Waskish, MN on June 30, 1954 and to this union two children...

Dec 13, 2024

Shirley L. Aronson, 88, Spearfish, SD passed away Friday, December 13, 2024 at Rolling Hills Healthcare in Belle Fourche.  Funeral Services for Shirley will be at 3:00 PM, Friday, December 20, at Countryside Church in Spearfish.  Visitation will be one-hour prior to the service.

Shirley Lucille (Smith) Aronson was born February 11, 1936 to Clarence and Halya...

Dec 13, 2024

Ken was born on October 03, 1957, to Lydia (Kamstra) and Herbert Gatzke in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ken was raised on a farm west of New England, N.D. Playing basketball in high school for the New England Tigers taught him the value of teamwork. Graduation from high school in 1975 was followed by farming with his brother Dale...

Dec 12, 2024

Arlene Jane Watson, a long-time resident of Sturgis, SD, passed away on December 12, 2024, in Centennial, CO.  She was 85 years old.

Arlene was born on June 6, 1939, in Lincoln, NE, the youngest of three children of Roscoe and Mildred (Jordan) Lodwig. When she was 11, her family moved to Omaha, NE, where she attended...

Dec 6, 2024

Marjorie Louise Jutting, 91, Sturgis, passed away December 6, 2024 at Monument Health Sturgis Hospital. She was born December 14, 1932 to Herbert Lundborg and Florence (Anderson) Lundborg in Georgia Township, SD. She was baptized and confirmed in the Grace Lutheran Church in LaBolt, SD, attended school in LaBolt and Strandburg, and later received her G.E.D. in Sturgis. As...

Dec 3, 2024

Betty Lee (Philipsen) Voorhees, 77, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend passed way December 3, 2024, at home with her family by her side.

Betty was born on November 21,1947 to Edward and Evelyn Philipsen at Vale, SD. At a young age they lived in Vale, Stoneville and Nisland and then they moved...

Dec 3, 2024

Michael "Mike" Kelley

A much-loved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother, Michael "Mike" Kelley, 72 of Sturgis, SD passed away on December 3, 2024 in Chandler, AZ.  Mike spent most of his life in Sturgis and in the Black Hills area.

Mike graduated from Sturgis Brown High School in 1970.  He had a long career...

Dec 1, 2024

Kathleen Ella (Weideman) Johnston,69, daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed December 1st, 2024, in Gloucester, Virginia after several long illnesses.

Kathleen was born March 16th, 1955, in Belle Fourche, SD, attending school in Belle Fourche and graduating in 1973 from BFHS.

Kathleen would welcome Elizabeth April 6, 1974.  After high school Kathleen worked as...

Nov 25, 2024

Guy M. Virkula, 90, Spearfish, SD formerly of Lead, passed away Monday, November 25, 2024 at Fort Meade Veterans Administration Healthcare Center.  A memorial visitation for Guy will be held 2:00 – 4:00 PM, Sunday, December 1, 2024 at Black Hills Funeral Home in Sturgis.  Private family inurnment will be at Black Hills National Cemetery.  Friends may gather at...

Nov 25, 2024

Twylah Mae (Johnson) Luedtke passed away four hours shy of her 90th birthday on November 25th, 2024 at Monument Health in Rapid City, SD after a brief battle with cancer. Twylah was born November 26th, 1934 in Philip, SD to Jerrold & Hannah Johnson.

She was the youngest of three children and participated in every sport a...

Nov 25, 2024

In her own words…

I came into this world on March 1, 1927 – born to Rose Drappeau and John Hudson. This all took place at the Rosebud Indian Hospital in Rosebud, SD. I grew up in a small town – St. Francis – attended the Mission School there.

My education was gleaned from the...

Nov 24, 2024

Jerald Edwin Schlenker, 57, Sturgis, SD passed away at home on Sunday, November 24, 2024.

Jerald was born January 20th, 1967, in Pierre, SD. He attended school in Onida, SD until the family moved to Patagonia, AZ when he was 9. After gaduating high school, he attended Cochise College and then worked as an airplane mechanic.

Nov 22, 2024

Michele Gerard (Jeffrey) Herz, 69, Summerset, SD climbed the staircase to heaven, Friday, November 22, 2024, peacefully, while at home surrounded by her husband, Eddy, and friends.

Michele was born September 25, 1955 to Paul D. and Ann K. Jeffrey in Denver, Colorado. She was number four of five children; and the most feisty and determined! Her...