Obituaries

Jul 30, 2015

Kent Baldwin, 70, Hot Springs, SD, passed away July 30, 2025 at the Dept of Veterans Affairs, Hot Springs, SD.

Kent Robert Baldwin was born in Iowa to Evelyn and Geneviene (Eastman) Baldwin on October 23, 1944. Kent served in the US Air Force in Vietnam and is Buried at Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD.

Jul 29, 2015

Elizabeth "Betty" Jones, 83, passed away July 29, 2015, in Spearfish. Betty was born December 3, 1931, in Detroit, MI, to Raymond and Doris (Donovan) Paridee. She was raised and graduated from high school in Detroit. She later traveled to California where she met Alphonse "Ace" Tennis. They were married May 12, 1951. Ace and Betty were self-employed most...

Jul 27, 2015

Shirley Miller, 95, departed from this life to his heavenly home on July 27, 2015, from Salina, KS. Shirley Peter Miller was born January 9, 1920, near Malta, MT, the second child of Arnt and Cora (Anderson) Miller. Still very young, he moved with his family back to South Dakota, where they eventually settled along Highway 212 near Cedar...

Jul 25, 2015

Nicholas Dean Vinson, 24, Deadwood, passed away on July 25, 2015, in Deadwood, SD. Nicholas was born in Missoula, MT, to his parents, Lynette Anderson and Jim Vinson. At 3 weeks old, the family moved to Sturgis, SD, where Nick grew up and attended grade school along with his younger sister, Madison Vinson Bales. In 2009, Nick graduated from...

Jul 25, 2015

Timothy Jon Farstad, 69, Sturgis, passed away July 25, 2015, at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Fort Meade. He left this earth peacefully, surrounded by his family and with his granddaughter at his side, reading him the Bible. He was born April 5, 1946, in Bismarck, ND, to Raymond and Virginia (Simon) Farstad and grew up on the family...

Jul 24, 2015

Betty was born August 26, 1929, in Webb City, OK, to Clarence and Minnie (Alexander) Wass. She married Merle Gerald McFarland on August 11, 1946, in Garber, OK, and to this union, three children were born, Robby, Brett, and Randy.

Betty Jo enjoyed being a wife and mother to her husband and three boys and also enjoyed...

Jul 24, 2015

Patricia Lavon Musgrove, age 70, passed away in the Regional Hospital in Rapid City, SD, on July 24, 2015. She spent her last week hospitalized due to a sudden, acute infection that couldn't be overcome in her frail and tired body. She was born to Paul and Vera Musgrove on August 22, 1944, in Oklahoma City, OK. Patricia is...

Jul 23, 2015

Robert Francis Hlavin, Chicago-Area Teacher, Hemingway Playwright, Dies at 83

Robert Francis Hlavin, a teacher and playwright who specialized in biographical dramatic works, many focused on writer Ernest Hemingway and produced at college venues and readers' theatres in the Chicago area, died on July 23 in Rockford, Illinois. He was 83.

Hlavin began his career...

Jul 23, 2015

On the afternoon of July 23rd, Gary passed away at the Serenity House in Tomah WI, surrounded by family. Gary was 71 years old. Gary was born May 2nd, 1944 to Hersil and Lorraine Sprague in Dupree, SD. At that time the Sprague family resided in the Cherry Creek area just outside of Dupree. The family later settled north...

Jul 21, 2015

Ronald "Ronnie" Floyd Fees, 86, Opal, SD, died Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Fort Meade. Ronnie was born July 10, 1929, in Faith, SD, to Floyd and Emily (Hockinson) Fees. He grew up on the ranch at Opal, SD. He attended schools in the Opal area. Ronnie served in the US Marine Corp actively...

Jul 21, 2015

John A. "Jack" Charron, 92, of Sturgis, SD, formerly of Seneca, SD, passed away surrounded by family on July 21, 2015, at the Sturgis Regional Senior Care Center, Sturgis, SD. Jack, the oldest of eight children, was born June 3, 1923, in Crystal Falls, MI, to Wilfred O. and Dorothy M. (Bowden) Charron. At the age of 12, Jack's...

Jul 20, 2015

Eileen Katherine Brunson was born January 18, 1932, the oldest child of John and Martha (Kapsa) Brunson at New Underwood, SD, and died July 20, 2015, after her long journey with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Eileen grew up in Plainview, SD, in rural Meade County. She was a child of the Great Depression and World War II. She attended...

Jul 19, 2015

George John Messmer, 85, Deadwood, passed away Sunday, July 19, 2015, at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Fort Meade. George was born April 3, 1930, to George Peter and Rosella (Keller) Messmer near Gladstone, ND. He was educated and raised a farm boy until he entered the US Army in 1950. He was a cook in the Army and...

Jul 19, 2015

James Graham Ramey, a South Dakota pioneer and trailherd cowboy, died Sunday, July 19, 2015, at the Philip Nursing Home in Philip, South Dakota, having recently moved there from his home near Deadwood. Cowboy, Father, Senator, Husband, Yarn-Spinner, Friend, Public Speaker, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather are roles that Jim lived and relished. Born February 12, 1917 to John Henry Ramey...

Jul 19, 2015

Charles Orlando Olson of Hermosa, South Dakota, was born March 22, 1947, in Oakes, North Dakota, to Alben Eli Olson and Arlet Marion Johnson. He died peacefully at his own home after a battle with esophageal cancer Sunday, July 19, 2015. He married Judy Kopplin November 20, 1970, in Tacoma, Washington. They were blessed with two children, Aliesha Todd...

Jul 18, 2015

Lois was born November 9, 1925, on a farm near Liberty, NE, to Carl E. and Francis A. (Elliott) Leinweber. The family moved to a farm near Frankfort, KS, when she was very young. Lois loved to be around all the animals including the cows, horses, chickens, goats, cats and working dogs. She had a Shetland pony that was...

Jul 17, 2015

Jim was born March 24, 1942, to Jack and Ollie (Olmire) Mason at 1133 Hill Street, Sturgis, SD, where Dr. Massa and his grandmother, Johanna Olmire, who was a midwife, delivered him. His childhood was spent sharing time with his mother, father, and uncle and aunt, Simon and Katie Ferdig. This resulted in his attending 24 different schools in...

Jul 16, 2015

On July 16, 2015, Kenny got to KISS his ANGEL (Mardy) "Good Morning" once again. He passed away at the Ft. Meade Veterans Hospital. Ken was born February 17, 1922, in Mason City, IA, to Helmer and Edith Maakestad. He graduated from Mitchell, SD, High School in 1940. Ken joined the Army in September of 1942. He was very...

Jul 16, 2015

Todd LeBlanc, 47, Rapid City, SD, passed away at his home on July 16, 2015.

Todd Lucien LeBlanc was born in Georgia on February 12, 1968 to Donald L. and Ellen M. (Roberts) LeBlanc.

Jul 14, 2015

Beloved wife and mother, Marina dela Cruz, 63, of Rapid City, peacefully returned to the arms of her Heavenly Father on July 14, 2015, in her home, with her husband and daughter at her side. Marina was born June 18, 1952, in Bulacan, Philippines, to Leonardo and Eustaquia Dionisio. She married Sigfredo dela Cruz in 1981 and lived in...