Obituaries

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...

Jul 13, 2015

Robert "Borb" Paul Borbely, 46, of Belle Fourche, SD, passed away Monday, July 13, 2015, due to a motorcycle crash. He was born June 14, 1969, in Kadoka, SD. In 1976, he and his family moved to Pleasant Valley near Sturgis. Robert graduated High School in 1988 at Sturgis Brown High School. Following high school, Robert attended Western Dakota...

Jul 9, 2015

Darrel was born January 7, 1951, at Flint, MI, to Leland Ray and Donna Jean (Morey) Varner. Following the completion of his education, he enlisted in the US Air Force, and served his country honorably.

He met Katherine Murray and the couple was married in Enid, OK, on February 22, 1974.

Following his discharge, he...

Jul 7, 2015

David Allen Larsh, 62, of Hill City, SD, died July 7, 2015 at Fort Meade VA Hospital from complications of diabetes. David was born March 29, 1953 in Burke, SD to John and Dorothy (Pejsa) Larsh. He graduated from Rapid City Central High School in 1971, serving in the U.S. Army from 1972-1975. David was part owner of Andrea's...

Jul 6, 2015

Jerry was born in Belle Fourche, SD, on August 7, 1945, to Donald and Johanna Reid. Jerry was raised on farms in the Arpan, SD, area and 3 miles southwest of Newell, SD, during his childhood. His family then moved to Newell, SD, while he was in high school, graduating in 1963. He then attended University of South Dakota...

Jul 4, 2015

Thomas Junior Baldwin, 86, Deerfield, IL, passed away on July 4, 2015.

Tom was born in Vale, SD, to Lester and Esther L. Baldwin on December 27, 1928. He served in the US Army during the Korean War and inurned with his wife, Shirley Ann (Morgan) Baldwin, at Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD.

Jul 4, 2015

Lawrence Holwegner, 86, Black Hawk, SD, passed away at his home on July 4, 2025.

Lawrence Edgar Holwegner was born in North Dakota to Jake and Mabel (Tice) Holwegner on December 6, 1928. He served in the US Air Force during the Korea and Vietnam wars. He is inurned with his wife, Doris, at Black Hills National...

Jul 4, 2015

Brian C. Clark, 55, Rapid City, SD, passed away July 4, 2015 at Rapid City Regional Hospice House.

Brian was born in California to Jason Doyle and Mavis (Donner) Clark on September 5, 1959.