Obituaries

Sep 3, 2012

Duane was born August 20, 1932 at Gales Township, MN, to Harry and Jane (Reynolds) Flesner. He graduated from Walnut Grove High School in 1950. Duane married Patricia Vickerman. In April of 1953 he was drafted and sent to Fort Lewis, WA for training. He became a troop information and education specialist in Company C of the 9th Engineer...

Sep 2, 2012

Franklin E. Chickering, 74, of Whitewood, SD passed away September 2, 2012 at Avera McKenna Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Frank was born on July 23, 1938, in Brandon, VT, to Alice (Osmer) and Franklin B. Chickering.

He grew up in Auburn, MA, with his mother, Alice; brother, Kenney; and sister, Alice Mae. When Frank was six...

Aug 29, 2012

Irine Bekken, 95, of Belle Fourche, SD, passed away on August 29, 2012, at the long-term healthcare center in Belle Fourche. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at St. James Lutheran Church in Belle Fourche with Pastor Jeff Otterman officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish. Visitation will be...

Aug 27, 2012

Kenneth Blair Johnson, 91, Sturgis, died Monday, August 27, 2012, at his residence in Sturgis. Visitation will be noon until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 30, 2012, at Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis with Pastor Willard Olsen officiating. Burial with military honors by...

Aug 24, 2012

Michel William Bernier, 53, Repentigny, Quebec, Canada, passed away in Sturgis, SD, August 24, 2012.

Michel was born May 14, 1959 to Eldon and Lise (Cote) Bernier.

Aug 24, 2012

DeAnn was born January 23, 1962, at Rapid City, SD, to Merle and JoAnn (Bachmeier) Griffee. She graduated from Douglas high school in Box Elder.

DeAnn married Alvin "Stan" Winckler on March 12, 1982, in Bismarck, ND. DeAnn provided child care in her home. Her passion was her children and family. She enjoyed gardening and flowers.

Aug 23, 2012

Sally Garry, 67, of Whitewood, S.D., passed away August 23, at Hospice House in Rapid City, S.D. Sally was born January 2, 1945, in Aberdeen, S.D. to Francis "Red" and Georgia (Gould) Halloran. She lived in Pierre, S.D. until she was 13 and then moved to Sturgis S.D. where she graduated high school in 1962. She attended Black Hills...

Aug 21, 2012

Edwin William Keil, age 72, died on Tuesday, August 21, 2012, at the David M. Dorsett Healthcare Center in Spearfish, SD. A private graveside service will be held at a future date. Ed was born on July 24, 1940, in Belle Fourche, SD, to William and Rose Mary (Nedella) Keil. He grew up in Vale, SD, and graduated from...

Aug 20, 2012

Candy was born in Bremerton, WA, on December 17, 1944, to Isaac "Ike" and Alice (Hoffman) Stoor. The family moved back to Whitewood, SD, in 1945.

Candy grew up in the Whitewood and Lead area. She attended school in Lead and Sturgis. On September 22, 1962, she married LaVerne Geffre of Leola, SD. They were joined with...

Aug 20, 2012

Gladys Dessie (Butler) Hansen was born to Burtis G. and Agnes (Jameson) Butler near Faith, SD, on April 9, 1921, the 6th of seven surviving children. She dedicated her life to Jesus Christ as a teenager and strove to honor Him throughout her life. Despite limited resources, her parents provided opportunity for Gladys and her siblings to develop their...

Aug 19, 2012

Robert L. "Bob" Lingafelter was born July 18, 1912, at Onaka, SD, to John and Ella Lingafelter. Bob graduated from Onaka High School in 1929 at the age of 16. He worked on various farms around Onaka and Faulkton, SD. He became employed by Faulk County Highway Department in 1948 and worked there until his retirement in 1976.

Aug 18, 2012

Inez was born October 2, 1922, at Wall, SD, to William and Nora (Suing) Meirose. She graduated from Rapid City High School and obtained her teaching certificate at Black Hills Normal School in Spearfish. She taught in rural schools at Buckhorn, WY, and Elk Creek, SD.

On October 14, 1944, she married Robert C. Greear at Piedmont,...

Aug 18, 2012

Andrew G. Ridley was born April 6, 1952, at Rapid City, SD, to Bat and Roselyn (Anderson) Ridley. He was raised on the family ranch and attended school in St. Onge. He graduated from Spearfish High School and attended Black Hills State in Spearfish while working on the ranch at home. Andy was the 4th generation on the ranch...

Aug 16, 2012

Darlene Enright Bestgen, 83, Whitewood, died Thursday, August 16, 2012 at the Sturgis Regional Hospital.

Visitation will be 3:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. Monday, with rosary services beginning at 7 p.m. at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at St. Martin's Chapel in Sturgis with...

Aug 15, 2012

Rita Eva Weber, 97, Sturgis, died Wednesday, August 15, 2012, at the Sturgis Regional Hospital. Visitation will be Sunday from noon until 9:00 p.m. at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with a rosary service beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 20, 2012, at the...

Aug 14, 2012

Richard Lee Kostelecky was born in Lemmon, SD, on December 21, 1960. He attended grade school and high school in Lemmon, where he graduated in 1979. In 1980, he decided to attend Mitchell Vo-Tech joining their Electrical Construction program. He graduated in 1982 as an Apprentice Electrician. He then moved to Watertown, SD, and later to Rapid City, SD,...

Aug 12, 2012

Ernst H. Gerlich, 91, Sturgis, died Sunday, August 12, 2012 at the Belle Fourche Long Term Care Center. Visitation will be 8 a.m. until time of services on Thursday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, August 16, 2012 at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Pastor Will Olsen officiating. Burial...

Aug 12, 2012

Charles Dean "Swede" Waterland was born April 12, 1932, at Camp Crook, SD, to Victor and Charm (Carriere) Waterland. He grew up in Carter County, MT, where he worked on ranches.

Swede married Marge Plunkett on October 10, 1959, at Buffalo, SD. The couple made their home on various ranches in the area until they settled in...

Aug 10, 2012

Robert Dale Collins, 38, of Fort Meyers, Florida passed away Friday, August 10, 2012 in Sturgis, South Dakota. A graveside services is scheduled for Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 2:00pm at Newcastle Cemetery under the direction of Morrison Funeral Home, Graham, Texas.

Robert was born November 23, 1973 in Stamford, Texas to David Thomas and Linda Kay...

Aug 9, 2012

Sheila was born August 22, 1949, the first child of Jack and Bonnie (Floyd) Porterfield. She grew up in Lyman, SD, population: 13, where her family owned and operated a gas station, store, and trucking line. Sheila attended grade school at the one room schoolhouse near Lyman. She graduated from Kennebec High School in 1965 with high honors. Sheila...