Obituaries

Apr 11, 2022

Donna, beloved wife, mom, and grandma, gently climbed into the arms of Jesus on Monday, April 11, 2022.

She was born in Redfield, SD, on August 5, 1939, to Cecil and Bertha (Andreen) Walston. Her family later moved to Kennebec, SD, where she lived until completion of high school. Donna attended Black Hills...

Apr 11, 2022

Russell Ben Hilton, 86, passed away April 11, 2022, at his home in Rapid City, SD. Russ is survived by his wife of 65 years, Audrey Chappell Hilton. Together they had 4 children: daughters, LeEllen (Rick) McCartney, Belle Fourche, SD, Allyson (Doug) Daane Rapid City, SD and Sharon (Tammy) Kienzle, Moab, UT; and one son, Ronald (Mari)...

Apr 8, 2022

Billy "Lee" Swesey, following a long, hard-fought battle with esophagus cancer, passed away Friday, April 8, 2022, at home with his family by his side.

Lee was a student at Sturgis Elementary and a Sturgis High School graduate of 1976. His many hobbies included Boy Scouts, 4-H, High School Rodeo, wrestling, and riding...

Apr 5, 2022

Dr. Wenzel James Kovarik left us quietly in the early morning on April 5, 2022 from the Fort Meade VA Hospital, Sturgis, South Dakota.

He entered the world on August 24, 1932 in Mitchell, South Dakota, to Rudolph Kovarik and Margaret May Bradley Kovarik of Red Owl, South Dakota. As a boy he labored on nearby farms...

Apr 4, 2022

Colleen Ann (Rubel) Hammond of Sturgis, South Dakota, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones on April 4th, 2022, at the age of 92.

Colleen was born on the family farm in Audubon County, Iowa, on March 31st, 1930, to Walter Johannes Rubel and Clara Marie Bonnesen. Colleen graduated from...

Apr 4, 2022

Keith Alan George McKay was born December 15, 1925, in Wessington, South Dakota, to George and Dorothy (Bowman) McKay. When he was 10 the family moved to Sturgis to operate the McKay Drug Store. After high school graduation, Keith joined the Army Air Corps, serving two years before going to pharmacy school at South Dakota State University....

Mar 29, 2022

Gustav Keith Johnson, 67, of Rapid City, SD, passed away March 29, 2022, at the Monument Hospice House in Rapid City, SD, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Gus was born October 24, 1954, in Harold, South Dakota, to Keith and Muriel (Gustafson) Johnson.

He attended elementary school for...

Mar 25, 2022

Donna Lee Wierzbicki was born on February 5th, 1951, in Belle Fourche, SD, and passed away March 25th, 2022, at Sanford Heart Institute in Sioux Falls, SD, surrounded by her children.

Donna was the first born of 6 children, to Edwin and Geraldine (Couch) Wierzbicki. She grew up south of Belle Fourche and...

Mar 24, 2022

Steven Paul Taffe, 67, of Custer, SD, passed away March 24, 2022, at the Monument Hospice House in Rapid City, SD.

Steven was born August 26, 1954, in West Fargo, North Dakota, to Thomas Taffe and Joy (Moser) Taffe.

After high school he went to work in food and...

Mar 24, 2022

Norma Jean Knight, of Rapid City, left this world suddenly on March 24, 2022, at age 70 with family by her side. She was a courageous daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She was born to Joyce and Robert Jurisch on April 27, 1951, in Scenic, South Dakota.

Norma loved to spend time with her...

Mar 24, 2022

John Terrence Hughes, 82, of Sturgis, South Dakota, passed away on March 24, 2022, at Monument Health Hospital in Sturgis.  Known as "John T." by many, he was born on March 9, 1940, in Pierre, South Dakota to Glenn and Mildred (Donahue) Hughes.  He grew up on the family farm north of Pierre and attended Sully County...

Mar 23, 2022

Phyllis Yvonne Williams was born September 27th, 1937, in Berea, Nebraska, to Ellis and Marion Bowser. She was the youngest of four children. Her family moved to Hemingford, NE where she graduated high school in 1955. While waitressing at the local café she met the love of her life, Billy G. Williams, and they married two months later. Their...

Mar 21, 2022

Randy Doil Morgan was born April 6, 1958, in Monticello, UT, to Larry and Sandra Morgan.  He was the brother to LeAnn, and Laura.  He attended Newcastle High School and graduated in 1976.

He was the father of three children, Shannon, Shaun, and Chance, and also a grandfather to Elliot, and Cohen.

Mar 21, 2022

Joseph "Joe" Lureen was born on August 3, 1948, in Graceville, Big Stone, MN, to Otto and Barb Lureen. Joe was blessed to have 11 sisters and one brother.

Coming from a busy family, Joe was eager to start life on his own at a very young age. Joe joined the United States...

Mar 20, 2022

Sturgis businessman, radio personality and photographer Robert W. (Bob) Davis died Sunday, March 20, 2022, at the Lippold Hospice suite at Monument Health in Sturgis following a diagnosis of late-stage cancer. Bob was well known in the Black Hills for his creativity, business ventures and sense of humor that left most everyone who knew him with a...

Mar 17, 2022

Dalza Marion (Sayers) Satrang, 95, passed away on March 17 th , 2022, at Rolling Hills Healthcare in Belle Fourche, South Dakota.

Dalza, the daughter of Harrison and Nora (Hustead) Sayers, was born April 18, 1926, in Britton, SD. She attended rural school and high school in Marshall County, SD. Upon graduation she...

Mar 16, 2022

Forrest Lavern Lewis, 79, from Pringle, SD, passed away on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at the Fort Meade VA Medical Center in Sturgis, SD.

Forrest was born to Kenneth and Vivian Lewis on February 28, 1943.  He was 2nd oldest of 5. He was united in marriage to Patricia Ann Yakalavich. The two...

Mar 11, 2022

Shirley Nohava was born September 29, 1942, to Evelyn and Edward Philipsen. She was the oldest of five siblings, Sharon, Roy, Betty, and Patty, who she cherished deeply. Shirley married Lloyd and together they had Allen, Randy, and Sandy. Shirley and Lloyd had many business ventures in Sturgis. The Bootlegger, Phillips 66 gas, South Pine Motel, most...

Mar 8, 2022

Harlan Alvin Palo, 83, of Newell, SD, passed away peacefully in Spearfish, SD, on March 8, 2022.

Harlan was born May 10, 1938, in Belle Fourche, SD, to Alvin and Mary (Lakson) Palo. He was raised and grew up on the family farm near Newell, SD. He lived there his entire 83 years,...

Mar 7, 2022

Rita Marie (Hannah) Piroutek, 83, passed away peacefully at Echo Ridge Assisted Living in Rapid City, SD, on Monday, March 7, 2022.

Rita, the daughter of Maurice and Rose (Hetzel) Hannah, was born on June 26, 1938, in Belle Fourche, SD, where she graduated from high school in 1956. She then went on...