Joe Kotak, Jr.
May 12, 2020
Joe was born January 7, 1935, at Fulton Run, PA, to Joseph, Sr., and Mary (Blazavich) Kotak. He was raised in Pennsylvania and attended Catholic School. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served his country honorably. He met Juanita "Jennie" Linn Munoz and they were married at Jacksonville, NC, on March 20,...
Richard Harold Harwood
May 11, 2020
Richard Harold Harwood was born December 2, 1933, in Sturgis, SD, to Andrew and Kathryn (Denker) Harwood. Richard grew up on a ranch in the Haydraw area. In his early years he attended the Barry School, and he graduated from Sturgis High School in 1951. Richard married Patricia Gregson in New Underwood, SD, on August 28, 1955. After their...
Irma Josephine Kietzke
May 10, 2020
Irma J. Kietzke, 104, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, May 10, 2020, at the Monument Health Sturgis Hospital, following a short illness. She celebrated her 104th birthday on March 25, at Key City Retirement, her home since 2014. Irma was born in Twilight, SD, to James and Alice (Keegan) McFarlane in 1916. She was the second of six children...
Rose Mary Carol Reid
May 7, 2020
Rose Mary (Augustynowicz) Reid, 74, of Random Lake, (formerly of Belle Fourche, SD, and Port Washington, WI), passed away on May 7, 2020, while in the comforting hands of her daughter, Tamra. Rose was born July 1, 1945, in Milwaukee, WI, to Clem and Florence (Winski) Augustynowicz. She was the second oldest of four children. She grew up and...
Billye Jo (Davis) Casteel
May 4, 2020
On Monday, May 4, 2020, Billye Jo Casteel, loving wife and mother of three children, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Billye Jo was born July 19, 1952, in Sturgis, SD, to Ivan and Gertrude "Sue" Davis. She grew up on a ranch north of Sturgis where her love for horses and ranch life was developed. Billye...
John William Mcneary
Apr 26, 2020
John W. McNeary was born October 29, 1938, in Aberdeen, SD, to Francis and Gertrude (Frank) McNeary. John completed his schooling in Aberdeen, graduating from Aberdeen High School in 1956. John married his first wife, Norma Barker, in 1961, and they had their son, Roy, in 1962. In 1962, John was drafted into the United States Army as a...
Mark Andrew Harwood
Apr 24, 2020
Mark Andrew Harwood, 56, of Lead, SD, was born December 11, 1963 in Rapid City, SD, to parents Boyd and Janet (Olson) Harwood. He passed away from leukemia very peacefully on April 24, 2020. Mark was raised on the family ranch in Haydraw, SD, and graduated Sturgis High School in 1982. Mark was very active in 4-H, FFA, and...
George Edward Keller
Apr 22, 2020
George E. Keller was born March 9, 1931, at Rosebud, SD, to Frank and Olive (Flood) Keller. He grew up in St. Francis and graduated from St. Francis Mission in 1949. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. Following his honorable discharge in 1955, he enrolled in college at Chadron State Teacher College. During these years,...
Velma Joan (Morrill) Ross Austin
Apr 21, 2020
Velma Joan (Morrill) Ross Austin, 91, died April 21, 2020, in Tacoma, WA due to reoccurring cancer. She was born in Sturgis, South Dakota to Earl and Margaret (Hayes) Morrill. Her father was a district attorney, state senator, mayor and handled the legal paperwork and advice for the start of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rallies. Her mother was...
Allen Preston Melzer Jr.
Apr 21, 2020
Allen P. Melzer, Jr., 68, of Lead, went to heaven.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Kottke; his mom, Ruth Sellers; his sister, Linda Hays and her family and granddaughter Cierra Williams, plus many many other families and friends. Allen was an aviation mechanic, airborne school graduate and served two duties in Vietnam. He was awarded...
Donald Clase "Don" Goff
Apr 20, 2020
Don was born November 28, 1934, at Sturgis, SD, to Clarence and Whipka (Stratemeyer) Goff. He was raised on his dad's ranch at Tepee Creek in eastern Meade County. He loved animals with horses at the top of his list. Don enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January of 1953. On the way to Korea, out in...
Joyce Marie Knutson
Apr 18, 2020
Joyce Marie Ladson was born May 31, 1929, to Glenn and Amelia Ladson at the farm homestead in Bucyrus, ND, where she was baptized at the church. Joyce was the oldest of twelve children: Lorraine, Norman, Zola, Rodger, Betty, Lloyd, Caroline, Gene, John, Melvin, and Jerry. Joyce is survived by her brother, John. Joyce met "Bud" Arol Knutson at...
Stanley Alexander "Stan" Miner
Apr 18, 2020
Stanley Alexander "Stan" Miner, a long-time resident of Rapid City, SD, left this life with his family at his side on April 18, 2020. Stan was born in Rapid City on September 12, 1929, to parents Vernie E. and Bessie J. Miner. His early years were spent on the family ranch near Elm Springs, SD, but the "Great Depression"...
Jim Orrin Mastin
Apr 18, 2020
James Orrin Mastin went home on April 18, 2020. He was born on August 18, 1940, to Dwight Mastin and Helen (Jones) Mastin, in Kansas City, KS. He moved to Huron, SD, in 1948, where he met Maxine Schaffer. They were married August 3, 1958, and out of this marriage 6 children were born. He joined the Army in...
Peggy Nan Petersen
Apr 14, 2020
Our mother, Peggy Petersen, is free from the debilitating Alzheimer's disease. She passed away peacefully April 14, 2020. She was a vibrant person and lived life to the fullest. Peggy was an avid reader and was paranoid she would read all the books and nothing new would be left. She taught English to students in Lead High School in...
Winfred "Punk" Bauer, Jr.
Apr 14, 2020
Winfred "Punk" Bauer, Jr., of Vale, SD, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2020, at Monument Health Sturgis Lippold Hospice in Sturgis, SD. He was born to Winfred and Florence (Bennefeld) Bauer on July 18, 1938, in Ada, MN. Punk was baptized and confirmed at Pleasant View Lutheran Church in Pleasant Valley Township near Ada, MN. He went on...
Elmer Leach Bryant
Apr 12, 2020
Elmer Leach Bryant was born in Rapid City, SD, on January 5, 1945. He was one of nine children born to Seibert Leach & Edna Ellen (Farnsworth) Bryant. He was raised on the Bryant Ranch on Tilford Road. He attended Piedmont & Sturgis schools and graduated from Sturgis High School in 1964. He grew up working hard and tending...
Harry Richard Dubray, Jr.
Apr 11, 2020
Harry Richard DuBray, Jr., was born July 26, 1960, to Harry Richard DuBray, Sr., and Winona Marie Brandis in Nebraska. Harry grew up in Winner, SD, before moving to Mission, SD, where he attended Todd County high school. Harry loved to paint and draw. He created many stories, art work, and comics, some of which he received awards for...
Ronald Willis Proefrock
Apr 11, 2020
Ronald W. Proefrock, 86, of Nisland, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2020, at the Monument Health Hospice House in Rapid City, SD, with his wife, Virginia, and son, Daniel, near him. Ronald was born November 13, 1933, in Hamburg, ND. He was the son of the late Alfred and Lillian (Simonson) Proefrock. He attended grade school at...
Mike James Beck
Apr 3, 2020
Mike was born on January 4, 1949, to James E. and Helen E. Beck in Deadwood, SD. He attended Deadwood Public School and graduated in 1968. As a youngster, Mike spent most of his summer days with his brothers and sisters swimming at the Deadwood City Pool. In high school, Mike received recognition as a football player, which he...
