TRUE DAKOTAN PHOTO/CRAIG WENZEL

 THESE PEOPLE HAD PLENTY TO CELEBRATE at the 2010 Wessington Springs Area Development Corporation/Chamber of Commerce awards banquet on Saturday, March 6. Weskota Manor Avera volunteer Loretta Couch (left) was presented the “Volunteer of the Year” award by the WSADC board of directors. Shown at center is Karen Fastnacht, a former school teacher with a Master’s Degree in Education, who is now a resident at the Manor. Loretta works closely with Karen, who enjoys grading elementary school papers and staying in touch with her education background. She also volunteers her time with other residents.Loretta is also a part-time employee in the activities department at the Manor. Also shown are activities employee Carol Steichen (back) and activities director Penny Wenzel (right). “I didn’t know if Karen would be able to keep her secret or not,” said her husband, Mike Fastnacht, after the banquet. “She was pretty excited for Loretta.” She did keep the award a secret and with the help of her husband, Rick, son and daughter Rich and Amanda, Loretta was pleasantly surprised.

BY CRAIG WENZEL

 A brand new automobile still draws a little attention today, but can you imagine the size of a crowd that might assemble around a sparkling new 1909 Cadillac? Marvin Mentzer, Wessington Springs, was cleaning out some things in the basement of his rural home when he ran into some old glass negative plates that give us a glimpse of life in the turn of the twentieth century.

OBITUARY

Ethelyn H. Gustafson

Ethelyn H. Gustafson, 86, of Rapid City, died Tuesday, March 9, at Fountain Springs Health Care.

She was born May 13, 1923 in Wessington Springs, SD to Carl and Vesta (Aldred) Habicht. She graduated from Huron High School in 1941 and she received her fine arts degree in 1945 from Macalester College, St. Paul, MN. In 1952 she married Ronald Gustafson in Huron, SD. She was a partner with her husband and her sister in their family business, Habicht’s Department Stores, for over 50 years. She was President of the Huron YWCA, and she sang in the First United Methodist Church Choir and the Grace Episcopal Choir. She was a lifelong member of PEO.

OBITUARY

DONALD WERLY

Donald E. Werly 73 of Wessington Springs died early Saturday morning March 13, 2010 at Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center in Wessington Springs.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 Wednesday March 17, 2010 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church with Rev. John Paulson officiating. Interment will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Tuesday from 5-8 and on Wednesday one hour, prior to the service. A prayer service will be held at 7:30 PM.

Donald Werly was born on April 23, 1936 at Lawrence, Kansas to John and Hilda Werly.

 OBITUARY

Betty Ellen Brandenburg

Betty Ellen Brandenburg of Wessington Springs, SD passed away Friday, March 12, 2010