TRUE DAKOTAN

While growing up on the family farm, Roger Carlson would hear stories of a 15-year old great uncle who saved the life of his grandmother during the massive blizzard of January 12, 1888.

Carlson and his parents, Merle and Gertrude Carlson lived on the farm west of Wessington Springs, where the heroic story unfolded.

Roger, who is now fighting cancer at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, went to visit the grave of his uncle Guy V. Stearns a few years ago in a small cemetery at Erwin, SD, a little east of DeSmet.

After more than three months of fall-like weather

Everyone knew that he was coming, but after extended autumn weather that lasted from September

until mid-January, Old Man Winter finally moved in around eastern South Dakota last week.

Cattle above are shown at the Fred and Mary Reiner farm east of Wessington Springs.  Duke Wenzel/photo

Lowell J. Behrens, 52, of Dell Rapids, SD passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD with family present after a 6-year courageous battle with cancer. His Funeral Service was Monday, January 23, 2012 at the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids.

Lowell was born on January 7, 1960 to Lowell and Bonnie Behrens in Sioux Falls, SD. He grew up in Dell Rapids for most of his life and graduated from Dell Rapids High School in 1979. Lowell then attended Mitchell Technical Institute for Electrical Construction and Maintenance. He worked as an Electrician since his graduation, and then earned his Contractor’s License.

Donna Feistner, 72, Woonsocket, died Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at Prairie View Care Center in Woonsocket. Funeral services were Saturday, January 21, 2012, at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Woonsocket. Burial was be in the Feistner Cemetery.

Donna Phyllis Feistner was born February 4, 1939, at Mitchell, to Donald and Phyllis (Burlingame) Stone. She grew up and attended school at Mitchell and graduated from Mitchell High School in 1957. On June 8, 1957, she married Byron Dicus. She was employed in the Administration Offices of Methodist Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital in Mitchell for many years and later worked at Martin and Associates until 1976. On October 4, 1976, she married Wayne Feistner at Luverne, MN. She was a member of the Bethany Lutheran Church in Woonsocket.

• OBITUARY

  EMIL FEISTNER

  Emil A. Feistner 94 of rural Woonsocket, died Friday morning, December 30, 2011 at the Prairie View Care Center in Woonsocket.

   Emil A. Feistner was born on November 10, 1917 on the Feistner homestead 7 1/2 miles southwest of Woonsocket to Theodore and Minnie (Luker) Feistner.

  He attended country school through the 8th grade. He began farming immediately on the homestead with his family.

  On September 4, 1944 Emil was united in marriage to Arlene Klemm at Lane, SD. Following their marriage they farmed in the Woonsocket area until they moved into Woonsocket in 1984. He entered Prairie View Care Center Nursing Home in 2006.

  Emil loved the hard work life of the farm and raising livestock and crops. On Sunday after church he enjoyed visiting with family and neighbors. One of his favorite interests was playing with kids sitting on his lap and laughing with them, especially the grandchildren and great grandchildren.

  He was a faithful member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church where he held several positions.

  He is survived by two Sons Dennis Feistner and his wife Rita, and Gayle Feistner all of Woonsocket, two grandchildren Cory Feistner and his wife Claire of Woonsocket and Carla Kwasniewski and her husband Scott of Brookings, three great grandchildren Caitlyn and Carter Kwasniewski of Brookings and TJ Filler of Mitchell, six sisters-in-law Lorena Feistner and Viona Feistner both of Sioux Falls, Inez Redlin of Fullerton, CA, Milda Dittmer of Roseburg, OR, Luella Snow and her husband Clint of Seattle, WA and Elsie Mulligan of Tempe, AZ, several nephews, nieces and cousins.

  He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Arlene in 2008, a daughter Lynell, siblings Julius, Fred, Alfred, Clara, Edna, Ernest, Elmer and Herman, four sisters-in-law and three brothers-in-law.

  Emil was perhaps the last direct descendant of the pioneers in Jerauld County. His father, Theodore, came to Blaine Township, Jerauld County, as a baby with his parents in 1883. They homesteaded where the Feistner cemetery is located.

Traffic will not be diverted through town during 2013 highway culvert replacement

BY DUKE WENZEL- TRUE DAKOTAN

The culvert beneath SD Highway 34 at Wessington Springs connects the two sides of South Gulch. Have you ever walked through the 13 ft. culvert? I have -- Craig Wenzel/Photo

Two major SD Highway 34 improvements were addressed during a meeting in Wessington Springs last Tuesday, January 10.