Ellen (Meis) Reindl

Ellen (Meis) Reindl was born November 12, 1921, to Gregory and Margaret (Moran) Meis at home near Geddes, SD.

She died peacefully on April 15, 2012, at the Custer Regional Senior Care Center where she had made her home since January.

Ellen attended St. Ann’s grade school and graduated from Geddes High School. She attended one year of secondary school at Notre Dame Academy in Mitchell, SD, and received her teaching certificate.

Ellen taught in some country schools around Geddes and Platte for three years. During her one year at Notre Dame she became best friends with Patricia Reindl and that sealed her fate.

During a trip home to Wessington Springs with Patricia, Ellen met Patricia’s older brother, LeRoy. At first she thought him a terrible “tease” and was not impressed. Eventually he won her heart and they were married in Geddes on October 9, 1943, and moved to a place near Wessington Springs where LeRoy farmed with his father and younger brothers.

Children soon entered the family when a daughter was born in 1944. She was followed closely by two more daughters and three sons. In 1954 LeRoy and Ellen took a leap of faith and moved their expanding family to a ranch owned by Albert Eggers near Reliance, SD. Another daughter and son were born there. After four good years at Reliance, they were able to buy their own place northwest of Custer in 1958. Two more daughters and one more son were born here.

Ellen’s life revolved around her Catholic faith, her husband and her children. She was a wife and mother first and foremost and never found the need to apologize for that. She used her teaching skills to make sure all of her children were readers.

LeRoy died on June 28, 1985. Ellen called that the saddest day of her life. She continued to live northwest of Custer and was active at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, the Custer Senior Center and in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives. She spent many hours making quilts by hand and on other needlework projects. Ellen moved to Boot Hill Ranch Estates in 2002 and to Wedgwood Assisted Living in 2008. In addition to LeRoy, Ellen was preceded in death by her parents and her four brothers; William, Ed, Vic and Ralph as well as one son-in-law, Pat Burke.

Ellen is survived by six daughters, Kathleen (Larry) Johnson; Wanda (Alan) Tounsley; Judy (Ron) Lacey; Marge (Richard) Wellman; Lynette (the late Pat) Burke; Leanne Reindl; five sons, Darryl (Janet); Lyle; Tim (Sherri); Kevin (Denice); Mike (Debbie); twenty nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, April 21, 2012, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Fr. Peter Kovarik officiating. Interment followed at the Custer Cemetery where she was buried next to LeRoy.

Memorials in Ellen’s name may be sent to either the Custer Senior Center or St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley’s Chapels of the Hills in Custer. Written condolences may be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.

Obituary

Frederick James Gregg

Frederick James Gregg, 32, of Wessington Springs died April 19, 2012 at his home. Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 26 at 11:00 a.m. at Basham’s Funeral Home.

He was born October 13, 1979 in Modesto, CA and grew up in California. He moved to South Dakota to be with family after the tragic death of stepfather. He worked for Chase Drilling and LSI Jack Link’s in Alpena. He was nicknamed Fast Freddie when he worked at detailing cars.

He loved his family and friends and the color green… everything had to be green. He could draw well, write poems, loved to shop for bargains and auctions. He would do anything for anybody, could talk to anyone. He was very kind and giving anything he could. Just got his car of his dreams, a 1996 Ford Mustang, except it was red.

He is survived by his mother, Ellen Miranda; two brothers Joseph (Joe) Lee Gregg and Ralph S. Gregg; daughter Haylee Marie Gregg; his fiancé Lori Kole; a niece, Kristina Kole; a nephew, Tyler Gregg Kole; his grandmother, Eda Cox; grandfather Jim Wood; Step grandmother Rose of Pierre;

He was preceded in death by his father, his stepfather, and grandparents on his father’s side.

 OBITUARY

Rita R. Kubal

Rita R. Kubal, age 43—wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend—entered the everlasting peace of her Father near Scotland, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial was Monday, April 9, 2012 at the Bishop Marty Chapel on the Mount Marty College Campus, Yankton, SD with Rev. Dan Smith and Msgr. Carlton Hermann officiating. Burial was in the Polish Catholic Cemetery, rural Lesterville, SD overlooking the family farm.

On December 14, 1968, Rita Jackson was born to Darrel and Mary Ann (Bradley) Jackson of Wessington Springs, SD.

She was the tenth of eleven vibrant children. Running amuck with her five brothers and sisters, Rita grew to a love of nature and all its animals—a love that never faded in Rita’s adult life, many of her family and friends being gifted with the stray cats and dogs she often found. Basketball player, cheerleader, homecoming queen, and Miss Holiday are a few of the titles she donned in her time as a Wessington Springs Spartan, not the least of these titles being “friend”.

Rita attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, before transferring to Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD. There, amidst her studies, she served the sisters at St. Joseph Care Center as a Nurse’s Assistant and earned early admittance to the University of North Dakota where she completed a degree in physical therapy.

On May 17th, 1993, she was married to Dan Kubal of rural Lesterville, SD, and the couple was soon graced, with their first child Dana. The Kubal farmhouse was blessed with four additional children, Elizabeth, Kohl, John, and Kaleb. In these children, Rita had found her calling—the call to be a mother. These five were the apple in her ever-bright eye.

Rita was also drawn to her service as a physical therapist, providing compassionate care and a listening ear. She worked at the Menno nursing home, the Freeman hospital, the Tyndall Hospital, the Yankton Care Center, and Sacred Heart Hospital throughout the years. Among her most enriching experiences was her time spent serving the Sioux people at Indian Health Services in Wagner, SD. There, Rita encountered a rich Sioux spirituality that resonated with her innate sense of prayer and her devotion to the Supreme Being. It is said that Rita is the only physical therapist with 100 percent of her Sioux patients to return for follow-up sessions.

A few words about Rita: horse lover, eagle watcher, photographer, hiker, rosary connoisseur, reader, writer, and a shoulder to lean on. Yet, above all, Rita was a woman of love, a love infused by faith, a faith that drew her to offer all things to her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Rita was preceded in death by her father, Darrel Jackson, brother, Mark Edward Jackson, niece, Jennifer Reed, and grandparents.

She is survived by husband, Dan Kubal, her children, Dana, Elizabeth, Kohl, John, and Kaleb, all from rural Lesterville, SD, her mother, Mary Jackson of Lane, SD, and her ten siblings and siblings’ spouses, Steve, John, and Kelly Jackson, all from Lane, SD, Tim and Laura Jackson of Woonsocket, SD, Travis and Karen Jackson of Lane, SD, Mary and Bill Reed of Gillette, WY, Sandy and Michael Neth of Scotland, SD, Lori and Bob Schleich of Mitchell, SD, Tim and Linda Foos of Milbank, SD, and Michele and Jeff Bigelow of Mitchell, SD.

She is also survived by in-laws Gladys and Michael Kubal of Lesterville, SD, Judy and Pat Carroll of Tabor, SD, Laurie and Mike Becvar of Mission Hill, SD, and Nancy and Bob Pechous of Tabor, SD.

Obituary

Jerry (Wayne) Van Buren

Jerry (Wayne) Van Buren, 74, Sedalia, MO died Thursday, March 22, 2012 at University Hospital, Columbia. A graveside service was held March 26 at Highland Sacred Gardens Cemetery, Sedalia with Rev. Ed Broyles officiating. Military honors were conducted by the American Legion Post 642, Sedalia.

He was born on March 9, 1938 in Wessington Springs, a son of Leonard and Hilda (Krueger) Van Buren. On September 20, 1959, he was united in marriage to Lois Nadine Palmer at Corning, IA. He loved to garden and do yard work. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing and hunting. He served his country honorably in the US Air Force for 26 years. He was a member of the American Legion Post 642.

He is survived by his wife Nadine; three children: Randall Van Buren and his wife Kristy of Murfeesboro, TN, Rhonda Clark and her husband Ryan of Sedalia, and Jeff Van Buren and his wife Shari of Atlanta, GA; nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Van Buren and Evelyn Newland; three brothers, Wieth, Ken and Russell Van Buren.

OBITUARY

Shirley Grohs

Shirley Jean Brown Grohs, age 76, died at the Prairie View Care Center in Woonsocket on March 29, 2012.

She was born December 2, 1935 in the Deluxe Hotel in Woonsocket to Joseph Herbert Brown and Bertha Swenson Brown. She graduated from Woonsocket High School in 1954 and from the University of South Dakota in 1958.

After graduation, she taught business education in Tripp, South Dakota. She then returned to Woonsocket to work for Sanborn Telephone Company. In 1967, she moved to Sacramento, California, coming home to South Dakota in the fall of 1968, working at KSFY-Television in Sioux Falls. She worked with Van Dyke Building Supply in Woonsocket, moving with the company to Huron when it became Capital Building Systems. In 1984, she returned to Santel Communications, where she worked until retirement.

She volunteered at the St. Francis Shop in Huron for many years. Shirley married Jerome Grohs of Huron in January 1984. She was a member of St. Wilfrid’s Catholic Church, Woonsocket; St. Martin’s Catholic Church and Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Huron; the Catholic Daughters of America (serving as Grand Regent); the Altar Society; Bridge Club; Woonsocket High School Alumni Association (serving as an officer); and participated in Marge Rogers’ ceramics classes for many years.

She is survived by her husband, Jerome Grohs, Huron; Dana (Kristin) Brown, Sioux Falls and grandchildren Noah, Chloe and Claire; Steve (Silvia) Grohs, Huron and grandchildren Janine, Roy, and Seth and great-grandchildren; and Darrel (Holly) Grohs and grandchildren, Amanda, Matthew and Zachary and great-grandchild; sister-in-law, Thelma Brown (Bob), Sioux Falls, SD; numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

She is preceded in death by her parents; five brothers – Harold, Joe “Slats”, Kermit “Swede”, Roy and Bob Brown; and three sisters – Delores Bissell, Margaret Gordon and Blanche Fuerniss Permann.

The funeral mass was held on Saturday, March 31. at St. Wilfrid’s Catholic Church with Father Jim Friedrich officiating. Burial was in the St. Wilfrid’s cemetery.

OBITUARY

Raymond Krueger

Raymond Krueger, age 87, of Huron, died Tuesday March 27, 2012, at the Huron Regional Medical Center. His funeral service was Saturday March 31, at the Living Hope Alliance Church with Rev. Richard Birr officiating. Burial was in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery. Military rites were conducted by the Huron Veterans Council.

Raymond Harold Krueger was born February 16, 1925, to John and Martha (Fuehrer) Krueger in Wessington Springs. He grew up on the family farm west of Wessington Springs and attended country school. He received an honorable discharge from the United States Army after serving for a brief time. After his time in the service, Raymond returned to the family farm.

On January 6, 1952, Raymond was united in marriage to Arlene Hull. They made their home in Huron, where Raymond worked at Armours and later began his 34 year career with the Beadle County Highway Department. He retired in 1986.

Raymond was very a tender-hearted, devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. He enjoyed his family, the outdoors, fishing, camping, telling stories and working on cars. He loved music, singing and playing his guitar.

He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings, Esther St. John, Edna Sayers, Ruth Krueger, Betty Alexander and Robert Krueger.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Arlene Krueger of Huron; one daughter, Janice (Craig) Knepper of Urbandale, Iowa; one son, Kevin (Bonnie Goehring) Krueger of Huron; three grandsons, Garret Krueger, Ryan Knepper and Tyler Knepper; six siblings, Leland Krueger of Alpena, Marcella Hehn of Huron, Donald Krueger of Huron, Dorothy Krog of Frankfort, Shirley (Bill) Erfman of Denver, Colorado, and Jeanett Kvigne of Jamestown, North Dakota; and many nieces and nephews.

Visit www.kuhlerfuneralhome.com.

OBITUARY

Dean C. Schroeder

Dean C. Schroeder, age 76, of Sioux Falls, SD and Wessington Springs, passed away on Thursday, March 29, 2012, at the Hospice of the Valley in Gilbert, AZ.

His funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at the Grace Episcopal Church in Huron, SD, with burial at the Riverside Cemetery in Huron, SD, and Military Rites by the Huron Veterans Council.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, at the Welter Funeral Home in Huron; and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Visit www.welterfuneralhome.com.

Dean C. Schroeder, the son of Fred and Marjorie (McNeil) Schroeder, was born on December 24, 1935, in Huron, SD. He attended McNeil Rural Grade School, and graduated from Bonilla High School in 1953. Dean also attended Huron College majoring in Business. Dean served his country in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a tailgunner as part of an elite crew on the B-36 Bomber until 1957. Dean also served in the Air Force Reserve until 1961.

Dean and his partner, Kenny Sauk, established a gum Arabic exporting operation in Kenya in 1972. Dean had many adventures in Kenya during the 5 years he operated the Dakota Gum Company. Dean was also involved in agriculture throughout his entire life. Himself having been raised on a farm in Beadle County, Dean owned and operated two ranches, in McPherson County, and most recently in Jerauld County.

Dean married Trudy Webster on July 12, 1976 in Watertown, SD.

Dean lived in Bonilla, Huron, and Aberdeen before moving to Sioux Falls, SD in 1983. Dean worked for M&M Music in Huron for three years. He was in the coin machine business for fifty plus years, owning and operating Hub Music and Vending in Aberdeen, SD and later Musivend Enterprises in Sioux Falls, SD. Dean was a member of The Music and Vending Association and the AMOA, serving on both boards.

Dean’s many travels took him to Europe, Africa, Australia, and Puerto Rico. Dean loved to play golf, spending winters in Sun Lakes, AZ, where he was able to enjoy his golfing. Boating was also another activity that Dean enjoyed. He and his wife spent many summers boating the Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee Rivers. Dean also loved spending time with his family. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his two grandsons, Jason and Kris.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Trudy, of Sioux Falls, SD; son, Steve (Denise) Schroeder, of Humboldt, SD; daughter, Tamara Schroeder, of Sioux Falls, SD; 2 grandchildren, Kris Schroeder, of Hartford, SD and Jason Schroeder, of Sioux Falls, SD; brother, David (Vonnie) Schroeder, of Thompson Falls, MT; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Marjorie; and his older brother, James Schroeder.

Obituary

Gene W. Peterson

Gene W. Peterson, 85, died February 13, 2012. Funeral services were held Friday, February 17 at Upsala, MN with Pastor Craig Johnson and Pastor Anna Payne officiating. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery, Grey Eagle, MN.

Gene was born to Hilmer and Olga (Fagerhaug) Peterson in Wessington Springs, SD on September 7, 1928. He grew up ranching with his younger siblings Marge, Wayne, and Elmer. The Peterson family moved to Upsala when Gene was a teenager. He graduated from Upsala High School and was later drafted into the US Army. Gene finished with active duty in 1953 and soon met Lillian Porttin. Gene and Lillian were married at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Grey Eagle on August 3, 1957. They were blessed with six children they raised while ranching and farming in South Dakota and Minnesota. Gene was a member of the Upsala Legion Post No. 0350.

Survivors include his wife Lillian of Burtrum; children: Evelyn Hawkinson, Marilyn (Bryan) Yeschick, Sandra (Dave) Koep, Eric (Luann), Darrel (DeAnn), Diane (Tony) Smieja; brothers and sister, Wayne (Muriel), Marge (Stan) Lindholm, Elmer (Nancy); many grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hilmer and Olga; brother Eugene; aunts and uncles; brothers-in-law, Bert Porttin and Art Beilke; and son-in-law Dick Hawkinson.

OBITUARY

Raymond Krueger

Raymond Krueger, age 87, of Huron, died Tuesday March 27, 2012, at the Huron Regional Medical Center. His funeral service was Saturday March 31, at the Living Hope Alliance Church with Rev. Richard Birr officiating. Burial was in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery. Military rites were conducted by the Huron Veterans Council.

Raymond Harold Krueger was born February 16, 1925, to John and Martha (Fuehrer) Krueger in Wessington Springs. He grew up on the family farm west of Wessington Springs and attended country school. He received an honorable discharge from the United States Army after serving for a brief time. After his time in the service, Raymond returned to the family farm.

On January 6, 1952, Raymond was united in marriage to Arlene Hull. They made their home in Huron, where Raymond worked at Armours and later began his 34 year career with the Beadle County Highway Department. He retired in 1986.

Raymond was very a tender-hearted, devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. He enjoyed his family, the outdoors, fishing, camping, telling stories and working on cars. He loved music, singing and playing his guitar.

He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings, Esther St. John, Edna Sayers, Ruth Krueger, Betty Alexander and Robert Krueger.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Arlene Krueger of Huron; one daughter, Janice (Craig) Knepper of Urbandale, Iowa; one son, Kevin (Bonnie Goehring) Krueger of Huron; three grandsons, Garret Krueger, Ryan Knepper and Tyler Knepper; six siblings, Leland Krueger of Alpena, Marcella Hehn of Huron, Donald Krueger of Huron, Dorothy Krog of Frankfort, Shirley (Bill) Erfman of Denver, Colorado, and Jeanett Kvigne of Jamestown, North Dakota; and many nieces and nephews.

Visit www.kuhlerfuneralhome.com.

OBITUARY

Dean C. Schroeder

Dean C. Schroeder, age 76, of Sioux Falls, SD, passed away on Thursday, March 29, 2012, at the Hospice of the Valley in Gilbert, AZ.

His funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at the Grace Episcopal Church in Huron, SD, with burial at the Riverside Cemetery in Huron, SD, and Military Rites by the Huron Veterans Council.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, at the Welter Funeral Home in Huron; and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Visit www.welterfuneralhome.com.

Dean C. Schroeder, the son of Fred and Marjorie (McNeil) Schroeder, was born on December 24, 1935, in Huron, SD. He attended McNeil Rural Grade School, and graduated from Bonilla High School in 1953. Dean also attended Huron College majoring in Business. Dean served his country in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a tailgunner as part of an elite crew on the B-36 Bomber until 1957. Dean also served in the Air Force Reserve until 1961.

Dean and his partner, Kenny Sauk, established a gum Arabic exporting operation in Kenya in 1972. Dean had many adventures in Kenya during the 5 years he operated the Dakota Gum Company. Dean was also involved in agriculture throughout his entire life. Himself having been raised on a farm in Beadle County, Dean owned and operated two ranches, in McPherson County, and most recently in Jerauld County.

Dean married Trudy Webster on July 12, 1976 in Watertown, SD.

Dean lived in Bonilla, Huron, and Aberdeen before moving to Sioux Falls, SD in 1983. Dean worked for M&M Music in Huron for three years. He was in the coin machine business for fifty plus years, owning and operating Hub Music and Vending in Aberdeen, SD and later Musivend Enterprises in Sioux Falls, SD. Dean was a member of The Music and Vending Association and the AMOA, serving on both boards.

Dean’s many travels took him to Europe, Africa, Australia, and Puerto Rico. Dean loved to play golf, spending winters in Sun Lakes, AZ, where he was able to enjoy his golfing. Boating was also another activity that Dean enjoyed. He and his wife spent many summers boating the Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee Rivers. Dean also loved spending time with his family. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his two grandsons, Jason and Kris.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Trudy, of Sioux Falls, SD; son, Steve (Denise) Schroeder, of Humboldt, SD; daughter, Tamara Schroeder, of Sioux Falls, SD; 2 grandchildren, Kris Schroeder, of Hartford, SD and Jason Schroeder, of Sioux Falls, SD; brother, David (Vonnie) Schroeder, of Thompson Falls, MT; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Marjorie; and his older brother, James Schroeder.