ladys Ruth Bren Opstedahl, 97, of Union Center and formerly of Piedmont went to be with her savior Friday, November 9, 2012. Gladys, daughter of Leon and Anna Bren was born on the Old Bren Homestead on Elk Creek east of Piedmont, South Dakota January 13, 1915. She grew up there with 8 brothers and sisters. The children all attended the Burton School which was three miles west of the home. They drove a faithful horse "Sam", hitched to a covered buggy
Victor was born on November 12, 1925 in Meade County, South Dakota, the son of Fridolph and Clara (Wassberg) Johnson. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth L. Johnson on June 12, 1954 in Livingston, Wisconsin. Victor was enlisted in the U.S. Navy from 1944-1946. He graduated from South Dakota State University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture. He grew up in Western South Dakota where he worked as a telephone lineman in Rapid City from 1946-1948. After his marriage to Elizabeth, they farmed for 21 years in the Livingston area (1954-1975). He then taught at Southwest Technical Institute in Fennimore for 12 years (1975-1987).
Justin was born in Rapid City, SD, on Dec 3, 1919, to Hugh and Ollie Speer and grew up on the Ben Oliver place in Viewfield, SD, where he lived most of his life. Justin graduated from New Underwood High School in 1937.
After graduation, he had various jobs until he began trucking for CM Trucker with regular runs to Denver each week. He married Ardis Boydston on Jan 21, 1942, and they worked in Rapid City until the death of Justin’s dad in 1943. Justin and Ardis then moved back to Viewfield to take over the family farm.
eff grew up in Fremont and was a former resident of Rome, but resided in Avoca for most of his life. A graduate of Arkport Central School, he also attended Mohawk College in Utica and received his bachelor’s degree from Empire State College. Jeff was a thesis away from receiving his master’s degree. He served with the U.S. Air Force from 1972 to his honorable discharge in 1976 having attained the rank Sergeant.
Having touched many lives on earth, Marilyn Dobesh joined her Father in heaven on March 2, 2010 due to complications with lymphoma. Marilyn loved her family, her church and people in general. She provided a source of guidance and strength to those around her. Cooking and then sharing a meal with those who were hurting was also a big part of Marilyn’s life. She loved to help serve community meals, deer hunters and branding parties.
Eugene F. “Gene” Thomas, 97, Rapid City and formerly of Murdo, passed away Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at a Rapid City nursing home.
Eugene was born Oct. 19, 1912, in rural Murdo to Ernest and Bertha (Green) Thomas. Eugene was united in marriage to Ethel Becker on April 8, 1944, in Murdo. Ethel passed away on Jan. 10, 2008.
Eugene’s life can be summed up by one sentence his wife of nearly 63 years wrote in a letter: “Thanks be to God for a life well-lived.” He was truly a jack of all trades with the patience and drive to conquer all that the South Dakota terrain and weather could send his way.
Eugene was a humble, selfless servant of God and a quiet hard-working simple man. A rancher, farmer, mechanic, planner, employer, example, community leader, farm finance manager, irrigation specialist, beekeeper, owner and foreman, work scheduler, teacher, excellent husband & father, and dear friend. He had the toughness to persevere, yet the gentleness, kindness, patience, strength, and generosity to earn the respect and love of all. Gene was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church in Murdo and a 32nd Degree Master Mason.
Survivors include three sons, Paul (Linda) Thomas, Murdo, Joseph (Susan) Thomas, St. Joseph, Mich., and Ralph (Kathy) Thomas, Minneapolis; four daughters, Gloria (William) Hasenwinkel, Klemme, Iowa, Kathleen (Wallace) Sorenson, Lake Preston, Diane (Wilbur) Marsh, Brookings, and Susan (Edwin) Egbert, Piedmont; 19 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Ethel M. Thomas, 89, of Rapid City, passed away on Thurs., Jan. 10, 2008 at Rapid City Regional Hospital.
Ethel was born on April 8, 1918 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Fred and Louisa (Lang) Becker. After high school, she received a BS degree in religious education from Schauffler College, Ohio in 1942. She then moved to South Dakota where she met and married Eugene Thomas at Murdo on her birthday in 1944. They lived on a ranch near Murdo and in town for many years, moving to Rapid City in November of 2005.
The most important things in Ethel's life were God, her mother, her husband, her family, visiting, reading and writing, singing and dancing. She also loved to watch public broadcasting.
She is survived by her husband, Eugene Thomas of Rapid City; seven children, Paul (Linda) Thomas of Murdo, Gloria (Bill) Hasenwinkel of Klemme, IA, Joe (Susie) Thomas of St. Joseph, MI, Ralph (Kathy) Thomas of Minneapolis, MN, Kathy (Wally) Sorenson of Lake Preston, Diane (Wilbur) Marsh of Brookings, Susan (Ed) Egbert of Piedmont; 19 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Alfred, Robert and Richard Becker; and two sisters, Virginia Bollinger and Gloria Prickett.
A memorial service is set for 7:00pm Sat., Jan. 12, 2008 at Somerset Court, 4001 Derby Lane in Rapid City, with the Rev. Bob Wall officiating. A second memorial service will be held at Murdo at a later date.
He spent his childhood years in Fessenden, N.D. When he was 12 his father accepted a call to churches in Grand Forks, N.D. Upon graduating from Central High School in Grand Forks, Rolf enlisted in the Army and served with the 8th Army Occupation Forces in Japan where he was stationed on Ford Island in Tokyo Bay. He was honorably discharged in 1947.
Carl was born on Oct. 17, 1919 on a farm near Avon, South Dakota to Walter C. and Nora (Hughes) Bangert. He was the oldest of five children. After he graduated from Avon High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in February 1941 and served with the 147th Field Artillery in the South Pacific during World War II.
Harvey and Viola spent more than 30 years traveling together, enjoying many winters in various warmer southern areas. They spent four summers working at the State Game Lodge in Custer State Park. Harvey was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He is survived by his three daughters and sons-in-law, Phyllis (Ed) Hubin, Rapid City, Doris (Bill) Bonnell, Waterford MI, and Bonnie (Ed) Crossman, Rapid City, nine grandchildren and twenty nine great grandchildren
Ricky was born Dec. 4, 1960, in Sturgis, SD, to Ernest and Nona (Harris) Niederwerder. He grew up at Hereford, SD, and graduated from Sturgis High School in 1979. He attended Western Dakota Vo-Tech and graduated with a degree in Business Management. Ricky worked for Hild and Spring of Union Center and Sturgis Feed and Seed. He worked in the oil fields in Gillette, WY, before the bust in the 80's. He returned to South Dakota, where he worked at Merillat and Perdue Mfg. In 1995, he moved to Orchard, TX, where he worked for Southern Rodeos as a Marketing Director. In 2000, he was instrumental in establishing the National Professional Bull Riders Association,
LORETTA JEAN AAKER BROCKEL “Jean” to her many friends, was born August 23, 1935 at Bison, SD to Vernon and Viola (Hafner) Aaker. She grew up and attended school in Bison and when the family moved to Butte, MT, she attended school there. Following her schooling, Jean worked for Black Hills Power and Light in Rapid City as a billing clerk.
Elmer G. Hauge, 83, Spearfish and formerly of Sturgis, died Saturday, January 13, 2007 at the Fort Meade VA Black Hills Health Care Center. Visitation will be noon until 9 pm at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis on Wednesday with a family prayer service beginning at 7:30 p.m. Visitation resumes one hour prior to services at the Church on Thursday. Funeral services will be 1 pm Thursday, January 18, 2007 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis with Pastor Michael Fox officiating. Burial with military honors will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. Elmer was born July 6, 1923, at the ranch at Whitney, SD, to Alfred and Esther (Christiansen) Hauge. He attended grade school at Hay Hill and graduated from Lemmon High School in 1941. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943 and served as a gunner on the USS Monterey which was part of the 3rd fleet in the South Pacific. Elmer was honorably discharged in November of 1945. Upon returning home, he bought the family ranch and married Colleen Connery on June 8, 1945. Two children were born to the family; Cheryl (Hauge) Nehl and Brad Hauge. Elmer served on school and election boards. He was the chairman of the building committee for Indian Creek Lutheran Church. He was a Perkins County Commissioner and was a fieldman for Lemmon Livestock Sales and later the Sturgis Sale Barn. Elmer was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, the Bison Toastmasters, Lion Club International, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Survivors include his wife Colleen Hauge, Spearfish, one daughter, Cheryl (Mike) Nehl, Belle Fourche; one son Brad (Mary Kay) Spearfish; three grandchildren, Jason (Jennifer) Nehl, Sundance, WY, Jessica (Dan) Dunn, Albany, OR, Matt (Sara) Nehl, Lincoln, NE; three great grandchildren; sisters, Irene (Lonnie) Lowe, Spearfish, Myrtle (Norbert) Ham, Piedmont, Alice (Floyd) Lovelette, Shorewood, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, two sisters and one nephew.
CUSTER - Kenneth Richard Colyer, 78, Custer, died Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007, at Custer Regional Senior Care.
Survivors include his wife, Bunny, Custer; one son, John Colyer, Custer; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Anna Rose Rice, Gas City, Ind.; and two brothers, Russell Colyer, Marion, Ind., and Larry Colyer, Jonesboro, Ind.
Services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 26, at Berean Bible Church in Custer, with the Rev. Gary Pokorney officiating.
Mabel was born Dec 15, 1918 at Colome, SD.
She married Archie Olson in 1941. They had five children, Duane, Dennis, Delaine, Dorene and Donna.
Mabel enjoyed reading, gardening, sewing, quilting and spending time with family and friends. She enjoyed working with the young children in the AWANA program in the churches that she attended.
