Mike was born on July 13, 1948, and graduated from Des Moines High School. He spent 30 career years with the Air Force, retiring as a Chief Master Sargent. After retirement, Mike enjoyed volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity and doing handyman jobs for older people in town.
Paula Henry 1973 - 2015
Paula was born May 24, 1973, in Deadwood, SD, to Don and Aneita (Remington) Henry. She spent her first 8 years in Sturgis before moving with the family to Vale. After 4 years there, the family moved to Kingman, AZ.
Paula loved to play volleyball at Manzanita Christian School. In her junior and senior years, she taught kindergarten in the mornings for her mom who ran the Christian school. Paula completed her studies and graduated in 1990, one year early, and also as valedictorian of her class.
Mike Simons January 15, 1983 - November 12, 2015
Michael Simons, 32, of St. Lawrence, passed away Thursday, November 12, 2015 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.Funeral Mass was held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 16, 2015 at the Miller Armory with Father Chester Murtha and Captain Father Bob Lacey, celebrants. Lunch followed at the Miller Community Center. Burial was held at 3:00 p.m., Monday, November 16, 2015 at the Morningside Cemetery, Ree Heights with full military honors. Visitation was held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, November 15, 2015 with a 4:00 p.m. prayer service at the St. Lawrence Community Church with Pastor Scot Tutt officiating.Michael Dale Simons was born in Miller, SD, on January 15, 1983, to Dale and Lorelei (Heida) Simons. He grew up on the farm northeast of Miller and most of his early years were spent outdoors exploring with his sister, Anna, and playing with cousins Monica and Melanie. A large portion of his time was probably spent hanging upside down from a green gate while dad fed the cows.He graduated from Miller High School in 2001, where he stood out as an athletic, kind, artistic young man. He excelled in football, wrestling, track, music, and drawing however, all Mike ever really wanted to be was a soldier. Following in his grandfather and father's steps, he enlisted in the Army National Guard unit in Miller, SD, his junior year of high school. He, along with his uncle Dean and great-uncle Myron, was activated at the beginning of the Iraq war and mobilized to Ft. Campbell, KY, February to May 2003, and later deployed to Iraq from December 2003 to February 2005. He later deployed again, with his uncle, to Iraq at the close of the war, from June 2011 to June 2012. Between these deployments you could find him building homes alongside his uncle Duane, and traveling, hiking, and camping with friends and family. He was proud to be present at his sister's graduation from basic training in 2009.Mike picked up playing the guitar during his time overseas and was quite talented and entertaining. However, his military service took a severe mental and physical toll on his body, and returning to civilian life proved difficult for him, most notably after his last deployment. His family is grateful that the last few weeks of his life he was very well, and was able to personally connect with many of the people he cared about. We do not know the exact moment he left us, but we were able to say our goodbyes on Veteran's Day, which is only too appropriate. Surrounded by his biological and military families alike, Mikey was drafted into God's Army shortly after midnight, on November 12th, 2015. As he requested, his body will be laid to rest in Ree Heights, next to his brother in arms, Alex.Awaiting him in heaven were his great-grandparents, Bernard and Berniece Simons; grandfather, Gerrit Heida; uncle, Randy Evans; and his older sibling that he never got to know here in this life. He will be missed by every single person that was blessed to know him.
Grace Kephart Reinhold
Grace Margaret Kephart Reinhold was born November 20, 1923 in Clear Lake, SD to Milton Kephart Jr. and Ada Belle Leonard Kephart. Grace grew up with seven brothers, Gaius, Alfred, True, Jason, Elihu, Rodney and Richard, and one sister Gertrude, which all preceded her in death. When Grace was eight years old she accepted the Lord.
Marvin "Tige" Reinhold
Tige was born on June 22, 1929, to Emanuel and Hazel (Jensen) Reinhold in Rapid City, South Dakota. He attended grade school at the Morse Creek School located on the ranch. He went on to attend Rapid City High School where he played football for Coach Cobb. He was unable to finish high school due to the need during the war to help on the family ranch in Meade County, South Dakota. Tige also attended a diesel mechanics course in Fargo, North Dakota
Alexander Russel
John E. Gapp
John was born July 12, 1926, in Elm Springs, SD to Otto and Anna (Leonard) Gapp. He joined the US Navy from 1951 to 1954, serving during the Korean conflict. In the mid 1960’s John partnered with his brother Bob Gapp in Sturgis Meat Service. They worked together until Bob’s retirement in the mid 1980’s. John continued to run the business until his retirement in 2000
Nyla McGriff
Nila McGriff, 54, went to her final home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, in Rapid City. She died of a brain aneurysm. She was born Dec. 29, 1959, to Jack and Betty Gasseling in Chadron, NE. She graduated from Rapid City Stevens High School in 1978 and received her BA for Business from Arizona State University. She worked for JC Penney’s in the shoe department for many years
Earl and Miriam Reinhold August 13, 1925 - January 6, 2013
Miriam Caroline (Hood) Reinhold went to be with the Lord on Sunday morning, January 6, 2013, in her home following an extended illness. She was born August 13, 1925 to parents Carl and Pearl (Norman) Hood in Pierre, South Dakota. They later moved to Kadoka, South Dakota where her father became a rancher and her mother a teacher. Miriam married Earl Reinhold on October 18, 1941 in Sundance, Wyoming. From that union, three daughters were born. While raising a family, she continued her education, earning a B.S. and a M.S. from Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma. After three years of teaching high school English, speech and drama, she accepted a position in Waxahachie, teaching the same courses at the college level at her beloved SAGC, now Southwestern Assemblies of God University. During this tenure, she took post graduate studies at Baylor University. She often reflected on how difficult English had been for her and was passionate about making it easy for her students. This was typical of her determination and compassion for others. Organizations which Miriam greatly enjoyed were: DAR (40 year membership), Delta Kappa Gamma, AAUW, Texas Junior College Speech and Theatre Association and Roger Williams Family Association (She was a proud descendent of Roger Williams.) She was a loving wife, mother, grandma, aunt, cousin and friend. She had a great sense of humor and an incredible ability to see the best in all people and circumstances. She was a faithful member of University Church for 52 years. Her church family was a very important part of her life. She was a member of the Adult Sunday School Class and greatly enjoyed assisting with church banquets and travelling with her husband on Daystar tours. She was a mighty prayer warrior who interceded on behalf of her family through life's challenges. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Miriam is survived by daughters Marilyn Thompson and Linda Edwards and her husband Dean; son-in-law Larry Wallace and wife Michele, all of Waxahachie; grandchildren Cami Dodds and husband Bill of Mansfield, Texas, Chad and Sarah Wallace of Rockett, Texas, Brandon Clement of Waxahachie, and Brittanie Thompson of Nashville, TN; great grandchildren Tristen and Landon Dodds, Emma Grace Clement, Elizabeth, Hadassah, and Eve Wallace. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Earl Reinhold, her daughter Jeanette Wallace, and son-in-law Woody Thompson.
Norma Nielsen 1925 - 2014
Norma Lorraine Larson was born on November 2, 1925 in Shelburn Township near Tyler, Minnesota to Arnt and Nettie Larson. She was baptized on November 19, 1925 and confirmed on May 12, 1940. Norma graduated from high school at the University of Minnesota Morris. On October 7, 1945, she married Clarence ‘Pat’ Nielsen.
Ray Shellito 1942 - 2014
LaVonne Remington 1931 - 2014
LaVonne was born July 15, 1931 in Sturgis to Charles and Marilla (Shuck) Hanzlik. Her family lived on Sulphur Creek near Lovell, SD.
She married the love of her life, Cecil Remington, at Fairpoint, SD on July 17, 1949. They made their home on the Schuster place, south of Fairpoint, where they started their family. In October 1956 they moved in with Cecil's parents after losing their entire home to a fire.
W.A. "Dub" Hotchkiss 1925 - 2014
W.A. (Dub) was born at Raton, New Mexico on May 10th 1925, the third child of Lora (Messick) and John Samuel Hotchkiss. He grew up on the home ranch near Capulin, New Mexico and graduated from high school at Des Moines, NM.
Dub loved music especially the lively old hymns. He and his sister, Reta, sang together whenever the opportunity arose. The young brother and sister duo sang in many churches and camp meetings.
Brandon Delzer
Brandon was born January 11, 1999 at Deadwood, SD, to Glen and Cheryl (Aman) Delzer. He grew up in Sturgis and was active in the First Wesleyan Church, school and sports. He was a member of the cross country team and the wrestling team. He also enjoyed the ranch and rodeo life. Brandon's life may have been short, but he lived life to the fullest. Brandon had a big heart and a warm smile.
Colin Larson 2000 - 2013
Colin Nathaniel Larson was the last of the trio to enter the world that early morning of February 2, 2000. In the past 13 short years, he has been a source of laughter and compassion in our family. His tragic passing has torn our hearts apart. We trust that he is now in the arms of his heavenly Father, but he will be sorely missed.
Marvin Morford 1941 - 2013
Marvin was born June 23, 1941 to Ivan and LaVerna (Buchheim) Morford in Highmore, SD. At the age of 17 he went to work for his brother, Dale at the filling station, and at the age of 18, he went to work for the SD Game, Fish and Parks driving heavy equipment. In 1963, he married Gail Peterson in Hot Springs, SD. Also that year, he became the foreman for the Game Fish and Parks, which spanned 38 years. He was also active in the National Guard for 12 years. After he retired, he went to work blading roads for Potterfield Electric, B
Jeanne Kronemeyer 1948 - 2013
Jeanne Kay Kronemeyer loved her family. She was born in Billings Montana on April 13, 1948, to George and Ada Bohl (Ewen). She married Skip Kronemeyer in 1967, and in 45 years of marriage they had four children together: Andrea, Andrew, Nathan, and Peter. She loved being a mother and ushered her children through life, attending every activity and celebrating every achievement. She made sure the family ate a home cooked meal every night and was the glue of her family. The constant encourager, she would listen to any problem large or small, and was a champion for her family.