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.

Shirley Irene Jorgenson was born on her family farm ten miles outside of Dell Rapids, SD on March 25, 1922 to Conrad and Nellie Marie (Norgaard) Jorgenson; she was the youngest of four children – Viola, Raymond, Norman and Shirley; she traveled back to the farm every August for a family reunion.