Obituaries

A celebration of life for Greg Jay Hansen, age 77, of Butte, Nebraska, was held at 4 p.m., Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Butte Community Center in Butte. Pastor Leif Hasskarl officiated. Sierra Fleer and Catilina Knox did the readings. Clay Hansen, Ian Hansen, Garrison Hansen, Colby Hansen, Derris Hansen, River Hansen, and Callum Hansen were urn bearers. Interment will be held at a later date at Butte Cemetery, in Butte. Greg Jay Hansen was born on April 12, 1949, in Lynch, Nebraska, to James Sieler Hansen and Iola Belle Statsman. Greg grew up in Butte and attended Butte Public School. On November 9, 1968, he married Kathy V. Fernau, and to this union came three boys — Bob, Tim, and Scott. Greg attended Chadron State college before returning to Butte to start his career.

A memorial service for Evelyn Mae Chaput, age 91, long-time resident of Cooperstown, North Dakota, will be held Thursday, June 11, 2026, at St. George Catholic Church in Cooperstown. Quam-Plaisted-Cushman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Evelyn Chaput passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at St. Catherine South in Fargo on March 8, 2026. Evelyn was born November 23, 1934, in Winner, South Dakota, to Arthur and Mae (Long) Ekberg. Evelyn graduated from high school in Osnabrock, North Dakota, and continued her education upon graduation at Mayville State, receiving her teaching certificate, and taught for three years in a country school. Evelyn also did in-home daycare and bookwork for the local elevator.

A celebration of life for Mark Everett Lindquist, age 56, of Gregory, South Dakota, was held at 5 p.m., Sunday, May 31, 2026, at Prairie View Gospel Barn in Gregory. Honorary urn bearers were Roy Groeneweg, Steve Esterling, Jim Mikkelsen, Chris Lindquist, Kalvin Walker, Scott Zimbelman, Tanner Reuer, and Alan Spanns. Burial on the Lindquist ranch will take place at a later date. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mark was born on December 1, 1969, in Burke, South Dakota, to Arvid and Janice (Fode) Lindquist. He was the second-born son in the family and grew up with a love for animals, the outdoors, and hard work. He was known for sneaking extra food for his share of the animals. He graduated from Gregory High School, where he played football throughout his high school years.

A funeral service for Betty Lou Doris Stevicks, age 91, of Burke, South Dakota, was held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 29, 2026, at Grace Lutheran Church in Burke. Pastor Philip Henning officiated.

A funeral service for James Lee Liewer, age 77, of Boyd County, Nebraska, was held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Butte. Fr. Bernard Starman officiated. Laura Reiman was the lector, John Reiman and Jake Ohri were the servers, and Steve Liewer was the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. Ann Albro and Carol Herman were in charge of registrations. Music was provided by Mike Baldwin, accompanied by Pat Thiry on organ. Casket bearers were Cullen Davis, RJ Dummer, Leonard Zuhlke, Cory Davis, Todd Dummer, Colin Zuhlke, and Patrick Wismer. Interment was at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in Butte. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

A funeral service for Dennis Dean Schoenefeld, age 81, of Butte, Nebraska, was held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Butte, with Pastor Leif Hasskarl officiating. Casket bearers were Bruce Schoenefeld, Clayton Schoenefeld, Weston Schoenefeld, Todd Stoltenberg, Gary Stoltenberg, Kyle Raasch, and Griffin Goodwin. Ty Schoenefeld, Mitch Raasch, Lilly Goodwin, Layla Goodwin, Brinley Schoenefeld, and Sawyer Schoenefeld were honorary casket bearers. Cristy Brooks was in charge of registrations, and Vivian Frasch was the organist. Dennis Dean Schoenefeld was born in Burke, SD on October 1, 1944, to Alvin and Vera (Sieh) Schoenefeld. He grew up on the family farm seven miles west of Naper, Nebraska. Dennis attended country school through 8th grade. He graduated from Naper High School in 1962. Immediately following High School, Dennis worked as a ranch hand for a brief time. Thereafter, he stayed in Omaha while attending barber school, earning his barber’s license in 1966.

A memorial service for Elma Rose Chocholousek, age 99, of Gregory, South Dakota, was held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 23, at United Methodist Church with Reverend Thanael Certa-Werner officiating. Ryan Chocholousek delivered the eulogy.

Michael Carsten Hansen was born on March 3, 1953 in Winner, South Dakota, to Richard Hansen and Colleen Turney Hansen. “Mike” as he was called, enjoyed South Dakota farm life in his earliest years, and that is where he developed his love of animals. Work soon took the family to Denver, Colorado, where he attended elementary school. When the family moved to McAllen, Texas, to be near his Hansen grandparents, Mike went on to graduate from PSJA High School, at Pharr, Texas. While in high school he was identified as gifted and had the opportunity, along with a few other students, to be transported to Pan American University to take extra classes. After graduation he attended Pan American University (now the University of Texas-Pan American) at Edinburg for one year and spent a second year at Texas A & I University (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville).

Bill Bullard R-CALF USA CEO For decades, beef packer concentration was a silent killer of America’s cattle farming and ranching operations and beef price fairness for American consumers. Market concentration reduced competition, shrinking marketing opportunities for cattle producers and distorting both cattle and beef prices.

Gary Raymond Halva, 79 years, March 22, 2026, Gregory, SD. Rose Mary Hotz, 103 years, May 10, 2026, Gregory, SD.