Obituaries

Cecil DeVere Johnson was born March 25, 1935, in Gregory, SD. He grew up on a farm outside Gregory, the sixth of nine children of Emer and Martha “Baba” Johnson. His parents, especially Baba, believed in the importance of education and hard work, and Cecil took this philosophy to heart from the very beginning. Cecil attended three rural grade schools from 1941 through 1948. He was an eager, inquisitive student, but on his first day of first grade, he came home with doubts about school because he was there all day and did not learn to read. Despite this setback, he went back to school and did learn to read. Cecil read every chance he had, and his father had to roust “Bubbs” from his reading to do his chores. Thus, his lifelong love of reading, learning, and writing began.

A funeral service for Thomas Hurley was held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Winner Methodist Church in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. Mason Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Thomas Barry Hurley was born on August 2, 1973, in Ponca City, OK, to Billy Ray and Jeanette Sue. They lived in Oklahoma for his early years. In 1977 Barry and his mother moved to Morrison, OK, where Sue was a teacher and Barry attended kindergarten. In 1979 Sue married Roger Robbins, and the family lived in rural South Dakota. Barry attended Hamill Country School, where he discovered one of his loves, basketball. He played for the Hamill Pirates all through grade school, and when he reached the eighth grade he transferred to Winner where he continued to play basketball, graduating in 1991.

A Celebration of Life for Andrew Craig Johnson was held at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD. Interment followed at the Colome City Cemetery in Colome, SD, with Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements. Andrew (AJ) Craig Johnson was born to Steven Craig Johnson and Linda Sue Reed Johnson on October 20, 1992, joining the family with siblings Emily Jeannine and Michael Walter. Andrew started life as a true fighter with a gentle spirit. His fighting started at 18 months old when he fought a nasty infection in his hip. He was in the hospital for many weeks, and his tenacity and strength pulled him through. He was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of eight.

A memorial service for Michael Donald Gunvordahl was held at the Union Baptist Church in Burke, SD, at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, with Pastor Mark Tuttle officiating. Joe Fahrenbacher was in charge of registration, and music was provided by the Mayer family, vocalists, accompanied by Jane Tuttle, pianist. Urn bearers were Anthony Mayer, Mitchel Klundt, Max Klundt, Carson Klundt, Cruz Klundt, and Harley Klaudt. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

A funeral service for Robert Boes was held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at Fairfax City Hall in Fairfax, SD, with Pastor Russ Grim, Pastor Mark Lewis, and Allen Faatz officiating. Tammy Boes was in charge of registrations.

Funeral services for Sandra Marie Determan, age 74, were held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at St. Edward Catholic Church, Racine, WI, with Rev. Allen Bratkowski officiating. Sandy was born October 2, 1950, in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, the daughter of the late George and Patricia (Nobles) Schuetz. On August 21, 1971, Sandy married Thomas R. Determan, formerly of Gregory, SD, in Madison, WI. Together, they settled in Racine, where they built a life rooted in love, family, and faith. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Carthage College and later received her master’s from Cardinal Stritch University. Sandy dedicated over 30 years to SC Johnson, retiring in 2015.

Funeral services for Richard Allen Cushing were held Thursday, June 12, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Marcus Ring officiating.

A funeral mass was held in Prescott, AZ, but graveside services will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at the Herrick Cemetery, in Herrick, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of local arrangements. The second of five children, Don was born on November 19, 1938, in Burke, SD, to Harold and Edna Sieh. Donald Harold Sieh grew up on a farm East of Herrick, SD, with his parents, three sisters, and a brother. His first seventeen years formed the basis for the rest of his life. His parents believed in hard work, respect for others, and love of country and religion. Upon completion of Burke High School at the age of seventeen, he attended Southern State College in Springfield, SD, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science in English and in Industrial Arts.

Funeral services for Earl Ray Tech, age 86, were held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 13, 2025, at Prairie View Gospel Barn in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Keith Cline officiating. Deb Bartling and Diane Boska were in charge of registration.

- Correction A graveside service for Gaile Shaffer, age 81, is scheduled to be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2025, at the I00F Cemetery in Gregory, SD. Gaile Reed Shaffer was born August 27, 1943, in Winner, SD, to Harold Shaffer Sr.