Obituaries

Funeral services for Kelli Schulte were held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the St. Joesph Catholic Church in Gregory, SD, with Father Jonathan Dillon as celebrant. Music was provided by Geoff Smith, accompanied by Katie Opp. Jared Opp was cantor, and Carol Slaymaker was lector. Bev Beck was in charge of registration, altar servers were Eli Ekroth and Gabe Ekroth, and gift bearers were Alex Urbanski and Jordyn Urbanski. Urn bearer was Henry Schulte. Interment will be at a later date in Grand Island, NE. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Kelli Marie (Urbanski) Schulte was born on July 26, 1973, in Grand Island, NE, to Carol (Eastwood) and Jerry Urbanski. She grew up in Grand Island and graduated from Northwest High School in 1991.

Funeral services for Dawn Sand will be held Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gregory, SD. Burial will follow at Dallas Hillview Cemetery in Dallas, SD. Refreshments and fellowship to follow at Mary Vale Hall in Gregory, SD.

A mass of Christian burial for Deloris Rutten was held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, June 19, 2023, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Albion, NE, with Fr. Mark Tomasiewicz officiating. Inurnment was in St. Michael’s Cemetery in Albion, NE. Levander Funeral Home of Albion, NE is in charge of the arrangements. Deloris Darlene Rutten was born May 18, 1935, in Dustin, NE, to Henry and Blanche Diekmann. She was welcomed into the family by one-yearold Donald Dean. The family moved back to Gregory, SD, to take over the original Diekmann farm in 1936. The family grew with four more children - Dee, Phyllis, Donna, and Bob - and two children who died at birth. Deloris attended country school for eight years, then boarded in Gregory for one year of high school. She moved back in with the family when they moved to a farm on the edge of Gregory so the children could all attend school there. She graduated in 1953, then went to a business school in Omaha, NE. She worked in Omaha until 1956. It was during this time that she met Donald Lawrence Rutten of Albion, and they married on July 30, 1956, at the Catholic church in Gregory, SD. Since that time, her home has been in Albion, NE.

A committal service for Lois Besmer was held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the IOOF Cemetery in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Marcus Ring officiating. Inurnment was in the IOOF Cemetery in Gregory, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Lois Loraine Knittel was born on June 9, 1939, the fourth of six children, to Edward and Ola Knittel (Steppat Warden), in South Dakota on the Rezac place south of Dallas. Lois spent her childhood on the family farm near Gregory, SD. Initially attending a one-room schoolhouse with siblings and neighbors, Lois later boarded in town while attending Gregory High School, from which she graduated in 1957. While in high school, she was a 4-H leader of the ‘Ramos Ramblers’. The group sang “The Cattle Call” at the State Fair in Huron, SD, and took first prize. The group then went to Kansas for another performance. While in high school at Gregory High, her interests were bookkeeping and home economics. Lois kept the books at Newsam Chevrolet and enjoyed polka dancing and waltzing at Colome on Saturday nights.

A memorial funeral mass for Rodger Adams was held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Papillion, NE, with a celebration of life following at the Adams’ residence.

Memorial services for Dean Frank were held on Monday, June 12, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Gregory, SD, with Michael Voss officiating. Dawn Davis was in charge of registration. Urn bearers were Heidi Dreeszen, Kurt Frank, and Kory Frank. Interment was in the Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Dean Frank was born on January 22, 1936, in Burke, SD, to Alfred and Frieda (Stahlecker) Frank. Dean and twin Don were the second and third oldest of 11 children.

Funeral services for Lucille Koenig were held on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Bonesteel, SD, with Father Jonathan Dillon officiating. Sara DeBeaumont and Wes Pfaff were lectors, Sarah and Christina Spann were servers, and the great-grandchildren presented gifts.

Funeral services for Kenneth Kahler were held on Friday, June 2, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Clausen Funeral Home in Burke, SD, with Pastor Bill Serr officiating. Taylor Ashdown was in charge of registration. Casketbearers were Brandon Kahler, Michael Preslicka, Kaylon Kahler, Kurtis Atteberry, Dale Pounds, Byrain Boes, Robbie Kahler, and Rick MacDonald. Honorary casket bearers were Jesse Harmer II, Kyle Kahler, Dustin Kahler, Colt Sutton, Rebecca Kolthoff, Beth Beckman, Kari Surpranant, Kelli Zimmerman, Ashley Blakey, Vonna Coker, Amanda Hyde, Brandi Kahler, Brittany Atteberry, Megan Preslicka, and Ryan Kahler.

Funeral services for Doler Hansen were held on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the Clausen Funeral Home in Burke, SD, with Pastor Royal Archer officiating. Casket bearers were Jeremy Hanson, Meagan Schlecht, Samantha Pfingsten, Lucas Hanson, Klint Hanson, and Kinsie Kruger. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Doler Dean Hanson was born in Burke, SD, on June 19, 1934, to Helmer and Alice Hanson. He was born the youngest of three children and was raised on the family farm east of Burke. He attended country school and graduated from Burke High School in 1953. After graduating from high school, he continued the family farm and worked for various construction companies. He married Yvonne (Bonnie) Fredericksen on October 3, 1954. To this union, three sons were born.

Funeral services for Alvin Konop were held on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Kotrba Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD. Casket bearers were RJ Simonson, Kenneth Horse Looking, Brad Kerner, Wade Noble, Delane Arcoren, and Konor Arcoren. Interment was in the IOOF Cemetery in Gregory, SD, with military honors conferred by the Gregory American Legion and the National Honors Team. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Alvin Darrell Konop was born January 1, 1933, to John and Mary (Preslicka) Konop at home north of Dixon, SD. Alvin attended Washington Country School with his siblings. Darrell served his country during the Korean War from April 1953 to March 1955. He received an honorable discharge and was proud of his service.