Obituaries

Sandy Pace was born February 23, 1944, in San Diego, CA, to Jean Kathryn Beck and Samuel Maurice Pace, Jr., but her dad was her mother’s second husband, Al Aakhus. She grew up first in Tulare, CA, until her family moved back to the Midwest, first living in Tripp County, SD, then Itasca County, MN, and later returning to South Dakota. She attended school there, graduating from Gregory High School in 1961.

A memorial service for Ronnie Johnson was held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the Burke Civic Center in Burke, SD, with Pastor Mark Tuttle officiating. Music was provided by Sam Drey, and Kathy Sachtjen and Linda Johnson were in charge of registration. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Urn bearers were Tiny Sachtjen, Ted Sachtjen, DeWayne Bennett, and Wade Swan. Honorary urn bearer were Craig Wischmann, Kiley Schonebaum, Kody Schonebaum, Kassidy Schonebaum, Kip Schonebaum, Klay Schonebaum, Kolt Schonebaum, Jerry Shanahan, and all of Ronnie’s many friends. Ronnie “Pox” Johnson was born on July 11, 1954, in Burke, SD, to Raymond and Dorothy (Benter) Johnson, the oldest of their four children.

Jan Aakhus was born November 14, 1952, in Winner, SD, to Alden “Al” Aakhus and Jean Beck Aakhus. He grew up in Tripp County, SD, and Itasca County, MN, attending a Tripp Co. oneroom schoolhouse and Gregory High School before graduating from Colome High School in 1971. He was a proud union member and a master carpenter and millwright, working on coal-fired plants in the west, oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, the iron range in Minnesota, and on restoration work at Hells Canyon Dam in Idaho. He moved to Casper, WY, from Nampa, ID, where he married Lynn Lolli. They later divorced. Jan Alden Aakhus of Casper, WY passed away December 27, 2024, age 72, in Casper, WY. He is survived by his daughter Paige Aakhus and her partner Grant Lewis, of Casper; grandchildren Allesia, Uriah, and Aurora; sisters Gaetha Pace of Boise, ID, Sally Petersen (Jim) of Racine, WI, Susan Robertson of Baxter, MN, and Sandra Pace (who later passed away); and his many much-loved South Dakota and Northern Minnesota cousins, especially Ken Beck of Tripp County, SD, and Jim Aakhus of Itasca County, MN.

A funeral service for Leon Olson was held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, MN, with Pastor Amy Karlson officiating. Burial followed in the New Ulm City Cemetery. Minnesota Valley Funeral Home of New Ulm, MN, was in charge of arrangements. Leon Arnold Olsen was born in Tyler, MN, on September 2, 1953, to Arnold and Lorraine (Pfarr) Olsen, of rural Lake Benton, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at the First English Lutheran Church in Tyler, MN. He attended Lake Benton and Tyler Public schools. In fifth grade, Leon started playing trumpet. He was in several brass groups and also choir. At the same time, he had interest in the concertina, which his dad played in The Olsen Brothers Band. When Leon asked his mom if he could practice on Dad’s concertina, she said, “Sure, take it out in the grove and practice it there.” Leon played his first “paying” job on the concertina, at the Checkerboard Café, in Lake Benton, at the age of 11. Along with the concertina, he also started playing the bass and rhythm guitar. He started his own band, playing a variety of music for all ages, which worked well for playing at homecomings, proms, and weddings in the area. In 1971, Leon graduated from Tyler Public High School and expanded his musical career by teaching and building concertinas at Brown’s Music Store, in New Ulm. He continued to teach the concertina to all ages, and several of his students have gone on to perform on their own.

Funeral services for Gary Reber, age 60, of Gregory, SD, were held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Prairie View Gospel Barn in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Russ Grim officiating and Ryler Stevicks giving the eulogy. Music was provided by Colleen Murray, pianist, a solo by Geoff Smith, and recorded music. Esther Lindwurm and Sonia Poessnecker were in charge of registration. Flower attendants were Janelle Bartling, Lois Janzing, Kristi Roeder, and Korenn Deger. Casket bearers were Terry Reber, Dean Mumm, Jory Reber, Ted Stevicks, Justin Vosika, Ron Miller, Glen Cook, and John Reber. Jon Johnson, Bryan Nelson, Mikey Moss, and Peter Bramschreiber were honorary casket bearers.

Inez Kenzy 03/23/1927 ~ 11/29/2023 ~~~~~~~~~~~ For My Mom in Heaven I miss your laugh, I miss your advice. I miss the way you always knew when I was sad.

A funeral service for Mandy Sue Haney was held at 7 p.m., Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD. Geoff Smith officiated. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Mandy Sue Haney was born February 21, 1977, to David Haney and Sue (Alleman) Wilcox in Newcastle, WY. Mandy was the youngest in the family, following her older sister Kristina and her brother Doug. She grew up in the Newcastle area and enjoyed being outdoors, especially riding her horse and participating in rodeos. She was also active in volleyball. After earning her GED, Mandy worked with her dad on the pipeline, eventually taking a job with the BNSF Railroad which she held for 12 years. Mandy attended Sinte Gleska University in Mission, SD, and graduated with an Associate degree in Law Enforcement. She was then employed in as an officer in the Mission area.

The funeral service for Kate Gurnsey was held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Mitchell Berean Church in Mitchell, SD. Pastor Jason Schmidt and Pastor Gary Hashley officiated, Ken Boehr was worship leader, and Christina Boehr was pianist. Larrah Kate Murphy was born January 18, 1979, in Boise, ID, to James and Barbara Murphy. Growing up, she lived in various places including Arizona, New Mexico, South Korea, and American Samoa. Katie enjoyed animals of all kinds; she especially enjoyed showing rabbits in 4-H when she was growing up and anything to do with horses. After high school, she received her Education Interpreter Certificate from Front Range Community College in Aurora, Colorado. Being a sign language interpreter for hearing impaired students was truly her passion from the first day she took an ASL class. While in Colorado during the “on campus” part of her studies, she found she liked the area.

Funeral services for Bonnie Jean Fetzer will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in Colome, SD, with Pastor Don Windperger officiating. Music will be provided by Roxi Summerville on organ.

Vernon Paul Voelzke, 91, of Brookings, entered the presence of the Lord on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the Neighborhoods Care Center in Brookings, SD, with his loving wife, Cathy, by his side and his cherished grandson, Greg, on the phone. Vernon, the third of five siblings, was born to Paul and Marie (Janssen) Voelzke on the family farm five miles south of Dallas, SD, on June 23, 1934, during the height of the Dust Bowl in the area then known as the heart of the Dust Bowl—the Gregory/ Tripp County border. His mother, Marie, would moisten tea towels and place them over his bed to protect him from the dust. The Voelzke farm was blessed with an ample supply of safe water, which they shared with their neighbors.