Obituaries

Jerry Michael Simunek was born September 21, 1950, in Gregory, SD, to Jerry Ralph and Clara Marie (Hotz) Simunek. He shared his life in Gregory with his siblings—Larry, Sharon, Shirley, Cathy, and David. As a young boy growing up in Gregory, Mike was always finding things to do—hunting rabbits and pheasant, fishing with his grandpa and uncles, picking pop bottles out of highway ditches for spending money, helping his family and neighbors on their farms and ranches, and participating as an altar server for the local Catholic parish. The boy never sat still, always on the move.

A funeral service for Joyce Elaine Frank was held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 11, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Marcus Ring officiating. Music was provided by Melanie Hannahs on organ with Kelly Frank as soloist. Linda Purvis and Jeannette Frank were in charge of registration, and Julie Greer and Peggy Cassidy were flower attendants. Urn Bearers were Tamera Bjerke, Matthew Frank, David Frank, Jonathon Frank, and Nathan Bjerke. Inurnment was at the IOOF Cemetery in Gregory, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Wes was born in Winner, SD, on September 18, 1957, to Lila (Dykeman) and Kenneth Gossard. Wes attended Colorado Aero Tech (now known as Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology) in Broomfield, CO, earning an Airframe/ Powerplant Inspection Authorization License. While in Broomfield, he earned his private pilot’s license. After completing his education he returned to South Dakota to become a rancher and pilot.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the Columbus First United Methodist Church at 2710 14th Street in Columbus, NE. Gass Haney Funeral Home in Columbus, NE, is in charge of arrangements.

A memorial service for Marian Gustafson will be held Friday, July 11, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Colton, SD, with Pastor Susan Jennys officiating. Burial will take place prior to the service at 11:00 a.m. at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls, SD. Visitation with family present will be Thursday, July 10, 2025, from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Minnehaha Funeral Home in Dell Rapids SD. Marian Adele (Bishop) Gustafson was born near Hurley, SD, on April 21, 1932, the daughter of Fred and Lois (Powers) Bishop. She grew up on the family farms in the Davis and Hurley area, attending school in the Reiman and Hurley School Districts. The family included brothers Ranald and Kenton and her sister Phyllis.

A memorial service for multi-award-winning Sicangu Oglala Lakota author, historian, and educator, Joseph Marshall III was held at the Charlie and Marla Bull Bear home in Herrick, SD, on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Traditional Lakota Services were officiated by Jerome Kills Small and Richard Broken Nose. Marla Bull Bear read a poem, Echo Garrett gave the eulogy, and Chaze White Feather and Lorenzo Stars were the vocalists. Honorary urn bearers were Charlie Bull Bear, Nate Bull Bear, Mitch Bull Bear, Michael Bull Bear, Lorenzo Stars, and Don Stars. Inurnment will take place at a later date in White River, SD, and Hettinger, ND. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Julie Ann Tyburec was born December 8, 1943, in Winner, SD, to Lumir and Laverne (Anderson) Tyburec. Julie was welcomed into the family by her sister Elaine (Larsen), eventually joined by brothers Stan, Jerry, Ray, Joe, Frank, Dave, and twin sisters Marie and Marilyn. Julie helped take care of her younger siblings, as well as learning how to cook and helping around the house. Julie attended all twelve grades in the Winner School system and graduated in 1961. Julie worked at the Outlaw Store Fountain, where she enjoyed serving ice cream and drinks to the customers.

Funeral services for Gary Shaffer will be held on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the United Methodist Church in Burke, SD, with Pastor Thaniel Certa-Werner officiating. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

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.