Obituaries

Donna Johnson was born April 15, 1928, in Gregory, SD, the eldest child of the late Lyle and Gladys McCright. Donna enjoyed her family and extended relatives, which included her five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, who all live in the Southern California area, with the exception of a grandson who resides in Hawaii, along with numerous nephews and nieces and their families in various states, including her late brother Bob’s two children, Virginia (Ginny) in Minnesota and Robert (Rob) in Arizona. Donna lived a fulfilling life, having lived in South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Arizona, Oregon, and Southern California with her husband of 73 years, Bob (Robert D.) Johnson.

Private family graveside services were held Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at Highland Cemetery in Fairfax, SD. Emmett Kotrba officiated. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Lori Ann Koenig was born Sunday, April 11, 1965, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Lynch, NE, to Donald and Betty (Stoltenberg) Bentz. She was the only daughter. Lori had four brothers: Darrell, Allen, Chad, and Kevin. She was baptized June 2, 1965 at the United Church of Christ in Fairfax, SD. Lori went to school in Fairfax, where she graduated with the class of 1983. On December 10, 1983, she was united in marriage to Randy Koenig, and to this union one daughter, Charity Lynn, was born in May 1984.

Funeral services for Bryon James Vogt were held Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., at the auditorium in Naper with Pastor John Nelson officiating. Casket bearers were members of the Naper Volunteer Fire Department.

A memorial to celebrate the life of Gregory E. Seeley will be held Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Porter Funeral Home, Lenexa, KS.

Funeral services for Eleanor Vakiner, age 97, of Gregory, SD, will be held on Friday, January 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Prairie View Gospel Barn in Gregory, SD. Burial will follow in the IOOF Cemetery. Visitation one hour prior to the funeral service. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Cremation services for Kenneth E. Smith have taken place. A family burial will be planned for a later date with military honors. Clausen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Ken Smith was born on March 3, 1929. He attended Sunnyside School for his first eight years of school and then attended Burke High School, graduating in 1947. While in high school, he participated in football, track, and boxing. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, and spent most of his four years in Japan and Korea, and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. After the service he attended Southern State Teachers College, and worked one year in Winner as a mechanic. He returned to the farm and spent the rest of his life farming with his dad, and taking care of his folks in their later years. During the earlier years when not farming he spent a lot of time playing baseball for the Lucas and Burke ball clubs as a pitcher for these teams.

Funeral services for Robert Beckers were held on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at the St.

Funeral services for Lois Pepper were held on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Burke, SD, with Pastor Don Windsperger officiating. Music was provided by Lisa Reiman, organist. Avery Ziesler was in charge of registration. Casket bearers were Jeremy Thoman, Brady Meyer, John Baldwin, Paul Baldwin, Jesse Baldwin, and Alec Baldwin. Burial was in the Rosebud Cemetery in Bonesteel, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Lois Jean (Williams) Pepper was born at her grandparents’ home south of Bonesteel, SD, to Roy and Alpha (Lunn) Williams on November 27, 1935. Lois grew up in Bonesteel, attending country school and Bonesteel High School before graduating as valedictorian of her class in 1953. She worked as a teller in the Bonesteel bank both before and after graduation.

Funeral services for Daniel Davidson were held on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the Southern Baptist Church in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Russ Grim officiating. Music was provided by Geoff Smith, accompanied by Colleen Murray, pianist. Kim Shepperd, Pam Barrow, Jeanne Bartling, and Jackie Logue were in charge of registration. Casket bearers were Daniel Steffen, Bradley Steffen, Allen Steffen, Joel Bartling, Jonathan Bartling, Jason Bartling, John VandenBosch, David Kotrba, Michael VandenBosch, Richard Kotrba, and Jeff Schonebaum. Honorary casket bearers were Emmett Kotrba, AJ Steffen, Jim Hogrefe, Jo Schonebaum, Sara Mikkelsen, and the staff at Avera Rosebud Country Care Center.

Funeral services for Donald Petersen were held on Friday, December 27, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. at the St.