Obituaries

Funeral services for Joseph Kirwan were held on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gregory, SD, with Father Jonathan Dillon celebrant. Kate Kirwan was lector, Patty Willuweit was cantor, Jordyn Kirwan, Kaysen Kirwan, Killian Kirwan and Deklan Kirwan were gift bearers, and Emmett Shaffer and Miles Shaffer were altar servers. Music was provided by the congregation, accompanied by Mary Beth Gergen, pianist. Casket bearers were Jay Kirwan, Riley Kirwan, Colby Kirwan, Wil Kirwan, Jack Stukel, and Bob Brown. Interment was in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Gregory, SD, with military honors conferred by the Gregory American Legion, and the National Honors Team.

Funeral services for Ruth Elliott was held on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gregory, SD, with Father Jonathan Dillon officiating. Music was provided by the congregation, accompanied by Mary Beth Gergen, pianist. Kelsey Bauer and Amber Wilhelmsen were in charge of registration and were flower attendants. Casket bearers were Philip Kahler, Brady Peck, Hayden Bauer, and Jax Bauer. Interment was in the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Ruth Marlene (Dykeman) Elliott was born on the farm southeast of Colome, SD, on September 2, 1934, to Ralph and Edith (Hauf) Dykeman. She graduated from Colome High School in 1952, and then attended Springfield Teachers College.

A memorial service for Lucy Forgey was held on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the Methodist Church in Winner, SD, with Pastor Ron Snethen officiating.

Funeral services for Robert Gray were held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2024, at Grace United Methodist Church in Piedmont, SD. Graveside services were held on Saturday, at Union Cemetery, near Bijou Hills, by Academy, SD. Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City, SD, was in charge of arrangements. Robert was born in Chamberlain, SD on July 29, 1934 to Dale Rex Gray and Delma Madsen, the oldest of four children. Early on in life he found a love for cars. After graduating from Gregory High School in 1952, he attended Springfield College to study mechanical business management and repair. After a year, he came home to help on the family farm and worked at Newsam’s Chevrolet Garage in Gregory.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Colome, SD. Burial was in the Colome City Cemetery. Mason Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Marilyn was born on December 1, 1939, to Ed and Mary Ann (Lampitt) Lewis in Tripp County, SD, and was a 1957 graduate of Keya Paha County High School in Springview, NE. Marilyn met her husband, Vern, in Millboro, SD. They were married on August 6, 1957, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and spent the next 66 years together. They lived on a ranch in Millboro, SD, where they raised cattle, and many cats, throughout the years until they retired. Marilyn wore many hats. Not only did she help run the ranch and raise two sons, but she also worked for the South-Central Adjustment Training Center in Winner, SD providing care to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She was very active in the community, volunteering her time with 4-H and extension clubs. She was recognized by 4-H for over 50 years of volunteer leadership. For many years, on Sunday nights you would find her on the phone with neighbors to collect information for the Millboro News section in the Winner Advocate. Marilyn enjoyed accompanying her husband on the guitar and other instruments when they played country music at community gatherings. She enjoyed attending dances at the Carlock and other dance halls, writing cowboy poetry and reading poems at local competitions, playing cards, and watching movies and Fox News.

Don Floyd Reis, of Sioux Falls, SD, formerly of Chamberlain, passed away in Clearwater, MN. No services will be held.

Funeral services were held for Lorraine Steppat on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, SD.

A memorial service was held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 4, 2024, at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Bridgewater, SD. A celebration of life gathering was held from 1:30-5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, 2024, at the SD Military Heritage Alliance in Sioux Falls. Kinzley Funeral Home of Salem was in charge of arrangements. Susan Garry was born December 21, 1951 in Gregory, SD to Russell Harry and Evelyn Helen (Hoffman) Garry. She grew up in Gregory and graduated from Gregory High School before going on to earn a bachelor’s degree from SDSU. After college, she began working for a bank in Madison, SD before transferring to US Bank, where she was employed for more than 20 years in Sioux Falls and Minneapolis.

A Mass of Christian burial for Robert Walth was held on Friday, March 1, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Fairfax, SD, with Father Jonathan Dillon officiating. Angie Horst was lector, Ava and Emmie Hausmann were servers and Larry and Carleen Cahoy presented the gifts.

Funeral services for Carl Klein were held on Monday February 26, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the Methodist Church in Gregory, SD with Rev, Thanael Certa-Werner and Pastor Scott McClellen officiating. Music was provided by Geoff Smith, vocalist, accompanied by Bette Fogel, pianist. Darlene Shattuck, Sally Shaffer and Linda Mae Leber were in charge of registration. Flower attendant was Jessi Iwan. Casket bearers were Keven Klein, Joe Klein, Wes Schell, Scott Anshutz, Bob Wik, and Bob Fenenga. Burial was in the IOOF Cemetery in Gregory, SD with military honors conferred by the Gregory American Legion, Dallas American Legion, and the National Honors Team. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.