Obituaries

A Mass of Christian burial for Dorothy Fay Pistulka, age 90, of Fairfax, SD were held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Fairfax, SD with Father Jonathan Dillon officiating. Music was provided by the St. Anthony’s and Immaculate Conception Church choirs, accompanied by Roberta Witt, organist. Brylie and Breckynn Pistulka, and Peyton and Harper Vogt were in charge of registration. Casket bearers were Keith Koenig, Brian Koenig, Paul Koenig, Adam Koenig, Brad Pistulka, and Spenser Pistulka. Interment was in the St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery in Fairfax, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

A memorial service for Gayle Bailey was held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Burke, SD with Allie Stangle officiating.

A private family service for Carol Haffield will be held at a later date. A gathering was held for friends and family at the Elks Lodge in Winner, SD on Sunday, December 17, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Mason Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Carol was born in Inglewood, CA, on February 7, 1944, to Joseph and Erliene (Hendrix) Cerny. The family returned home to Burke, SD, from CA when Carol was a young child. Carol graduated from Burke High School in 1962. She worked at the Burke Hospital after high school. In 1963, Carol married Robert Dykeman. To this union, one daughter, Leslie Jo was born. The family lived in Huron, SD, until Carol returned to her home town of Burke, SD, in 1978, then later moved to Winner, SD. She married Barry Sinkular, and they later divorced. In 1993, she married Vern Haffield. They resided in Winner, SD, during their thirty years of marriage.

Funeral services for Inez Kenzy, of Iona, SD, were held on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Prairie View Gospel Barn in Gregory, SD, with Revered Thaniel Certa-Werner officiating.

Funeral services for Deanna Brooks were held on Friday, December 1, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the St.

Mass of Christian burial was held on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD. Burial was in the Winner City Cemetery. Mason Funeral Home of Winner, SD, was in charge of arrangements. Jim was born on September 17, 1925, the oldest of four boys, to Elmer and Sophia (Laur) Harder, in Tyler, MN. His family moved to Burke, SD for several years, and then to Gregory, SD, when he was about five years old. Jim’s father passed away when he was nine years old and he began helping support his family at an early age, by cleaning the bank, starting the furnace there, delivering newspapers, and lifeguarding and managing the Gregory City Pool while in high school.

Rondal Lee Vaughn was born to Vivian Vaughn (Shaffer) and Bill Vaughn in Atkinson, NE, on September 20, 1961. He passed away on November 26, 2023, in Boise, ID, where he lived for many years. Hal Shaffer and Vivian got together in 1966, and raised Ron, Loni, Kevin, and later Monica, in the Gregory area for many years. Ron enjoyed outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and being out in the mountains, and watching his Boise State Bronco football team. Ron was never married or had any children but enjoyed calling, and getting pictures of, his nieces and nephews, and then their children. Ron is survived by his mother Vivian Shaffer of Yankton, SD; two sisters Loni Shaffer (Jilek) of Beaumont, TX, and Monica Shaffer (Dennis) of Menomonie, WI; two nieces Jessica Siebert of Tomah, WI, and Rachel Blick of Rice Lake, WI; two nephews Ryan Burrell of Tyndall, SD, and Braden Burrell of Menomonie, WI; as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins in the Gregory, SD, Atkinson and Fremont, NE areas.

Funeral services for Raymond Bokker, of Dixon, SD, were held on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Marcus Ring officiating. Music was provided by the congregation, accompanied by Lisa Odenbach. Gerrie Soper, Machelle Seeley, Blair Sedlacek, and Cheryl Sperl were in charge of registration. Bernice Klein, Mary Wilson and Mary Kay Drees were flower attendants. Casket bearers were John Bokker, Wayne Kingsbury, Al Fast, Marshall Springer, Dan Hiles, Rock Reman, Barry Routh, and Dillon Springer. Honorary casket bearer were Tim Walker, Terry Springer, Wayne Springer, Bill Sinkular, Roger Steffen, Craig Audiss, Cal Messick, Don Soper, Dale Soper, and Dennis Knittel.

Mark was born on August 21, 1955 in Gregory, SD, to Harris and Dolores (Nelson) Johnson. He received his education at South Dakota School for the Deaf and graduated in 1974. He went to Gallaudet College in Washington, DC. He worked at Communication Service for the Deaf as a sign language instructor, historian, and many other roles. He also worked at Augustana College in the ASL Lab. He was an ASL Instructor at Southeast Technical Institute where many of his students worked under him and became his longtime friends. He worked as a mentor for the students who studied to become ASL interpreters Mark enjoyed quilting, embroidery, crocheting afghans and toys.

Funeral services for Dean Chasing Hawk were held on Monday, November 27, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bonesteel City Hall in Bonesteel, SD with Pastor Ken James officiating. Music was provided by Todd Bearshield. Casket bearers were Brandon Andrews, Barron Andrews, Byron Andrews, Jr., Wade Andrews, Jr., Todd Charging Hawk, Caden Andrews, Payton Chasing Hawk, and Jonah Chasing Hawk. Honorary casket bearers were Byron Andrews, Sr., Xavier Andrews, Brock Bearshield, Jesse Felix, Levi Chasing Hawk, Lonnie Fernau, Jeffery Felix, David Primeaux, Tino Roubideaux, Armando Iron Elk, Larry Charging Hawk, and Jason Stone Arrow and all of his friends, nieces and nephews.