Obituaries

A visitation for Dennis Matucha was held on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Kotrba- Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD, with Earl Michael Boxa officiating.

Imogene Shaffer Wittenhagen was born in her Grandma Emma’s house north of Lucas, SD, on April 24, 1934, to Vilas and Florence Shaffer. She lived in Lead, SD, for several years, and then her family moved to the farm north of Gregory, SD, in 1941.

Funeral services for Oma Marek, age 97, of Gregory, SD, were held on Monday, April 10, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Russ Grim officiating. Music was provided by Bob Wik, vocalist, accompanied by Bette Fogel, pianist. Casket bearers were Oma’s grandchildren. Interment was in the Czech National Cemetery in Gregory, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Oma Jean Lewis was born on November 26, 1925, to Guy and Anna Lewis at Paxton, SD. She was the youngest of five children. Oma attended country school through eighth grade, at which time she went to help on the family farm. On October 31, 1942, she married Joe Marek in Butte, NE. From this union, three daughters were born: Mary Ann, Joan, and Cindi. Together, they built a life in the Gregory area, farming until 1961, when they moved to town. Oma was a woman of many talents, working for Gregory High School as a lunch lady, and then as a clerk at Buche’s Grocery, while looking after her family and loved ones. In her later years, she worked with her son-in-law Jeff at Plains Printing. She had a talent for cooking and sewing, and poured her heart into every stitch of her crocheted blankets, which she gave as gifts. She and Joe celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a family get-together in October 2002.

A celebration of life for Mildred Clausen was held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Union Baptist Church, Burke, SD. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery in Burke. Midge was born on August 28, 1929, in rural Herrick, SD, to Raymond and Olga Duerfeldt. Midge lived on a farm for many years. She began school in St. Charles, SD. The family moved to Aberdeen, SD, for two years before returning to a farm south of Burke where she finished elementary school at the Klug School. She attended Burke High School, graduating in 1947. In the fall of 1946, she started dating Cam Clausen. They were married June 17, 1947. Midge and Cam went to Mortuary School in St. Louis, MO. They returned to Burke where Cam worked with his dad at the funeral home. Midge took her apprenticeship and was licensed in 1950.

Funeral services for Thomas Fernau were held on Monday, April 3, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bonesteel City Hall in Bonesteel, SD, with Pastor Russ Grim officiating.

Jim was born in Dallas, SD, on July 2, 1937, to Francis and Bertha (Determan) Putnam in a house made of sod. Delivered by his granny, he grew up on a farm in south central South Dakota with no electricity or indoor bathroom. He was the fifth child of six children. He went to a oneroom schoolhouse through the eighth grade. He had to move into town, and live at a boarding house. He graduated from Gregory High School in 1955. After high school, Jim moved to Minneapolis, MN, to work for his uncle and aunt selling home improvement products doorto- door. Jim was drafted into the Army in 1960 and served two years spending some of that time in France and Germany. He was honorably discharged from the Army Reserves in 1966.

Funeral services for Greg Petersen were held on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Grace Lutheran Church in Burke, SD, with Pastor Philip Henning officiating. Music was provided by Randy Sachtjen, organist; Jolene VanMetre and Karen Martin were in charge of registration. Casket bearers were James Petersen, Tim Martin, KayCee Martin, Darrell Bentz, Rod Frank, and Ivan Nelson. Honorary casket bearers were Blue Indahl, Tiny Sachtjen, and all of his card playing buddies. Interment was in the Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

A celebration of life for Thomas Shouse was held in Gregory, SD, at Stukel’s Birds & Bucks on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. Hansen Funeral Home of Vermillion, SD, was in charge of arrangements.

Mary Elizabeth Schneider was born on January 19, 1960, in Wagner, SD, to Norman (Clarice) and Bonnie (Payer) Deal. She married William Schneider in 1991.

Funeral services for Dorothy Moor were held on Monday, March 27, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Bonesteel, SD, with Pastor Samuel Crass officiating.