Obituaries

Committal services for Charles Johnson were held Thursday, December 29, 2022, with military honors at Black Hills National Cemetery. Kinkade Funeral Chapel of Sturgis, SD, was in charge of arrangements. Charles Wayne Johnson, “Charlie”, was born in Lemmon, SD, in Perkins Co., on November 15, 1950, to Ralph Bennet Johnson and Dorothy Agnes (Salzsieder) Johnson. Charlie spent his younger years living on the family farm and attending the Runkel School. Later, the family moved to Mott, ND, where Charlie graduated from Mott High School in 1968. Charlie enlisted in the Army in 1968 (he was 17 at the time). Charlie served two tours in Vietnam, from 1969 - 1970 and 1970 – 1971. Charlie worked in the oil fields, on ranches or farms, and later was self-employed as an upholsterer. Charlie finally retired in the Meade County, SD area where he met Glenda Pastian.

Funeral services for Alvin Hannahs were held on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gregory, SD with Father Jonathan Dillon as celebrant. Music was provided by the church choir, accompanied by Mary Beth Gergen, pianist. Lector was Dave Chocholousek and altar servers were Madisan Graber and Mason Janak. Terry and Linda Bertelsen were in charge of registration. Casket bearers were Bobby Soesbe, Landon Soesbe, Taressa Soesbe, Tiffany Good Shield, Jacob Quinn, Jason Quinn, and Jeremy Jacobsen. 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. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Funeral services for Wesley Andrews were held on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., at the Bonesteel City Hall in Bonesteel, SD, with Mike Horned Eagle officiating. Casket bearers were Todd Charging Hawk, Todd Chasing Hawk, Barron Andrews, Brandon Andrews, Larry Charging Hawk, Shaun Pickner, Trevor Andrews, and Byron Andrews, Jr. Honorary casket bearers were Val Chasing Hawk, Cullen Davis, Byron Andrews, Sr., Dean Chasing Hawk, Burlap Bev Chasing Hawk, Shad Pickner, Kendall McCarthy, John Peck, Jimmy Chlukman, Bill Fernau, Lonny Fernau, Dave Colberg, Robin Weddell, Tony Vogt, Loren LaPointe, Nate Joseph, Roy Vasser, Ken Ubokudom, Anton Jenson, and all of his softball friends and family.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2022, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kenesaw, NE, with Pastor Paul Duffy officiating. Burial was in the Kenesaw Cemetery. Frieda was born on September 19, 1929 to Hans and Clara (Faatz) Stellwag outside of Burke, SD. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. She lived on the farm until age 16 when she moved to a boarding house in Gregory, SD, with her sister, Ruth. She worked at Buche’s until she was married. Frieda and her husband Paul were married on June 2, 1948, in Gregory, SD. They had six children - three boys and three girls: Dennis Paul, Douglas Clark, Pamela Ann, Patricia Jean, Paul William Jr., and Paulette Ellen. Paul and Frieda lived in Gregory, SD, until 1957 when they moved to Gardena, CA. Frieda was a housewife until the twins were in school, and then she worked in the cashier’s office for Sears and Robuck Company until 1980 when she retired. After raising her children, they retired to Clear Lake, CA in 1984. They moved to Lincoln, CA, in 2000, and then to Kenesaw, NE, in 2009.

Memorial services for Arla Wurtz will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church at a later date. Arla was born June 6, 1931, to Adolph and Anna (Voos) Knittel on a farm south of Dallas, SD. She attended Fairview #45 country school south of Dallas, SD. It was a one-room rural school, which was attended by her father, Adolph, and all of her siblings. The country school is still owned by her sister, Judith, who recently refurbished and restored it to its original looks. Arla graduated from Gregory High School with the Class of 1949. She attended college at Southern State Teacher College in Springfield, SD. It was there that she met and later married Kenneth Wurtz of Tyndall, SD. Their wedding took place at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Gregory, SD, on August 12, 1951. They had two sons, Kevin and Keith.

Funeral services for Roland Bender were held on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Bill Serr officiating.

Funeral services for Clifford Hight were held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at the White River Community Center in White River, SD. Burial followed in the White River Cemetery in White River, SD. Isburg Funeral Chapels of Pierre, SD, was in charge of arrangements. Clifford “Tenney” was born to Clarence and Ruth (Rhoades) Hight on October 20, 1938, in Murdo, SD. He joined his older siblings, Phyllis, Cecil, Sharley, Clarice and Curtis. Tenney lived the majority of his life in White River, SD. He was active in sports in high school and was a 1957 White River graduate. He continued being a supportive Tiger fan and went to as many games as possible.

Funeral services for Ardis Krieger were held on Friday, December 9, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lucas Baptist Church in Lucas, SD with Pastor Mark Tuttle officiating.

Funeral services for Robert Tietgen were held on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Clausen Funeral Home in Burke, SD, with Pastor Bill Serr officiating. Music was provided by Steve and Lisa Mayer, and Jacinta Tietgen, soloists, accompanied by Jane Tuttle, pianist. Brandy Peck and Janelle Bartling were in charge of registration. Casket bearers were Jake Tietgen, Jesse Johnson, Jeff Johnson, Mike Mourer, Sawyer Tietgen, and Morgan Tietgen. Interment was in the Herrick Cemetery in Herrick, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Robert William Tietgen was born on April 30, 1930, to Laverna (Glick) and William Tietgen, on their farm 11 miles south of Burke, SD. He attended grade school mostly at Glasser Country School, followed by two years at Herrick High School, and then graduated from Burke High School in 1948.