Obituaries

A graveside service and interment for Donna Lou Lindgren Swift, age 93, of Fairfax, SD, will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, April 17, 2026, at Highland Cemetery in Fairfax, SD. Pastor Mike Lewis and Todd Baker will be officiating. Clausen Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Funeral services for Kay Ann (Labahn) Grim, age 83, formerly of Burke, SD, will be held on April 25, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke, SD, with burial at Graceland Cemetery. Clausen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Kay Ann (Labahn) Grim was born on September 22, 1942, at Burke Hospital in Burke, South Dakota, to Vernon Romain Labahn and Iola Mae Labahn. Kay grew up in the Gregory and Burke, South Dakota area. In 1948, she began attending the School for the Deaf in Sioux Falls, where she remained until 1967. During her years there, she participated in baton twirling and cheerleading, and learned to tap dance. Kay especially loved dancing by feeling the vibrations of the music.

A Celebration of Life Service for Scott Mc Clellen, age 68, of Valentine, NE, will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the Valentine Berean Bible Church. The burial and graveside service is at 11 a.m., Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Plainview Cemetery, near Maxwell, NE. Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine oversaw service arrangements. Scott Eugene McClellen was born on January 13, 1958, in North Platte, NE, to Donald and Yvonne (Larson) McClellen. He grew up in Maxwell, NE, and attended school there, graduating from Maxwell High School in 1976. After high school, Scott was hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad in North Platte. He was a pipe fitter, switchman, brakeman, conductor, engineer, and yardmaster. He continued his employment with the Railroad for 26 years until he felt the Lord calling him to the ministry.

A funeral service for Wanda Engel, age 101, of Winner, SD, was held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Christ Lutheran Church, in Winner, SD. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. Mason Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

A graveside service for Sheila Ann Christiansen, age 66, of Dallas, SD, will be held at 11 a.m., April 11, 2026, in the Hillview Cemetery in Dallas, SD. Following the service, lunch will be provided at Frank Day’s at noon, followed by a band performing from 2-6 p.m. to celebrate Sheila’s life. Sheila Ann Christiansen was born on April 10, 1959, to Arthur and Claris (Hight) Christiansen. They lived south of Dallas, SD. Sheila graduated from Gregory High School in 1977. She went to college in Minnesota for four years to be a lab tech. She later worked in San Diego, CA, for several years. After her father’s death, Sheila moved back to be with her mother in Gregory. At this time she met her significant other Roger Steffen and they were together for over forty years.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Gary Halva, age 79, of Gregory, SD, was held at 2 p.m., Friday, March 27, 2026, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gregory, SD, with Fr. Ron Garry as celebrant. Carol Anderson and Lloyd Hansen were in charge of registrations and were also honorary casket bearers. Bob Shaffer, Doug Lindquist, Dave Chocholousek, Dennis Hansen, and Greg Lundberg were casket bearers. Interment was at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Gregory, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Gary Raymond Halva was born October 5, 1946, to Ruby Hageman Halva and Neil Halva. The family lived by Neil’s parents, Frank and Mary Halva, near Dixon, SD. In 1962 a tornado took their farm and they moved to Neil’s parents’ place.

A funeral service for Julia June Watts, age 37, of Vermillion, SD, was held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Winner/Ideal Community Hall in Winner, SD, with Pastor Russ Grim officiating. Music was provided by Todd Bearshield.

Vicki Joan Grubbs was born on April 24, 1949, to George and Mary Grubbs. She grew up in Gregory, South Dakota, surrounded by her siblings Terry, Dan, George, Linda, and Starla (Dooley). Her early years in Gregory were filled with family, community, and the experiences that shaped the person she would become. After graduating from high school, Vicki attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. Following her time in college, she moved to San Diego, CA, where she built her life and made lasting friendships. From the early 1970s until her retirement, Vicki was employed as a computer technician, working on both hardware and software solutions.

Barbara Ann Rotter-Ryan was born in Gregory, South Dakota, on February 24, 1947, to Jerome Vincent and Mae Belle Rotter. Jerome and Mae Belle would later welcome Barbara’s brothers, Jerry and Kevin, in 1948 and 1957, respectively. When Barbara was 5 years old, her family moved to California, where she lived the rest of her life. However, she remained very proud of her South Dakotan heritage and would often visit and call her extended family there. She graduated from St. Michael’s Girls High School in 1965. Barbara and Dan Ryan were married in 1969; that same year she graduated from Harbor Junior College as an R.N. They welcomed children Cyndi, Marty, Jeffrey, and Kenny in 1970, 1972, 1978, and 1982, respectively. Her kids meant everything to her, and she tirelessly dedicated herself to them. After her divorce, Barbara met her decades-long partner, Jess Paez. She and Jess made many special and loving memories together, one of which was a yearly trip to Pismo Beach to spend time with Jess’ family, a trip that she always looked forward to.

A funeral service for Krista Lynne Cerny, age 59, of Rapid City, SD, was held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Rapid City, SD, with Rev. Dr. Joshua Jones officiating. Interment was at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD. Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Krista was born in Gregory, SD on August 7, 1966 to Naven and Opal Boes. The fifth of seven children, Krista came into this world knowing nothing but love. Growing up on a farm meant everyone had a job to do. One of her jobs was to clean the milk tanks. Life on the farm taught her the importance of hard work, which she passed on to her children later in life. Krista attended Burke High School. After high school, she attended Mitchell Vocational Technical College where she majored in secretarial studies. While attending school, she met the love of her life, Steven Cerny.