Obituaries

A memorial graveside service for Edith Drey will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD, with Fr. Ron Garry officiating. Interment will take place at the same location. Clausen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Edith Licina Drey was born in Mission, SD, on December 12, 1932, to Charles and Olive (James) Rang. She was baptized in the Catholic Church at St. Francis, SD. She was joined by one brother and two sisters. In 1937, Charles and Olive purchased a farm at Burke, SD, and moved the family there. Edith made her first communion and was confirmed in the Catholic Church in Burke. She attended the McCumber Country School, walking 2½ miles each way.

A celebration of life for Robert Altenburg, age 78, of Pickstown, SD, will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, February 12, 2026, at St. John Lutheran Church in Wagner, SD. Inurnment will be in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Armour at a later date. Peters Funeral Home in Wagner is in charge of arrangements. Robert was born to Charles and June Altenburg and lived a life defined by service, leadership, and an enduring love for family and baseball. Known to most as Bob, he was a steady and dependable presence—reliable, dedicated, and always willing to step forward when others needed him.

A funeral service for Clementine Mary Cane, age 78, formerly of the Milk’s Camp area, was held at noon, Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Bonesteel City Hall in Bonesteel, SD. Casket bearers were Dimitri Serr, Drazen White Bull, Tucson Yellow, Dredan Milk, Lucas Milk, Kingston Milk, and Zachius Wise Spirit. Interment was at Ponca Creek UCC Cemetery in St. Charles, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Clementine Mary Cane was born April 17, 1947, at Wagner, South Dakota to Thomas and Eleanor (LeClaire) Cane. She was a direct descendent of Chief Good Cane Milk. She grew up in the Milk’s Camp area, attended school in St. Charles, SD, and obtained her GED in Pierre, SD. She then moved to Aberdeen to attend Northern State University, graduating in 1995 with a bachelors degree in Social Services. She worked in Mobridge at the Chief Gall Youth Treatment Center and retired due to her health.

The funeral service for Lois Lorraine Baney, age 100, of Gregory, SD, was held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Berean Fundamental Church in Gregory, SD, with David Swift officiating. Pianist Michaela Johnson accompanied the congregation on several hymns. Dottie Shoemaker and Janeen Hlavka were in charge of registration, and Fawn Swift and Patience Swift were flower attendants. Casket bearers were Boaz Swift, Judah Swift, Malachi Swift, Jeremiah Swift, Andrew Wiedeman, and Daniel Shoemaker. Frank Fulwider, Boyt Young, Steve Johnson, John Jacobsen, Doug Roggow, and Daren Roggow were honorary casket bearers.

Mass of Christian Burial for Lawrence “Larry” John Schaff, age 77, was held at 11 a.m., Thursday, January 22, 2026, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Mandan, ND, with Father Fred Harvey as celebrant and Annette Hausauer as lector. Burial was at the Mandan Union Cemetery in Mandan, ND. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home of Gregory, SD, was in charge of arrangements. Lawrence John Schaff was born at Mandan, North Dakota to Frank G. and Caroline (Wetsch) Schaff on Friday, April 9, 1948. Lawrence grew up on the farm north of Solen, North Dakota. Lawrence attended country schools and received his 8th grade diploma. He experienced rural electricity coming to the farm and the family’s first TV.

A funeral service for Reed Harter, 28, of Ethan, SD, formerly of Colome, SD, was held on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Greg Sherman Memorial Colome High School Gymnasium in Colome, SD. Burial will be held at a later date. Mason Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Marvilla Fern Williams, 93 years, December 15, 2025, Topeka, Kansas. Cody Dean Vogt, 35 years, December 8, 2025, Herrick, SD.

Memorial services for Chance J. Becker, age 32, of Utica, Nebraska were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at the VFW Post 1644, in Norfolk, NE. Chaplain Gordon Braun officiated. Home for Funerals in Norfolk was in charge of arrangements. Chance James Becker was born in Norfolk on December 16, 1993, to Serena (Carstens) Clarkson and Donald Henry Sand. He was adopted at a young age, but reconnected with his birth mother in 2011. He would call her daily and text as often as he could. Upon turning 18, Chance joined the Marines and was proud of his time in the service. He was a jack of all trades, successfully running CJ’s Handyman Service in Utica, Nebraska.

A family visitation and celebration of life for Barbara Tilton, age 71, of Winner, SD, was held on Friday, January 16, 2026, from 4-7 p.m., at Kotrba Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Barbara Ann Tilton was born December 10, 1954, at Camp Chaffee, AR, to Sylvester and Lila Ann (Miller) Heying while her father was stationed there. In her early years, they lived on her grandparents’ farm. As she grew, she enjoyed helping her grandpa with chores and some fieldwork, learning to drive his tractor and pickup. She also learned how to care for and ride her horse.

A graveside service for Mary Margaret “Peggy” Powell, age 89, of Gregory, SD, was held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at My Pisgah Cemetery in Gillette, WY, with Pastor Alex Bendig officiating.