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Obituaries

Toni Blaire Totton

Funeral services for Toni Blaire Totton were held on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Prairie View Gospel Barn in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Aric Hamilton and Pastor Royal Archer officiating.

Doug Gossard

A celebration of life service for Doug Gossard was held on Monday, July 31, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Colome American Legion in Colome, SD. Burial will be held at a later date. Mason Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Doug was born in Winner, SD, on May 27, 1955, to Kenneth and Lila Gossard. He was later joined by two siblings, Wes and Kena. Doug grew up on the family farm south of Colome. He attended and graduated from Colome High School in 1974. Doug often spoke fondly of his memories of playing football in those days. Upon graduating, he hauled many loads of gravel while also working alongside his dad on the farm. Doug had a sharp mind when it came to livestock and spent much of his time watching rodeos or attending sales when he could.

Wilma Sachtjen

Wilma Jean (Hanson) Sachtjen was born on July 29, 1943, to William and Agnes Hanson. Born premature, and not expected to live long, she defied the odds for nearly 80 years with a “life well lived.” Wilma’s father William passed away when she was six. She and her mother Agnes were a solo pair for many years, most of which they lived in Burke, SD. She also told many stories of living with Agnes’ mother, fondly called Nam, and spending time with her uncle Robert and many cousins. Wilma graduated from Burke High School in 1961 and married Robert Gnirk Sr. on June 13, 1961. To this union, five children were born: Robert Jr. (Bobby), Bart Douglas, Barbi Jo, Rebecca Danielle (Becky) and Beau James. Bob and Wilma raised the kids on the family farm notheast of Burke, SD. Bart died at the age of 22 in 1986, and Beau died at the tender age of one in 1980, both from unexpected and tragic farm accidents.

Marlene Kerner

Funeral services for Marlene Kerner, age 71, of Burke, SD, were held on Friday, July 28, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke, SD. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. She was born on April 27, 1952, to John and Darline (Powers) Gerdes in Mitchell, SD. Growing up, Marlene’s family moved around a lot because of her dad’s work as a truck driver for a construction company. The family would set up camp at each new road construction site and Marlene and her siblings would attend the local schools near the construction camps. Marlene often talked about how she didn’t mind the moving, except for when they attended a small school where she and her little brother (only 13 months younger than her) were in the same class.

Barbara Doty

A funeral service for Barb Doty will be held August 12, 2023, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Hudson, WI. Cremation Society of Wisconsin in Altoona, WI, is in charge of arrangements.

Gayle Bartling

Funeral services for Gayle Bartling were held on Friday, July 21, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Grace Lutheran Church in Burke, SD, with Pastor Philip Henning officiating. Music was provided by the Grace Lutheran Church Choir and Brecken Bartling and Shannon Weller, accompanied by Randy Sachtjen, organist. Brenda Lindwurm and Stacey Larson were in charge of registration. Urn bearers were Benjamin Bartling, Brecken Bartling, and Bryce Bartling. Honorary urn bearers were the Class of 1979. Inurnment was in the Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Marvin Frasch

Funeral services for Marvin Frasch were held on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairfax, SD, with Pastor Bill Heermann officiating.

Claudia Sangster

Funeral services for Claudia Sangster were held on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Clausen Funeral Home in Burke, SD, with Pastor Russ Grim officiating.

Margaret “Peggy” Schwartz

Funeral services for Margaret “Peggy” Schwartz were held on Monday, July 10, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the St.

Marie Spurling

Marie Joyce (Lebert) Spurling was born on February 17, 1937, in Tripp County, SD, and grew up on the family farm in South Dakota with her parents Leroy “Roy” and Dema (Christianson) Lebert and seven siblings. After graduating Gregory High School, she married Edwin M. Spurling on April 9, 1955. They moved together to Anchorage, AK. They later moved to southern California where they made their home for the rest of their lives, first living in Reseda and then in Newhall.