Search Archived Marriage Records
Sylvia Olson
Sylvia I. Olson, 91, Yankton, died Sunday (Jan. 25, 2004) at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton.
Funeral arrangements are pending with Ray, Cantrell & Wintz Funeral Home, Yankton.
June York
June York, age 89, of Yankton formerly of Huron, died Saturday, February 7, 2004 at the Avera Yankton Care Center at Yankton. Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, 2004, at Kostel Funeral Chapel with Rev. Nelson Stone officiating.
June Annette York was born on Nov. 7, 1914, to John and Edith (Wright) York at Sheffield, S.D. She moved to Huron in 1928 and graduated from Huron High School in 1931. She worked at Habichts Department Store and as a secretary at the First United Methodist Church in Huron. June moved to Yankton in the fall of 1961 where she was employed as a bookkeeper at the Gamble Store until her retirement on March 1, 1978.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Huron and the United Church of Christ in Yankton and her interests included watching eagles and plays and reading and working on jigsaw puzzles.
She is survived by one nephew and a cousin.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and three brothers, Leonard, Laverne and J. Pershing York.
The family requests memorials to the First United Methodist Church Foundation in Huron or to the charities of their choice.
Mary O. Thomas
Mary O. Thomas, 87, of Yankton, SD and formerly of Galesburg IL, died Wednesday, March 31, 2004 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton.
There will be a congregation of Mary's friends and family at the Peace Presbyterian Church, 206 E. 31st St. in Yankton at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 3 to celebrate Mary's life. Rev. Ken Woodhams will be officiating. Burial of cremated remains will be in Galesburg, IL, where her parents rest. Kostel Funeral Home, Yankton, will be in charge of arrangements.
Mary was born April 29, 1916, in London Mills, IL, to Walter and Irene (Schuler) Ulm. She grew up and attended school in London Mills and as well as the Methodist Church. The family moved to Galesburg, IL, during the Depression and she graduated from Galesburg High School and later graduated from Browns Business College. She was married, had three children and divorced Ernest Thomas. She raised her children, with the help of her parents, working as a stenographer for the Burlington Northern Railroad.
She wore chiffon dresses to the Coliseum Ballroom in Davenport, IA. She loved music, dancing, convertibles, Milky Way candy bars, swimming, singing toys and she loved hats. She loved to sing and swing with her special friend Howard Goers of Clinton, IA, who passed away in December 2003.
She moved to Yankton, SD, in January 2004 and has made friends at Peace Presbyterian Church, Yankton Senior Center, Memory Lane Apartments, Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton Medical Clinic and Yankton Care Center. The community of Yankton opened their arms and hearts to Mary O.
Mary's memory and joy of life will be cherished by her three children: Carole (Gary) Kling of Yankton, SD, Charles Thomas of San Diego, CA, and Scott Thomas of San Francisco, CA; five grandchildren: Barbara and Patrick Kling, Matthew, Jenny and Emily Thomas; three great-grandchildren, AJ and Hailey Kling and Jessica Wagner have had the opportunity to know Gramma GG.
She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, brother and her kindred spirit, Howard Goers.
Memorial donations may be directed to Yankton Red Cross, P.O. Box 357, Yankton, SD 57078.
Gladys Westling
CENTERVILLE -- Services for Gladys Westling will be held Monday, April 5, at the Centerville Federated United Church of Christ with burial at Komstad Cemetery, rural Centerville, SD.
Visitation will be Sunday from 2-8 p.m. with family present from 2-3 p.m. at the Wass Funeral Home in Centerville.
Gladys J. Westling was born September 15, 1909 in Viborg, SD, to parents Fred and Annie (Fredrickson) Nelson. She died April 1, 2004, at the Good Samaritan Center in Centerville, SD, at the age of 94 years.
Gladys attended rural school and graduated from Viborg High School in 1926. She married Floyd Westling on February 15, 1927. The couple resided in the Centerville area. Floyd died in 1967 and Gladys continued to live here until the present time.
Gladys was a member of the Centerville Federated United Church of Christ where she was active in the Women's Fellowship. Gladys and Floyd enjoyed bowling, dancing, and attending various sporting events together. She also enjoyed playing cards and bingo and the Centerville Senior Citizens Center. Her hobbies were knitting and crocheting and she made numerous afghans and slippers for family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Floyd, two brothers, one sister, and an infant child.
Among those who survive and gratefully shared her life are her son, Jon Westling and wife, Kit, of Springfield, SD; two daughters: Claire Jacobsen and husband, Robert, of Sioux Falls, SD; and Patricia Thomsen and husband, Norman, of Providence Forge, VA; seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; brother, Kenneth Nelson of Viborg, SD; sister-in-law, Gladys Paulsen of Viborg, SD; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Raymond Reiff
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, March 22, 2004, at the First Baptist Church in Avon, with burial in the Tyndall Cemetery with military honors.
Visitation will be at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Avon from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, followed by a prayer service.
Raymond Charles Reiff, son of George and Marie (Radtke) Reiff, was born August 15, 1922, on a farm near Tyndall, S.D. He died Thursday, March 18, 2004, at the North Central Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. Ray attained the age of 81 years, seven months and three days.
Ray grew up on a farm south of Avon. After graduating from Avon High School, he went to Racine, WI, to work in the steel mills. In 1942, Ray enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific during World War II. He was honorably discharged on December 1, 1948. Ray was called back to active duty on May 22, 1951, and served during the Korean War. He left the ship on August 29, 1952, and was honorably discharged on September 10, 1952.
Ray married Myrtle Pelton on December 26, 1951. Six children were born to their union. Ray worked for Schuh Electric for many years and farmed all of his life in the Avon area.
He was a member of the Arthur Wissman American Legion Post 150 in Avon. He will be remembered for his ability to fix anything that was brought to him. He was known as "the Handyman."
Thankful for having shared his life are his wife, Myrtle of Avon; five children: Janet Wormsbecker and husband, Llewellyn of Avon; Larry of Sioux Falls; Peggy Eggers and husband, Jim of Wagner; Connie Gretschmann and husband, Gene of Avon; and Lyle and wife, Lucy of Lennox; seven grandchildren; one great grandchild; four brothers: Lloyd and wife, Ethel; Dale and wife, Cleo; and Bob and wife, JoAnn, all of Avon; and Johnnie and wife, Clarice of Sioux Falls; sister-in-law, Anita Reiff Bitterman of Washington; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Ray was preceded in death by his infant son, James; parents; two brothers: Marvin and Francis; and sister, Alma Nelson and husband, Dale.
Robert Bunker
SANTA FE, N.M. -- Lt. Col. Robert A. Bunker USAF (Ret.), 78, died May 3, 2004, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Memorial service was held May 7, 2004, at French Mortuary, Santa Fe. Burial was in the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Bob was born Oct. 21, 1925, at Yankton to Donald A. and Josephine (Sievertson) Bunker, who were Yankton natives.
Upon graduating from Yankton High School with the class of 1944, Bob enlisted in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program, receiving his Commission and pilot's wings in 1945.
Col. Bunker was recalled to active duty with the United States Air Force in 1951, retiring in 1971. Bob spent a tour of duty as a helicopter pilot with Air Rescue Service in Alaska. He spent several years at Andrews AFB, Md., where he was assigned to the prestigious VIP helicopter flight. He spent a tour of duty in Hawaii during the early space program recovering space capsules that splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.
Bob was assigned to fly "Jolley Green Giant" rescue helicopters at Da Nang Vietnam in 1967. He was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal for rescuing downed aircrew members behind enemy lines.
Bob is survived by three children: Nancy (Tom) Watts, Dulces, N.M.; Margaret Dorneden, Albuquerque, N.M.; and Kevin (Debra) Bunker, Parker, Colo.; three grandchildren: Ashley Dorneden, Rebecca Bunker and Estevan Bunker; two sisters: Dorothy Bunker (Lt. Col. C.R. "Bud") Artley, Whitefish, Mont.; and Donna Bunker Davidson, Red Bluff, Calif.; and two nieces and five nephews.
Tony Chytka
BROKEN BOW, Neb. -- Tony F. Chytka, 91, of Broken Bow, NE, died Sunday, May 9, 2004, at Valley County Hospital in Ord, NE.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 13, 2004, at the United Methodist Church in Wagner, SD. Burial will be in the Z.C.B.J. Cemetery, rural Wagner.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. with the family present from 6-8 p.m. at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner.
Tony Frank Chytka was born February 24, 1913, on a farm southeast of Lake Andes, the son of Anton and Mary (Hasek) Chytka. He died Sunday, May 9, 2004, at Valley County Hospital in Ord, NE. Tony had attained the age of 91 years, two months and 15 days.
Tony graduated from the eighth grade at a country school in Charles Mix County. He continued to live on the farm and help his mother. He married Eleanor Musilek on August 17, 1936, at Lake Andes and farmed for two years on the family farm. They moved to Yankton, SD where he worked for the City of Yankton at the water plant. They moved to Lead, SD where he helped build the high school. They moved back to Yankton where he worked for Fred Jones and Selmar Christianson for many years. After retirement they moved to Lake Andes, SD for seven years and then to Tyndall, SD for 17 years before moving to Broken Bow, NE.
Tony was one of the founders and was a lifetime member of the Yankton Saddle Club, lifetime member of the Loyal Order of Moose and a former member of the Elks.
Tony will be remembered for his enjoyment of riding horses, rodeos, calling square dances and fishing.
Thankful for having shared his life are his wife, Eleanor or Broken Bow, NE; seven children: Delores (Jon) Westling, Springfield, SD, Barbara (Tony) Mazzeo, Parker, AZ, Alvin (Joann) Chytka, Hemingsford, NE, Larry (Peg) Chytka, Erikson, NE, Gary Chytka, Belle Fourche, SD, Tony Ray (Paige) Chytka, Belle Fourche, SD, and Ron (Cheri) Chytka, Broken Bow, NE; 19 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one brother, Ernest Chytka, Lakewood, CA; and many nieces and nephews.
Tony was preceded in death by his parents, a son, two brothers, one sister and one daughter-in-law.
Marene Flyger
HURLEY -- Marene Flyger, 82, Hurley, died Sunday, May 9, 2004, at Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 13, 2004, at the United Methodist Church, Hurley, with burial in the Hurley Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Chapel, Hurley, with a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral chapel.
Marene Elaine Walter was born on November 20, 1921, at Cavour, SD to Raymond and Effie (Bloodgood) Walter. She graduated from Huron High School in 1939 and received her teaching certificate from Huron College. She taught country school in the Huron area and in Hurley. On Feb. 10, 1945, she was united in marriage to Arden Flyger at Cavour, SD. They farmed in the Hurley area before moving into Hurley in 1982. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Eastern Star and was an avid bridge player. Her husband died in 2000.
Grateful for having shared her life are three children: Sandra (Hank) Grammerstorf, Chandler, AZ; Craig (Connie), Hurley; and Randy, Hurley; four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter; a brother, Arland (Lavonne) Walter, Cavour, SD; and a sister, Deloris Busskohl, Seattle, WA.
Jacob Fliginger Jr.
On December 6, 1919, Jake (Jacob Jr.) Fliginger became Jacob and Lydia (Gering) Fliginger's sixth child, joining MaryAnn, Alfred, Sylvia, Rose and Lu Verne. Since the family moved several times, Jake attended various rural schools including District 66. During high school in Marion, Jake was an avid athlete. He was a guard on the high school basketball team and became captain. He also pitched for the MHS softball team. In 1939, Jake graduated in the same class as his sister, Emma. After high school, Alfred Fliginger persuaded his brother to join him and Beatie in Seattle where Jake was able to train as a welder and work for Boeing Aircraft.
While Jake lived in Seattle, he was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Corps as a carpenter. During the two years and almost nine months Jake served overseas, he was awarded three bronze stars for his participation in campaigns in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. He received an Honorable Discharge on October 12, 1945.
Although after Word War II Jake continued carpentry, he became a Caterpillar operator. He was part of the team that constructed the I-90 Bridge across the Missouri River at Chamberlain. Jake remained close to his sister, Emma, and her family, returning often to Marion to visit. Eventually, he returned to Marion where he worked as a groundsman for the REA and later at the apartment building where he lived. Socially, Jake participated in various activities at the American Legion for more than 57 years.
Jake was a caring person and a devoted brother and uncle. He spent much of his time helping others. When his sister, MaryAnn, was in hospice care, he went to Minnesota to be with her. Since MaryAnn wanted potato pancakes, he tracked down a recipe and made them for her. While his brother, Floyd, and sister-in-law, Alice, were settling into their new home in Freeman, Jake insisted on helping. He loaded up his old pickup with a lawn tractor and a section of a harrow and appeared on their doorstep ready to level their yard.
Jake wanted to be perceived as a highly self-sufficient individual. Despite increasing health problems and concerns from his family and friends, he wished to remain in his own apartment and as independent as possible. In January 2004, Jake suffered a severe stroke, which paralyzed his left side. Consequently, he became a resident of the Freeman Community Hospital and Nursing Home where he passed away early Monday, May 17. Jake will be remembered and missed by his brother, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The funeral was held Thursday, May 20, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. at the Salem-Zion Mennonite Church with the Rev. Robert Engbrecht officiating and Ruby Waltner as organist. John Epp, Jacob Fliginger, Trent Fliginger, Brad Gering, Earl Gering and Bob Loof served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers included Maynard Deckert, David Epp, Norman Epp, Raymon Epp, Ralph Fliginger, Fred Muenchow and Neil Muenchow. Interment was at Salem-Zion Mennonite Church Cemetery.
