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Dorothy "Dottie" Rice
age 87 of Philip, South Dakota, died November 1, 2009, at the Hospice of the Hills in Rapid City.
Dorothy M. Gottsleben was born February 25, 1922, on the homestead, near Philip, South Dakota, the daughter of Paul and Minnie (Jensen) Gottsleben. When Dorothy was two weeks old her mother died, and then she was raised and adopted by her maternal grandparents, Nels and Bena Jensen. She grew up on the Jensen Ranch which they had homesteaded in 1890.
Dorothy graduated from Philip High School in 1938, and then attended Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish for two years. Dorothy taught school in South Dakota for three years before moving to Seattle, Washington, in 1944. She met her future husband Harrison A. Rice, who was a test pilot for the B-17 Bomber at the Boeing Aircraft Company.
Dorothy was united in marriage to Harrison Rice in 1948, while living in Glendale, California. In 1951, they moved to New Jersey and lived mostly in the Hasbrouck Heights Area. Dorothy worked for the Bendix Corporation in Teterboro, New Jersey for 26 years and was editor of the company’s employee publication for 20 of those years. She was active in state and national editors associations and served on the Board of Directors of both.
Dorothy received her BS Degree in Public Relations from Columbia University in New York City in 1974. Her husband Harrison preceded her in death in February 1977.
Dorothy continued to live in New Jersey until May 1979, when she moved back to Philip, South Dakota. She served as Clerk of Courts in Haakon County until August 1980. In 1981, she moved to Rapid City where she worked in the sales office of Motorola until retiring in 1987. She had resided at Westhills Village Retirement Community from 1984 to 2004, when she moved into the Silverleaf Assisted Living Center in Philip.
Survivors include her Jensen and Gottsleben cousins, which include Carrol Foland and her husband Vern and their family, James Gottsleben and his wife Myrna and their family, Mary Agnes Pekron and her husband Hank and their family, the Clark Morrison family, Richard Lindgren and his wife Rose and their family, and Ann Patnoe and her family.
In addition to her husband Harrison, Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, and her cousin Bonnie Morrison.
Visitation was held 3-5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Wednesday.
Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday. November 4, at the First Lutheran Church in Philip, with Pastor Frezil Westerlund officiating.
Interment was at the Masonic cemetery in Philip.
A memorial is established.
Glen H. Gropper was born February 2, 1921, in Platte, South Dakota, the son of Herman and Ida (Odefey) Gropper.
As a child, he moved with his parents to Jackson County in 1925. They lived near the Fairview community for one year before moving to a farm-ranch west of Belvidere. In 1934, they moved to a farm-ranch in the Nancy Hank Creek area until 1939, when they moved into Kadoka. Glen graduated from Kadoka High School.
Glen was united in marriage to Florence Folsom on July 20, 1941 in Kadoka, South Dakota. After their marriage, Glen worked as an engineer for the Milwaukee Railroad until serving in United States Army during WWII. After his discharge, he returned to Kadoka where he served with the U.S. Postal Service. He retired as Postmaster in 1981.
Glen was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Kadoka, the American Legion Post #27, the V.F.W., the Masonic Lodge, and the Yankton Consistory.
Grateful for having shared his life include his wife Florence of Kadoka; one daughter Sandra Lynne Otis and her husband Paul of Thornton, Colorado; four grand-children, Darrell Otis of Thornton, Colorado, Mitzi Mitchell and her husband Chip of Kadoka, Marci Schortzmann and her husand Dan of Gunnison, Colorado, and Michelle Hook and her husband Todd of Rochester, Minnesota; six great-grandchildren, Brandon and Tyrel Mitchell, Shania and Race Schortzmann, and TiShea and TiMarie Hook; one sister, Wilma Stout and her husband Roy of Kadoka; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Glen was preceded in death by his parents, and a son, Rodney D. Gropper, on November 1, 1998.
Glen H. Gropper, age 83, of Kadoka, died Wednesday, February 04, 2004 at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.
Visitation was held 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Kadoka.
Funeral services were held 2:00 p.m. Monday, at the Presbyterian Church in Kadoka, with Pastor Gary McCubbin officiating.
Interment was in the Kadoka cemetery.
Gladys Bear Heels
age 83 of Belvidere, South Dakota, died July 15, 2007, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.
Gladys was born August 25, 1923, at West Bend near Ft. Thompson, South Dakota, the daughter of Grace Bear and Van Meter Kennedy. As a child she moved with her family to Norris, South Dakota, where she spent her childhood and being raised by Sam Chasing Horse, Sr.
She was united in marriage to Stacey Bear Heels on April 15, 1947. They resided on a ranch south of Stamford, South Dakota, until 1953, when they moved to Belvidere, where she resided until her death.
Gladys was a very loving and devoted mother and grandmother. She worked a variety of jobs and retired from Burns Brothers in 1988, where she cooked for many years.
She leaves behind to mourn one son Leland Bearheels and his wife Iris of Kadoka; two daughters Jerilyn Means of Belvidere, and Marlene Kried and her husband Fred of Potlatch, Idaho; sixteen grandchildren; forty-four great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; a special niece Charlene Ceni Ceros of Belvidere; two sister-in-law Martha Shot of Belvidere, and Ida Estes of White River; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Gladys was preceded in death by her husband Stacey Bear Heels on December 20, 1989; a granddaughter JoAnn Grace Romero; a grandson Craig Bearheels; a great-granddaughter Krisene Bearheels; two sisters Katherine Dismount, and Theresa Chasing Horse; two brothers Roger and Sam Chasing Horse; a son-in-law Robert H. "Bob" Means on June 26, 2005; and several siblings in infancy.
Visitation was held 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Kadoka, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Thursday.
There will be a family prayer service on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the chapel in Kadoka.
Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 19, at the Belvidere Community Church in Belvidere, with Rev. John Spruhan officiating.
Interment, next to her husband Stacey, was held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, at the Black Hills National cemetery near Sturgis, with Chaplain Paul Lupkes officiating.
A memorial is established.
Craig Bearheels
age 45 of Kadoka, South Dakota, died October 12, 2006, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.
Nicholas Craig Bearheels was born March 9, 1961, at Pine Ridge, South Dakota, the son of Leland and Iris (Romero) Bearheels. He attended elementary school in Spearfish, and later in Kadoka. He graduated from Kadoka High School in 1979.
He worked on the family ranch and made his home in Kadoka.
Craig was united in marriage to Barbara Taylor of Brixham, London, England, and to this union a son Andrew Craig was born.
Craig leaves behind his wife Barbara Taylor-Bearheels of London, England; his seven year-old son Andrew Craig Bearheels of London; his parents Leland and Iris Bearheels of rural Kadoka; four brothers Jerome "Lee" Bearheels of Aberdeen; Ryan Bearheels of Kadoka; Harold Bearheels of Brookings; and Sheldon Bearheels of Sioux Falls; five sisters Robin Bearheels of Seattle, Washington, Jewel Bearheels of Kadoka, Christle Bearheels-Ricketts of Kadoka, DeAnn Bearheels of Rapid City, and Laurel Bearheels of Kadoka; his maternal grandfather Vetal Romero of Kadoka; his paternal grandmother Gladys Bearheels of Belvidere; ten nephews; and ten nieces.
Craig was preceded in death by maternal grandmother Nancy Romero; his paternal grandfather Stacy Bearheels; and a niece Krisene Bearheels.
Visitation was held 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 13, at the Presbyterian Church in Kadoka, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m.
Funeral services were held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 14, at the Presbyterian Church, with Pastor Gary McCubbin officiating.
Interment was in the Kadoka cemetery.
A memorial is established.
William E. "Bill" Becker
age 85 of Wall, South Dakota, died November 22, 2001, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.
William E. Becker, better known as Bill to his family and friends was born October 29, 1916 on his parents farm north of Wall, SD the son of Wilhelm (William) and Rosalie (Geigle) Becker. He grew up on the farm and received his education in the Huron rural school in that area.
Bill was united in marriage to Irene Clink on April 8, 1944 at Rapid City, SD. They made their home on the Becker farm north of Wall which they operated until retiring and moving into Wall in 1982.
He continued to reside in Wall until health reasons forced him into the Philip Nursing Home in July of 1999.
Bill was a member of the United Methodist Church of Wall and he had served on the Huron Township Board for several years.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Irene Becker of Wall; a daughter, Helen Crawford of Wall; one step-granddaughter and two step-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephew .
Bill was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation was held on Sunday Nov. 25, 2001 at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Wall from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and one hour before the services at the church on Monday.
Funeral service were held 10:00 a.m. Monday November 26, 2001 at the United Methodist Church in Wall with Pastor Jim Cissell officiating.
Interment was in the Wall cemetery.
Alice Beckwith
age 87 of Kadoka, South Dakota, died March 25, 2007, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.
Alice Margaret Beckwith was born July 3, 1919, to Harmon and Mabel Loers in Parker, South Dakota. As a young girl she moved with her parents to a ranch south of Pierre where she attended rural school. She stayed in Pierre in a boarding house in order to attend high school, which she graduated from in 1937.
She then went to St. Mary’s School of Nursing where she cared for her favorite patient Louis Beckwith. They were married
August 6, 1942. She then graduated as an RN in September of the same year. They had three boys join this union Larry, Jim "Digger" and Ed. After their marriage they lived in Rapid City a few years while Louis was active with the Civil Air Patrol. They then moved to a ranch east of Interior where they made their home, a home without the comforts of running water or electricity for a short time, which she was accustomed to at Pierre. They raised their boys between the ranch and the house in Kadoka. She lived on the ranch until the death of her husband in August of 1966. She then worked at the Kadoka Hospital as a nurse. She later lived in Pierre and Rapid City. She moved back to Kadoka in the fall of 2000 where she lived at the Gateway Apartments.
She was actively involved in the Cowbelles which she served as President from 1955 to 1956. She was member of the Eastern Star and recently received her fifty year pin. She enjoyed reading, crocheting and traveling. Survivors include three sons Ed Beckwith of Kadoka, Larry Beckwith and his wife Mary of Gothenburg, Nebraska, and Jim "Digger" Beckwith of Spearfish; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husband Louis, Alice was preceded in death by her parents and two brother Glen Loers and Willard Loers.
Visitation was held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, at the Presbyterian Church in Kadoka, and one hour preceding the services on Wednesday.
Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 28, at the Presbyterian Church in Kadoka, with Pastor Gary McCubbin officiating.
Interment was at the Kadoka cemetery.
A memorial is established.
Rose W. Bell
age 95 of Wall, South Dakota, died January 18, 2003, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in New Underwood.
Rose W. Bell was born April 13, 1907 at Ayrshire, Iowa, the daughter of John and Katherine (Brattmiller) Bell.
At the age of ten months, she moved with her family to their homestead sixteen miles northeast of Scenic in February 1908. She received her elementary education in a one room rural school, District #48 on Quinn Table, walking four miles to school. She attended Scenic High School and graduated in 1926. After attending a summer at Black Hills Teachers College she taught her first year (1926-1927) north of Wall at Pleasant Hill #51. The following thirty-two years she taught in and around Scenic, retiring in 1965.
In the 1970’s Rose and her brother Hank Bell moved from Scenic to Hot Springs, where they lived until Hank’s death in 1990. She then moved to Rapid City and lived for a short time with her niece, Eva Marsh. The following year she resided with a great-nephew, Butch Pipal before moving into Prairie Village Apartments in 1995.
Rose was an avid reader, loved working crossword puzzles and hunting rocks with her friends.
Rose is survived by a nephew Leo Marsh of Spearfish; two nieces Dorothy Davidson of Caulfield, Missouri and Eva Marsh of New Underwood; several great-nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Rose was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Bert, Fritz, and Hank Bell; and two sisters Mattie Marsh and Lizzie Pipal.
Graveside services will be held at a later date at the Scenic cemetery.
Ursula Bendigo
age 70 of Howes, South Dakota, died May 14, 2003, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.
Ursula V. Garreau was born November 7, 1932 on a ranch west of Ridgeview, South Dakota, the same place where her father and grandfather were born, the daughter of Robert John and Harriet Josiphine Dupree (Codotte) Garreau.
She grew up in Ridgeview and attended school at St. Joseph Mission in Chamberlain and later at Cheyenne River Agency Boarding School where she graduated from high school. She then attended St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Pierre where she graduated as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She worked at the Cheyenne River Agency Hospital until she entered the United States Navy. She spent eighteen months at San Diego and the next eleven months at Pearl Harbor.
While in Hawaii she was united in marriage to Larry V. Bendigo. They lived in Port Hueneme California for two years before moving back to her house in South Dakota. In 1961 they moved to the Milesville area and in 1966 they began operating the Bendigo Ranch where she has since resided.
Ursula was a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cherry Creek.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband Larry of Howes; four sons Mark Bendigo and his wife Jaylene of Rapid City, Kim Bendigo and Sarah Holt of Missoula, Montana; Cody Bendigo of Howes, and Beau Bendigo and his wife Susanne of Rapid City; three daughters Holly Wolforth and her husband Kent of Java, South Dakota, Lynette Kurth and her husband Russ of Rapid City, and Kateri Nelson and her husband Mark of Mobridge; and several grandchildren.
Ursula was preceded in death by her parents; one brother Mervin Garreau; and one sister Janet Garreau.
According to her wishes, there will be no visitation.
Graveside services were held 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 16, at the Bendigo cemetery near Howes, with Eugene Weaver and Beau Bendigo officiating.
Virginia A. Bennett
age 80 of Philip, South Dakota, died October 27, 2001, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.
Virginia Arlene Bennett was born February 1, 1921 in Shannon County, near Martin, South Dakota, the daughter of Lou Allen and Effie May (Hiatt) Alexander. She is the last surviving member of eight children. The Alexander family moved to Bedford, Iowa during the early 1930’s. Virginia returned to South Dakota in 1949.
Virginia was united in marriage to Orville Bennett on November 6, 1958 at Geddes, South Dakota and to this union was born two sons, Merlin Orville and Glen Arthur Bennett.
Virginia was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Philip. She has always enjoyed her family and took great pride in her home, yard and garden.
Grateful for having shared her life are two sons, Merlin Bennett and his wife, Susan of Pierre, South Dakota; Glen Bennett and his wife, Rose of Philip, South Dakota; three daughters, Shirley Moore and her husband, Virgil of Redwing, Minnesota; Nancy Halabi and her husband, Ed of Diamond Bar, California; Toni Rhodes of Albuquerque, New Mexico; ten grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husband, Orville, she was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers; and two sisters.
Visitation was held at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Philip on Tuesday October. 30, from 2-6 PM and one hour before the services at the church on Wednesday.
Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 31, 2001 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Philip with Pastor David Otten officiating.
Interment was in the Masonic cemetery in Philip.
A memorial is established.
Curtis L. Bentley
age 90 of Midland, South Dakota, died November 2, 2009, at the Philip Nursing Home.
Curtis Leroy Bentley was born February 22, 1919 on the family homestead north of Midland, the son of Thomas O. and Ida Marie (Sandal) Bentley. He was baptized and confirmed at the Deep Creek Lutheran Church.
He grew up and received his education at the Butte School in the Moenville area. After his schooling, he worked at the Spurling ranch as a ranchhand for several years.
At the age of 21, Curtis was one of the first Haakon County citizens to be drafted into WWII. While in the Army, Curt rebuilt engines of tanks and jeeps with Troop C, 125th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. He took part in the battles at Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe. He was very dedicated to the service and a definite asset to the Army, receiving the Bronze Star Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal, American Theater Service Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, and three Overseas Service Bars.
After his discharge on October 31, 1945, Curt returned to the family farm, purchased a truck and hauled cattle in that area. During that time he was also very active in the farm and ranch operations. In 1952, his father Thomas died, at which time Curtis became a father figure to his younger sisters as well as the main overseer for the farm and ranch.
Curtis remained on the farm with his mother and sisters. In 1973 his mother died, and Curtis took over the responsibility of township clerk for that area. Curtis remained on the family homestead until 1998, when he moved into the Philip Nursing Home.
Curtis was an active member at Deep Creek Lutheran Church, for over 80 years, as well as a member of the American Legion Post #143 of Midland.
Curtis was very proud of his high quality Hereford cattle.
He was also a favorite uncle to his nieces and nephews. “I didn’t have children but had many nieces and nephews”, Curt would tell people, treating his nieces and nephews as his own children.
Grateful for having shared his life include two sisters Dorothy Nelson of Fargo, North Dakota, and Susie (Nelsen) Bentley of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; a sister-in-law Alice Bentley of Rapid City; two brother-in-laws Ron Arntson of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Merlin Pugh of Yankton; twenty-five nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Curtis was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers Evan Bentley, Kenneth Bentley and his wife Mary Ann, Richard Bentley, and Orville Bentley and his wife Nolie; three sisters Gladys Pugh, Norma Arntson, and Alice Gambrel and her husband Don; one brother-in-law Douglas Nelson; and one niece Dianne Bentley.
Visitation was held 3-6 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Friday.
Funeral services were held 11:00 a.m. CST Friday, November 6, at the Deep Creek Lutheran Church north of Midland, with Pastor Frezil Westerlund officiating. Interment with military honors by the American Legion Post #143 of Midland, will be at the Deep Creek cemetery.
A memorial is established.
Kay Berkemeier
age 62 of Quinn, South Dakota, died January 2, 2010, at her home in Quinn.
Survivors include her sister Diana Sue "Suzi" Pesicka and her husband Richard of Colorado Springs, Colorado; two nephews Conor and Cade Pesicka of Colorado Springs; and an aunt Pat Hassettt of Cupertino, California.
A celebration of her life will be held 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 29th, at the Quinn Community Center (formerly the Quinn Community Church).
In lieu of flowers, any donations are requested to be made to Humane Society of the Black Hills.
Elaine Berry
age 95 of Kadoka, South Dakota, died March 28, 2006, at her residence in Kadoka.
Altena Elaine Smith was born on May 21, 1910, Oacoma, South Dakota, the daughter of Raymond Davis and Anna Grace (Waterbury) Smith. They moved to a claim near Poplar, Montana where her father died of Typhoid Fever. The family was then divided, with her two oldest brothers moving in with their Grandma Smith in Osage, Iowa, two other brothers stayed with their mother, and Elaine went to live with her Uncle Ned and Aunt Grace Scofield. Elaine attended school through high school in Osage. After graduation, she went to Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota for a year and a half, and Mosher Business School in Chicago for a year. She returned to South Dakota in 1929. She lived and worked in Rapid City until her marriage to Paul McLain Berry, youngest son of former Governor Tom Berry. The were married
on September 22, 1931 in the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. They lived and ranched north of Norris until Paul’s death in March of 1955. Elaine moved around and helped her children as she was needed. She spent several years in White River, then back to Norris to the ranch. She lived over the years in White River, the ranch at Norris, Kadoka, Pierre, St. Paul, Minnesota, Martin and Spearfish, helping her children and grandchildren. She then moved to Kadoka where she has since resided.
Grateful for having shared her life include two sons Keith Berry and his wife Bunny of Rapid City, and Ray Berry and his wife Gail of Norris; three daughters Beverly Page and her husband Dennis of Interior, Lorena Fanning and her husband Dick of Long Valley, and Coleen Kayras and her husband Mike of Sturgis; fourteen grandchildren; twenty-nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and a host of other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husband Paul, Elaine was preceded in death by a granddaughter Sarah Page; her parents; and five brothers Earl Smith, Howard Smith, Clayton Smith, Raymond Smith, and Ralph Barnett.
Visitation was held 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 31, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Kadoka, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Saturday.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 1, at the Belvidere Presbyterian Church, with Pastor Gary McCubbin officiating.
Interment will be in the Belvidere cemetery.
A memorial is established to the Presbyterian Church of Kadoka.
Rush Funeral Chapel of Kadoka is in charge of arrangements.
