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Anna M. "Ann" Eckert
age 92 of Kadoka, South Dakota, died March 19, 2010, at the Kadoka Nursing Home.
Anna M. Prochaska, better known as Ann to her family and friends, was born May 18, 1917, on a ranch near Belvidere, the daughter of James and Marie (Cacek) Prochaska. She grew up in the Belvidere area and graduated from Belvidere High School. As a young lady she worked as a clerk in the Belvidere Post Office.
Ann was united in marriage to Harold J. Eckert, Sr. on April 25, 1943, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church south of Midland. They farmed and ranched southeast of Midland for five years before moving to a ranch 1.5 miles east of Belvidere in 1948. They continued to operate the ranch until Harold’s death on January 6, 1978. She continued to live on the ranch until moving into the Gateway Apartments in November 1989. In 2000 she moved into the Kadoka Nursing Home, where she has since resided.
Ann was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church south of Midland, and the American Legion Auxiliary Post #177 of Belvidere.
Grateful for having shared her life include two sons Robert “Bob” Eckert and Harold “John” Eckert, both of Kadoka; three grandchildren Robert John “Robbie” Eckert of Black Hawk, Lori Ann Iversen and her husband Aaron of Murdo, and Bobbi Jo Eckert of Aurora, Colorado; two great-grandchildren Carter and Taya Iversen; one brother Joe Prochaska of Rapid City; and a host of other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husband Harold, Ann was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter-in-law Jill Eckert; two brothers Emil and Adolph Prochaska; and three sisters Mary Boechman, Helen Collins and Rose Rulon.
Closed-casket visitation was held 4-6 p.m. on Monday, March 22, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Kadoka.
Graveside services were held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 23, at the Black Hills National cemetery near Sturgis, with Chaplain Herbert Cleveland officiating.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial is established.
Lornce E. Grimes
age 84 of of Philip, South Dakota, formerly of Interior, died August 2, 2008, at the Philip Nursing Home.
Lornce Everett Grimes was born June 22, 1924, in Mellette County, the son of Everett and Eva May (Gray) Grimes. He grew up on his parents’ ranch north of Belvidere, where he received his education in rural school in that area.
As a young man he worked as a ranch hand for various ranchers and also ran his own cattle. In 1957 he moved to Alaska where he worked in the logging business until returning to the Kadoka area.
Lornce was united in marriage to Mary Lou Lange on December 23, 1965 in Rapid City. They made their home on various ranches in the area before finally settling down in Interior.
He worked as a blade operator for the Jackson County Highway Department, a position he held until retiring in the mid 1980’s. After retiring, he continued to reside in Interior where he was the Interior City maintenance man until 1997.
His wife preceded him in death on April 2, 2000.
Due to health reasons, he moved into the Philip Nursing Home in 2002, where he has since resided.
Lornce enjoyed helping his wife, fishing with his children, and spending time with his grandchildren. He especially enjoyed spending time with Stephanie and Heather Gartner and Jamie Whirlwind Horse.Lornce always had a smile on his face and enjoyed being with family and friends.
Grateful for having shared his life include five sons Allen Grimes and his wife Lisa, Dean Grimes, Tony Grimes and his wife Crystal, and Willie Grimes and his wife Amanda, all of Interior, and Tom Grimes of Murdo; eight grandchildren Mason, Damion, Bailey, Tate, Rayna, Makayla, Wylee and Kelby; a nephew whom they raised Travis Saunders of Interior; a step-granddaughter Jamie Whirlwind Horse of Allen; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Lornce was preceded in death by his wife Mary Lou on April 2, 2000; his parents; two brothers John and Lewis E. "Louie" Grimes; and a sister Opal Thompson.
Visitation was held 4-7 p.m. on Monday, August 4, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 5, at the Interior Fairview cemetery in Interior, with Pastor Dave Morrison officiating.
Duane Eleeson
age 81 of Wichita, Kansas, formerly of Philip, SD, died April 21, 2010, in Wichita, Kansas.
He was a wonderful, loving family man and a dedicated and caring friend. Duane Herman Eleeson was born in Philip, South Dakota on June 30, 1928 to Herman and Ida (Christenson) Eleeson. Their parents had immigrated from Norway and homesteaded in Haakon County. He married
Elaine Van Ourkerk, his high school sweetheart, and to this union were born to children, Linda J. Upton and Bruce D. Eleeson.
Duane graduated from Philip High School in 1946 and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Upon his discharge, he attended the University of South Dakota. He and his family moved to Huron, South Dakota where he went to work for Standard Oil Company and then General Adjustment Company as an insurance adjuster. He retired from there after 35 years. He had been the branch manager and then regional manager in Wichita, Kansas. After retirement, he became an account manager for GAB, a teacher at Norris Training and a claims adjuster for Wheatland Adjusters.
Duane was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge, the Blue Goose and Lame Ducks. He was affiliated with the Norwegian and American Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his wife, Elaine; daughter, Linda Upton (Kenneth) of Fairbury, NE; son, Bruce of Rapid City, SD; brother, Deane of Temple, TX; grandchildren, Kerry, Amy, Joshua, Casey, Kelli, Autumn, and great-grandchildren, Samantha, Zachary, Emma, Camden and Joshua II; nephews, John and Gary; niece, Jeanie. Duane was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Imogene Gascoigne.
Visitation with the family, 5:00-7:00 p.m., Sunday, April 25.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 26, both at Downing & Lahey Mortuary West in Wichita.
The graveside service with military honors and Masonic Rites, will be 1:00 p.m., Thursday, April 29, at the Masonic cemetery on Highway 14 in Philip, South Dakota, with the American Legion Post #173, and the Masonic Lodge #153 AF&AM, both of Philip.
Arrangements in Philip are through the Rush Funeral Home.
A memorial has been established with the Alzheimer’s Association, 347 Laura, Wichita, KS 67211.
Merle Ann Elshere-Haveman
age 66 of Summerset, South Dakota, died July 22, 2008, at her home in Summerset.
Merle Ann was born July 30, 1941, in Tiffin, Ohio, the daughter of Arthur and Maxine (Griffin) Hutchinson. She was raised in Philip by her mother and adoptive father, John Calvin Hoag. She became a sister, at eighteen, when her brother Fred was born.
Piano lessons at an early age were the beginnings of Merle Ann’s life long love of music. She shared her musical talent as a church accompanist and pianist for weddings and funerals.
Merle Ann married
Arlie Elshere on November 19, 1960 and to this union four children were born; Laura, Julie, Steven and Jennifer. They raised their children on the Elshere homestead in Milesville, South Dakota. As a rural wife and mother, Merle Ann enjoyed being creative in her home and in the community that she loved.
Through writing, Merle Ann discovered another way to express her spirituality, sensitivity, and humor. This gift developed into a professional career as a journalist, where she received critical acclaim and numerous awards.
Merle Ann’s talents and abilities were as endless as the love she shared with her family and friends.
She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by her husband Melvin Haveman of Summerset; one son Steven Elshere of Stanford, Illinois; three daughters Laura Sever and her husband Jeff of Rapid City, Julie Furchner and her husband Scott of Ft. Pierre, and Jennifer Kennedy and her husband Doug of Las Vegas, Nevada; three step-daughters Catherine Haveman of Rapid City, Laurie Coy and her husband Steve of Rapid City, and Diane Lane and her husband Ed of Rapid City; seven grandchildren Tyler, Trent and Taryn Sever, Dustin and Jordan Cazier, Trina Elshere and Douglas Kennedy, Jr.; four step-grandchildren; one step-great-grandson; one brother Fred Hoag and his wife Claudette of Philip; three nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Monday.
Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 28, at the United Church in Philip, with Pastor Al Brucklacher officiating.
Interment will be in the Masonic cemetery, Philip.
A memorial is established.
Ferne Anna Emry, age 85, of Yorba Linda, California, formerly of Kadoka, died Saturday, April 29, 2006, at the Sunrise Assisted Living Center in Yorba Linda.
Like the state of her birth, Ferne Emry was steadfast and strong, understated and yet powerful in her own way.
She was born March 1, 1921 in Kennebec, South Dakota, to Herbert "Bud" Walter and his wife, Blanche. Ferne and her siblings learned hard work early on, in the best South Dakota tradition. They herded cattle in shifts, drew water from a well and the only transportation this sharecropping family had was a horse…their favorite was named Teddy. Her people had much truck with the Native Americans endemic to the land, and often Ferne and her siblings were fed and bathed by the Indians.
Quiet and unassuming, Ferne loved to draw and was a very studious girl, becoming the top student in her one-room school house and the county; her hardscrabble tale of adolescence on the American prairie speaks of a mythic time in this country’s proud history, straight out of Rolvaag’s classic novel, "Giants of the Earth."
Ferne was a young bride at 18, when she married
Leonard Emry in Valentine, Neb., and the couple soon moved to a secluded place just outside the Badlands, which she named Cactus Flat due to the proliferation of cactus on the hard, flat South Dakota landscape. Though life was rough, Ferne and Leonard built a small cattle ranch and a gas station/restaurant/tourist business; sons Butch and Bob were born during this time.
Friends and family knew Ferne to be "super clean," as she would change the boys’ clothes two and three times a day in battling the windswept and dusty terrain of the Badlands. She bucketed water from a well a full mile away, and became the secretary of the Grazing Association. Ferne was a central part of the small community, respected and loved for her gentle yet stalwart ways.
After her husband passed away in 1974, Ferne left South Dakota for Lompoc, Calif., to be nearer her son, Bob, and sister Florence, beginning a new chapter of life that saw her carve out a successful career as a realtor, broker and business owner. She retired at the tender age of 78 and was active in the community and church, with memberships and Chapter Presidencies in the Optimist Club and Daughters of the American Revolution.
Known as a gentle soul who loved God, her family, friends and the community, she was loved by all who knew her. With beauty, grace and style, she exuded class and was always perfectly coiffed. Passing on these traits to her family, Ferne loved sewing frilly dresses for granddaughters Joanne and Lisa, and had a wonderfully playful and humorous side with just a dash of sarcasm. A wicked card and Monopoly player (some snicker that she cheated a time or two), she also enjoyed watching her grandson Garrick play football, and once leapt a 4-foot fence to congratulate him after a game…in her 70s! Seeing granddaughter Cynthia graduate from law school and become a successful attorney in Los Angeles was an extremely proud memory for Ferne. She was also proud of step-granddaughter Kimberly carrying on the family tradition of studying communication and becoming a doctor and professor in that discipline.
Ferne was a wonderful cook and housekeeper who also managed a successful business career stretching over seven decades. Her Christmas "hooch" was a family favorite and she could get a spot out of any piece of clothing and render it better than new.
She is survived by her son Dr. Robert A. and his wife, Ginger Emry, of Yorba Linda, Calif., who ministered to her in true loving and caring fashion the last years of her storied life. She also leaves behind two sisters, Betty Chamberlain and Agnes Jongwaard, along with five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Ferne Emry was emblematic of the frontier American spirit of perseverance and triumph over obstacles, and her naturally gracious examples live on in the memory of her family & community members.
In addition to her husband Leonard, Ferne was preceded in death by a son Butch Emry.
Funeral services were held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 13, 2006 at the Kadoka Presbyterian Church with Pastor Gary McCubbin officiating.
Interment was in the Kadoka cemetery.
A memorial is established.
Rush Funeral Chapel of Kadoka is in charge of arrangements.
Chandler Ward
age 87 of Philip, South Dakota, died January 8, 2009, at the Philip Nursing Home.
Chandler H. Ward was born May 26, 1921, in Philip, South Dakota, the son of Chandler Hiram and Ethel (Hunt) Ward. He grew up in Haakon County and attended rural schools, prior to attending Philip High School. While in high school he ran track and excelled in the one mile run. After graduation in 1941, he attended South Dakota State College in Brookings.
On December 29, 1941, Chandler voluntarily entered the U.S. Navy. He served in the Navy a total of 19 years, 3 months, and 22 Days. He served during WWII, Korea, and 7 tours in Vietnam.
He was united in marriage to Nerey Warner of Quinn in 1945, and to this union were born three daughters, Jolene, Candice and Sharon.
In the mid 1950’s Chandler was united in marriage to Lillian. After his military career, Chandler and Lillian lived in California, where Chandler worked as a Veterans Service Officer. He transported veterans to and from the VA Hospital. While in California, his wife Lillian preceded him in death. In 2001, Chandler moved back to Philip, where he has since resided.
Chandler was a member of the Methodist Church, and the Wheeler-Brooks American Legion Post #173, both of Philip. He enjoyed hunting, and well past the age of 80, you could find Chandler walking and running for exercise, around the town of Philip.
Survivors include his three daughters Jolene Ward of Alturas, California, Candice Courtney and her husband Pat of Apple Gate, Oregon, and Sharon Lynch of California; one sister Ann Fees and her husband Cliff of Philip; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Chandler was preceded in death by his wife Lillian; his parents; and one sister Jean Snyder.
Visitation was held 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Monday.
Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 12, at the United Church in Philip, with Pastor Kathy Chesney officiating.
Interment with military honors by the American Legion Post #173 of Philip, was at the Masonic cemetery in Philip.
A memorial is established.
Valerie Emery, age 48, of Quanah, Texas, formerly of Wall, SD, died Monday, September 3, 2007, at her home in Quanah.
Valerie Lynn Brown was born April 17, 1959, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Jack and Marlene (VanVleck) Brown. Shortly after her birth, they moved to Wall. Valerie attended Wall High School all 13 years, graduating in 1977. She attended college at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD, graduating in May of 1981. She earned a Bachelor Degree in Education, with emphasis in science. In August of that same year, Valerie had a telephone interview with the Superintendent of the Quanah High School in Texas. After checking her references, she was hired and started the second chapter of her life. During her 25 year teaching career in Quanah, she taught Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Physiology and Anatomy. She was also the Cheerleading advisor in her early years, and for many years was the Junior Class advisor.
Valerie was united in marriage to Tim Emery on August 4, 1990 in Quanah. In December of 1995, Valerie and Tim were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Jennifer. Since that moment, Jennifer has always been the angel in her life. Valerie was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Quanah.
Survivors include her husband Tim Emery of Quanah; one daughter Jennifer Emery of Quanah; her parents Jack and Marlene Brown of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota; three sisters Lori Strobel of Sioux Falls, Stacy White and her husband Wayne of Rapid City, and Melanie Shull and her husband Wayne of Wall; one brother Jason Brown and his wife Kari of Shawnee, Kansas; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Valerie was preceded in death by her maternal grand parents Gilbert "Skinny" and Pearl Van Vleck and paternal grandparents Alfred and Viola Brown.
Visitation was held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 7, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Wall, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Saturday.
There was a family prayer service on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at the chapel.
Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 8, at the United Methodist Church in Wall, with Pastor Brad Kattelmann officiating.
Interment was in the Wall cemetery.
A memorial is established to a scholarship for a science student of Wall High School.
Cathy Hanrahan Erdmann
age 58 of Philip, South Dakota, died December 29, 2009, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital.
Cathy Lou Hanrahan was born September 17, 1951, in Philip, South Dakota, the daughter of Earl “Bud” and Phyllis (Elshere) Hanrahan. She grew up in the Milesville-Philip area, where she attended West Fork Country School and Philip High School, a member of the class of 1969. Cathy moved to Pierre in 1975 where she worked various jobs before moving back to Philip in 2001.
Cathy was an avid coin and candle collector and immensely enjoyed researching history, especially genealogy. In 2002, she taught herself, using her computer, to trace her genealogy and quickly became an indispensible resource of family history. She traced some of her family back eleven generations. She also helped cousins and others trace their genealogy. The picture boards, genealogy books, and CD’s she created will be forever treasured.
Grateful for having shared her life include her son John Paul Erdmann of Dexter, Oregon; three daughters Chandra Lynn Law (Bill and Kathy Cordes) and her husband Chad of Vermillion, Jerri LeRaye Cordes of Rapid City, and Tracie Rae Erdmann of Sioux Falls; nine grandchildren Alexandria, Victoria, Elizabeth, Genevieve, Rebecca, Michael, Daniel and Joshua Law, and Isaiah Cordes; her mother Phyllis Hanrahan of Philip; a brother Mark Hanrahan and his wife Pat of Milesville; a sister Becky Drury and her husband Neal of Rapid City; her sister-in-law Debbie Hanrahan of Philip; eight nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Cathy was preceded in death by her father Earl “Bud” Hanrahan on February 1, 1981 and her brother Craig Hanrahan on August 19, 2009.
Memorial services were held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 9, 2010, at the Hardingrove Evangelical Free Church in Milesville, with Pastor Gary Wahl officiating.
A memorial has been established to the Hardingrove Evangelical Free Church in Milesville.
Wayne D. Esmay, age 78, of Murdo, died Monday, April 25, 2005, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre.
Wayne D. Esmay was born August 3, 1926 in Rapid City, South Dakota, the son of Maurice and Louise (Millard) Esmay. Wayne attended his first years of school north of Draper at Spears, later at Highland, north of Murdo. He graduated from Murdo High School in 1944. During high school he worked for Bill Sorensen at the mortuary.
Wayne enlisted in the United States Navy on February 17, 1945. He was honorably discharged on July 27, 1946. He worked for Francis Plumbing where he learned the electrical business.
On September 16, 1950, Wayne married
Margie Sandy in Murdo. In the fall of 1951, they moved to the Sandy ranch south of Okaton where they had twelve wonderful years raising their five children. In 1961, Wayne returned to the electrical business and moved to Murdo.
Wayne loved to travel and visited the Sandy’s in Australia five different times. Wayne was a member of the Untied Methodist Church in Murdo, the American Legion, a charter member of the Lion’s Club, and a member of the Murdo Volunteer Fire Department.
Wayne is survived by his wife Margie of Murdo; his children Vicki Doster and her husband Charles of Gardener, Kansas, Wayne S. Esmay and his wife Lorrie of Murdo, Wanda Krogman and her husband Ben of White River, Jon M. Esmay of Murdo, and Heidi M. Esmay of Sioux Falls; nine grandchildren CharLee and Sydney Doster, Jon, Matthew, Kari and Jordan Esmay, and Summer, Kolby "Kassie" and Kyler Krogman; two great-grandchildren Gage Esmay and Kash Wayne Krogman; a sister Melda Farris and her husband Jack of Woonsocket; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; and his step-father Marlin Spears.
Visitation was held 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, April 27, at the United Methodist Church in Murdo, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.
Funeral services were held 1:00 p.m. CDT at the United Methodist Church in Murdo, with Pastor Bob Duemig officiating.
Interment was in the Murdo cemetery, with military honors provided by the Taylor-McCloughan American Legion Post #75 of Murdo and the Barrett-Dowling American Legion Post #301 of Draper.
A memorial is established.
Ida G. Estes
age 88 of White River, died November 27, 2007, at the Sanford Health Medical Center in Sioux Falls.
Ida Geraldine Bear Heels was born July 21, 1919 the daughter of Charles and Jennie Lucy (Runs Close To Village) Bear Heels. She grew up on a farm near Stamford, South Dakota, and attended school in Mission, where she graduated from high school.
Ida was united in marriage to Stanley Estes Sr. on July 8, 1954 at Winner, South Dakota. They made their home in Belvidere and later moved to White River where they reside all their married
life.
Her husband, Stanley, preceded her in death on May 27, 1987. She continued to reside in White River until the time of her death.
She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Episcopal Church, both of White River.
Grateful for having shared her life are her two sons Todd Estes of White River and Stanley Estes, Jr. and his wife Ruth of Salem, Oregon; a daughter Charlene Ceniceros of Belvidere; seven grandchildren; and a sister Martha Shot With Two Arrows of Belvidere; and a host of other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husband Stanley, Ida was preceded in death by her son Verlyn Larvie; a grandson Vaughn James Estes; her parents; three brothers Stacey Bear Heels, Chris Bear Heels and Stanley Bear Heels; and two sisters Bertha Bear Heels and Esther Bordeaux.
Visitation was held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 30, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Kadoka.
Graveside services were held 12:00 noon CST on Saturday, December 1, at St. Thomas cemetery in the Corn Creek Community north of Norris, with lay reader Christine Dunham officiating.
Arrangements are with the Rush Funeral Chapel of Kadoka.
Calvin L. "Cal" Swift, age 82, of Philip, died Thursday evening, March 22, 2007, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.
Calvin Loren Swift was born October 15, 1924, in Gregory County, South Dakota, the son of Loren and Marie (Livingston) Swift. He grew up on a farm near Lucas, South Dakota, where he attended country schools and helped his dad on the farm. He attended Lucas High School for three years and graduated from Burke High School in 1943.
Cal married
his high school sweetheart Marjorie Johnson on October 23, 1945, at the Lucas Baptist Church. They made their home and farmed for ten years in the Lucas community where their four children were born: Sandra Marie, Richard Dean, Larry Wayne, and Thomas Dale. They later moved to a ranch northwest of Philip. He joined the First Presbyterian Church where he held various positions. Calvin worked several jobs throughout the years including the Philip Livestock Auction, Baye and Sons Implement, and most recently was known throughout the town for his dedication to driving the Haakon County Prairie Transportation Bus.
Calvin will be remembered by many friends for his many jokes and cruising around in the "Little Brownie" pickup.
He leaves to mourn his passing his wife of nearly 62 years Marjorie of Philip; his daughter Sandra Bockman and her husband Don and family of Waco, Texas; two sons Larry Swift and his children, and Thomas Swift and his wife Val and children of Philip; fifteen grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one brother Ken Swift and his wife Verlene of Rochester, Minnesota; three sisters Vyrle Johnson and her husband George of Gregory, Delores Carey and her husband Russ of Des Moines, Iowa, and Luella Christensen and her husband Ivan of Montevideo, Minnesota; many nieces and nephews; one aunt Vivian Kenzy of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Cal was preceded in death by a son Richard Swift on July 4, 1998; and his parents; an infant brother Howard; and a daughter-in-law Vivian Swift.
Visitation was held 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 25, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Monday.
Funeral services were held 1:00 p.m. Monday, March 26, at the United Church in Philip, with Pastor Mark Ford officiating.
Interment was in the Masonic cemetery.
A memorial is established.
