Brookings County, South Dakota Obituary and Death Notice Collection
GenealogyBuff.com - Brookings County, South Dakota Obituary Collection - 57
Posted By: GenealogyBuff.com Date: Wednesday, 19 June 2024, at 10:10 p.m.
George Pirlet
April 2, 1920 – Dec. 20, 2016
Lake Park, Iowa - George Pirlet, 96, of Lake Park, Iowa, and formerly of Volga, died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, in Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church in Volga. Burial is in Lake Campbell Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation is from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Eidsness Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
George was born on April 2, 1920, to Desire and Louise (Hauck) Pirlet on the farm in rural De Smet. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from De Smet High School in 1938.
On March 17, 1941, George married Eldean Rogholt of Lake Preston in Pipestone, Minn.
They immediately moved to a farm east of De Smet. In 1944, they moved south of Volga, where they farmed their land and operated a dairy. In 1960, they sold the farm and moved to their home in Volga. George worked at the bank in the insurance department and then began a career with Land O’ Lakes. He served as their field man, traveling the territory to insure the quality of milk coming from the producers. His true passion was working with cattle, which he continued to do for many years.
George was a member of First Lutheran Church in Volga. He enjoyed fishing and hunting pheasants, ducks, and geese in his younger years. He even served as a guide for hunting parties. George was very well-known for his great shooting ability.
He enjoyed spending time at the cabin at Lake Oakwood, woodworking, gardening, and he especially enjoyed spending time with family and attending activities of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include his two daughters: Cheryl (Bob) Ahrenstorff of Lake Park, Iowa, and Becky (Craig) Frost of Spokane, Washington; seven grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Eldean; brother, Ken (Jean) Pirlet, brother, Dean (Connie) Pirlet; and sister, Mary Lou (Eugene) Block.
Patricia Privett
Jan. 9, 1932 – Dec. 20, 2016
Patricia A. Privett, 84, of Brookings, died peacefully Tuesday, Dec, 20, 2016, at the United Living Community in Brookings. Memorial services are at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings. Visitation is one hour prior to the service beginning at 1 p.m.
Patricia Ann King was born Jan. 9, 1932, to Floyd and Marrietta (McDonnell) King, in Madison. Pat was of the Catholic religion. Pat graduated from Rutland High School, where she was a cheerleader and homecoming queen.
Pat married Curtis Thompson on Oct. 14, 1950, and lived on a farm near Brookings. They were blessed with five children, Ricky, Randy, RoxAnn, Regina and Robin.
Pat married Donovan Privett on March 1, 1980. They spent their lives together in Brookings until Donnie died in 2011.
Pat worked hard throughout her life, and her favorite job was serving lunch at Medary Elementary. Whatever meal they served that day, she had earrings to match. The kids loved her for it.
Pat loved spending time with her family and having coffee with her friends. She enjoyed roller skating, camping, baking, watching old western movies and watching Tiger Woods golf.
Pat is survived by her five children, Ricky (Nancy) Thompson of Canton, Randy (Kathy) Thompson of Estelline, RoxAnn (Giles) Sweeter of Rapid City, Regina Thompson of Brookings and Robin (Dennis) Alderman of Brookings and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donnie; daughter-in-law, Carol (Clark) Thompson and grandchildren, Kelsey Alderman and Austin Privett.
Condolences, photos, and other memorials may be sent to Randy Thompson, PO Box 102, Estelline, 57234.
Mary Helen Hopponen
Jan. 17, 1931 – Dec. 17, 2016
Mary Helen Hopponen, 85, of Brookings, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016 at Brookings Health System. Memorial services are at 10:30 am Wednesday at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings. Visitation is from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at the funeral home. Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Mary Helen Robinson was born Jan. 17, 1931, in Greensburg, Kan., the daughter of John H. and Lois H. (Griffith) Robinson.
Mary Helen was an educator for 25 years in the Education and Counseling Department at South Dakota State University.
She was a member of the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame because of her part in taking legal action to give girls and women the right to play sports in South Dakota. She helped to change the laws protecting abused persons, women, children and men in the state of South Dakota. She brought about and changed forever woman’s position.
Mary Helen had experience and reality in the United Methodist Church, first in allowing women to be ushers, then allowing women to be ministers.
She was a loving mother to her children, Lisa (Barnhart), Andy and Susan. She was also a friend, companion and caretaker of 37 years to Mychal.
She worked to bring about enlightenment to the reality of gender acceptance, understanding and equality in the lives of women, men, girls and boys.
She was a tireless agent of social change and enlightenment service.
Survivors include her daughter, Lisa H. Barnhart (Dan) of Delaware, Ohio; friend and companion of 37 years, Mychal K. Blue of Brookings and four grandsons.
Mary Helen was preceded in death by her daughter, Susan Anne Hopponen; son, Andy Hopponen and a brother, John G. Robinson.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimers Association.
Loretta G. Lentz
Oct. 29, 1922 – Dec. 20, 2016
Estelline - Loretta G. Lentz, 94, of Estelline, died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, in the Estelline Nursing and Care Center. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Estelline. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the church with at 6:30 p.m. Liturgical wake service. Geise Funeral Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
Loretta G. Gratz was born Oct. 29, 1922, in Estelline, the daughter of George and Anna (Linneman) Gratz. Loretta received her education in Estelline.
She married Bernard Jack Lentz on July 16, 1945, in Estelline. Bernard died on Oct. 9, 1980. Loretta continued to live on the family farm near Estelline.
Loretta was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, the Altar Society and the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed baking and cooking for others. She loved living on the farm, but her greatest passion was spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, Judy (Brian) Baschnagel of River Falls, Wis., Jeanne Weibert of Estelline, and James Lentz, of Estelline; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and one sister, Mary Ann (Laurence) Norman, of Estelline.
She was preceded in death by her husband, one daughter, Jacalyn; two grandchildren, Brian Baschnagel and Shelli Loge; four brothers, Willian, Lawrence, John and Michael; and one sister, Bernadette.
Sybil LaVerne Goldhorn
May 23, 1916 - Dec 31, 2008
Sybil LaVerne (Jensen) Goldhorn, daughter of James George and Nellie Marian (Riley) Jensen, was born May 23, 1916, at Castlewood, South Dakota.
She grew up and attended school there and was united in marriage to John "Jack" Berend Goldhorn on December 30, 1933. Mr. Goldhorn died on March 21, 1974.
They lived their entire life in Castlewood except for a short time in Lead, South Dakota where Jack worked in the mines. LaVerne died on Wednesday, December 31, 2008, at Golden Living Center in Lake Norden following a 10 day stay in the hospital at the age of 92 years, 7 months and 8 days.
Sybil, better known as LaVerne or "Gram" wrote a weekly column "A Chat With Gram", for the then Hayti Herald Enterprise from 1968 to 1989. She was a great Castlewood historian and was elected as Historical Chairperson for the Castlewood Centennial in 1982. She also wrote a weekly column for this event entitled "Peering Into The Past". It appeared in the Hamlin County Republican. She was Co-Chair for the Hamlin County History Book, published in 1979. She spent many countless hours on this huge project. LaVerne was also instrumental in burying the first time capsule in Castlewood. She worked hard to establish a Historical Society in Castlewood for which she was an honorary member.
Gram, after raising nine children, also worked as an aide at the then St. Ann’s Hospital and the Deuel County Hospital.
She was on the board of the Inter Lakes Community Action program and held offices in the American Legion Auxiliary, American Lutheran Church Women and the Castlewood Historical Society. Her last honor was being chosen Co-Grand Marshall of the Castlewood 125 year celebration in June of 2008.
LaVerne loved the Minnesota Twins and watching "The Antique Road Show" on TV. She also enjoyed having people stop to chat about the past and present and have a cup of coffee with her.She was very proud that all nine of her children and nine of her grandchildren graduated from Castlewood High School, along with two grandchildren that are still in the local school system.
Grateful for having shared her life are her seven children, Sylvia Ruhr, Terry Goldhorn and his wife Shirley, Cheryl Hogstad and her husband Dale, Sheila Thompson, Cathy Tellinghuisen, all of Castlewood, Susan Saathoff and her husband Robert of Fargo, ND, Stef Goldhorn and his wife Kristi of Castlewood; 15 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; one sister, Eileen Bohls, Spearfish, SD; a daughter-in-law, Dorothy Stanage of Yankton, SD; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jack; two sons, James Ronald and Michael Lee; a granddaughter, Alyssa Morgan; and two sons-in-law, Eugene Ruhr and James Tellinghuisen.
Eleanor Harrenga
Apr 30, 1928 - Jan 03, 2009
Eleanor (DeWall) Harrenga, daughter of Alek and Arianna (Ludwig) DeWall, was born April 30, 1928, near Dempster, South Dakota, the youngest of six children. She attended rural school and also attended Castlewood High School for two years. Eleanor graduated from Pleasant Prairie Academy in German Valley, Illinois. She received her teaching certificate from General Beadle College in Madison, South Dakota and taught for one year in Garretson, South Dakota.
After her marriage to John Harrenga on June 10, 1949, she taught for two years in a rural school west of Estelline.
They lived in Dempster until 1951 when they moved to a farm on the edge of Estelline and farmed there. John died on January 28, 1971, and Eleanor stayed on the farm for two years before moving to Sioux Falls in 1973. She was employed at McKennan Hospital until retiring in 1994 when she returned to Estelline. Eleanor entered the Estelline Nursing and Care Center in January of 2000 and died there on Saturday, January 3, 2009, at the age of 80 years, 8 months and 3 days.
She was a member of Hamlin Reformed Church, the American Legion Auxiliary, the PTA where she served as president and was also a cub scout leader. Eleanor was active in the community where she did volunteer work, helped with Meals On Wheels, read at the nursing home, and was a high school mentor. She also enjoyed reading.
Grateful for having shared her life are two sons, Robert Harrenga of Estelline, James Harrenga of Sioux Falls; one daughter, Mary Ellen Black of Castlewood; five grandchildren, Kelly Nebel of Tempe, AZ, John Harrenga of Sioux Falls, Valerie Chicoine of Onida, SD, Jill Harrenga of Charlotte, NC, Bret Harrenga of Williamston, NC; three great-grandchildren, Caleb, Calleigh and Addison; two sisters, Anna Janssen of Estelline and Dena Rosenbohm of Eden Prairie, MN; numerous beloved nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; two brothers, Lloyd and Lester DeWall; and one sister, Jane Jongeling.
Maureen L. Peterson
Dec. 9, 1921 – Dec. 30, 2016
Maureen L. Peterson, 95, of Brookings, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, at Brookings Health System.
Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Brookings. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday with a 6:30 p.m. Liturgical Wake Service to follow at Rude’s Funeral Home, Brookings. Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be directed to the Cardiac Rehab Program at SDSU.
Maureen L. Meyer was born Dec. 9, 1921, in Ivanhoe, Minn., the daughter of Joseph and Lucy (Jablonski) Meyer. Maureen spent her early years and received her education in Tyler, Minn., where she graduated from Tyler High School in 1939. She received her teacher’s training in Ivanhoe, Minn., and taught rural school in Lincoln County, Minn. She continued her education at Mankato Teacher’s College and continued to teach in Lincoln County.
Maureen married Earl H. Peterson on June 24, 1950 in Tyler, Minn.
After their marriage she was employed at South Dakota State University by the Committee on Humanities until her retirement in 1982. Earl died on Jan. 20, 1997, in Brookings.
She was a member of the St. Thomas More Catholic Church, the Ladies Guild, Catholic Daughters of America, and other church committees, and the Cardiac Rehab Program at SDSU.
Maureen enjoyed ceramics. She also volunteered at the Brookings Hospital as part of the Hospital Auxiliary, the United Living Community, and at the Neighborhoods at Brookview.
She is survived by her son, David (Bonnie) Peterson of Huntingtown, Md.; four daughters, Mary (Mark) Eclov of Lexington, Ky., Annette Peterson of Sioux City, Iowa, Paula (David) Hassenstab of Salem, Ore. and Patricia Peterson of Belle Plaine, Minn; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Maureen was preceded in death by her husband Earl, and sister Blanche (Robert) Marcotte of Slayton, Minn.
Ernest Edwards
Jan. 21, 1935 - Dec. 31, 2016
Watertown - Ernest T. "Ernie" Edwards, 81, of Watertown, died on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, at Jenkins Living Center.
Ernest "Ernie" Thompson Edwards was born January 21, 1935 to William and Myrtle (Thompson) Edwards in Coleharbor, North Dakota. He grew up in Tyndall, South Dakota graduating from Tyndall High School. He then attended the University of South Dakota earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1957. He received his Masters degree in Education from the University of South Dakota in 1963.
Ernie married LuAnn Wise on August 28, 1957 in Gettysburg, South Dakota.
He enlisted in the South Dakota Army National Guard on March 26, 1957 in Vermillion, South Dakota and served for 37 years. While in the National Guard he served in units in Vermillion, Springfield, Watertown, Webster, Huron, Pierre, Sioux Falls and Rapid City. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in 1960, served as Field Artillery Battery Commander for three years, Battalion Commander for three years and Brigade Commander for three years, held various staff positions, was promoted to Brigadier General on August 1, 1992, and retired as Assistant Adjutant General-Army on August 1, 1994.
Ernie was honorably discharged on August 1, 1994. Significant military awards included the Army Commendation medal, Meritorious Service medal, Legion of Merit and in 2005 the Williamson Militiaman award.
Ernie was a member of the American Legion, Military Officers Association of America, State Board of Military Affairs, Committee for the Employer support of the Guard and Reserve, the South Dakota National Guard Retiree Council and co-chair of the Watertown Chamber of Commerce Military and Veteran Affairs Committee and a lifetime member of the National Guard Officer Association. The SD National Guard Readiness Center in Watertown was renamed the Brig. Gen. Ernie Edwards Readiness Center in his honor in October.
Ernie's teaching career started in 1957 at Watertown High School where he was a math instructor and assistant coach of football, basketball and track. In 1963 he moved with his family to Huron where he continued teaching math, was head football coach and assistant coach of basketball and track. From 1965 to 1977 he was employed by the Watertown School District and held various positions as principal of the junior high, principal of the high school and director of secondary instruction. From 1977-1987 Ernie was superintendent for the Brookings School District. From 1987-1995 he was superintendent for the Watertown School District and from 2003-2004 was interim superintendent in Watertown. During his time with the Watertown School District, Edwards was involved in planning the former Middle School (1975-1977); the Lincoln, McKinley, Garfield, Roosevelt and Mellette elementary schools as well as the Watertown High School additions (1987-1995).
He was instrumental in the formation of Watertown's Business Industry School Coalition, known by most as BISCO, in 1991. Edwards and several business leaders believed that business and industry could work together to help Watertown's students.
Ernie was very involved with his community and state. He was a member and past president of SD School Superintendents Association, Beadle Club-Guardian of the SD School and Public Lands Trust, received the Arrow Award from the Watertown School Board in 2004 and the School Bell Award from the Associated School Boards of South Dakota in 2005.
He has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Watertown Chamber of Commerce, Watertown Community Foundation, LATI Foundation, past president of Lions Club, a member of the Elks and the Quarterback Club. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and served on various boards and committees. Ernie was inducted into the Watertown Hall of Fame for his decades of service to the Watertown Community.
Ernie is survived by his wife, LuAnn of Watertown; his children, Jeff Edwards of Chicago, IL, Kristin Edwards of Seattle, WA, and Jamie (Mike) Veeder of Watertown, SD; and step-grandchildren, Brent Veeder, Gina Christensen and Jill Hall.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church in Watertown with Reverend Sara Nelson officiating.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., with a prayer service and time of sharing at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown, and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.
Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Watertown.
Memorials may be directed to Watertown Arrow Education Foundation, Watertown Community Foundation or the First United Methodist Church.
