Berniece Charrlin
Berniece M. Charrlin, 82, Vermillion, died Feb. 14, 2000 at Sioux Valley Vermillion Hospital. Funeral services were held Feb. 21 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Vermillion, with the Rev. Arlyn Abrams officiating. Her body was donated to The University of South Dakota Medical School after funeral services. Iverson-Siecke Funeral Home, Vermillion, was in charge of arrangements. She was born May 21, 1917, to Otto and Margaret (Readen) Peterson at Kaylor. She attended Wakonda schools. She did housework for several families in the area. She loved to cook. She married Burnell H. Charrlin May 28, 1938, at Vermillion. After marriage they moved to a farm near Vermillion and she lived there for 65 years. She also worked at the W.H. Over Museum doing cataloging in later years. He husband died in 1981. She is survived by two sons: Robert (Lorraine) Charrlin, Omaha, NE, Allan (Jan) Charrlin, Beresford; three sisters: Marjorie (Raymond) Kibble, Ponoma, CA, Florence Larson, Mission Hill, Opal South, Sioux Falls; one brother: Richard Peterson, Vermillion; son-in-law: Bob Wood, Cincinnati, OH; a sister-in-law: Vera Anderson, Vermillion; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Mary Ann Wood, sisters Helen David and Esther Peterson and brothers Harold and Stuart Peterson.

Katherine Bechtold
Katherine "Kate" Bechtold, 86, died Monday, Feb. 21, 2000 at Devon Gables Health Care Center, Tucson, AZ. Funeral services were held Feb. 24 at Cornerstone Church, Vermillion, with the Rev. Randy Stoecker officiating. Burial was in Bluff View Cemetery, Vermillion. She was born Nov. 7, 1913, at Menno to Nicholaus and Sophia (Horst) Kost. She attended and graduated from Menno schools. She married Edward Bechtold on March 11, 1934, at Menno. She was a homemaker. Her husband died in 1977. She lived in Tucson for three years. She was a member of the Cornerstone Church, Vermillion. She is survived by four daughters: Joann Bechtold, Detroit, MI, Donna Talbott, Elk Point, Eleanor (Kelly J.) Mitchell, Tucson, AZ, and Adella Anderson, Tucson; two brothers: Dave and Carl Kost, both of Menno; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

Frances Anderson
Frances J. Anderson, 87, of Vermillion, died Thursday, April 27, 2000 at the Sioux Valley Vermillion Care Center in Vermillion. Frances Osterkamp was born March 4, 1913 in Chattsworth, IA to Fred and Kate (Pfluger) Osterkamp. She married Wilson Anderson in 1938. He died in 1987. She worked for The University of South Dakota for a short time and was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, her brother Henry, and a sister Augusta Anderson. Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 2, at First Baptist Church in Vermillion. Burial followed in BluffView Cemetery in Vermillion. Hansen Funeral Home in Vermillion was in charge of arrangements.

Joe Chancellor
Joe Chancellor, 72, died Monday, May 1, 2000 at his home near Burbank after a long battle with cancer. Joe Richard Chancellor was born in Scotland County, MO to John and Grace (Billups) Chancellor on Feb. 21, 1928. He attended rural schools, graduating from Memphis High School in 1945. After graduation, he attended classes at Northeast Missouri State University at Kirksville, MO. He taught in a rural school for one year. In the late 1940s he moved to Vermillion working as a farmhand. In 1954 the family returned to Missouri, where he worked for Mason Oil Company. They later returned to South Dakota. He also worked for Anderson Bros. Oil Company and as a foreman for the state highway department, retiring after 28 years. In July 1949, he married Blanche Watson of Vermillion. They later divorced. In December 1989, he married Donna Mary Hanson of Vermillion. He was a member of the Bergen Lutheran Church, rural Meckling, the Black Hills Hunt Club, a past member of the Eagle's Club and the Vermillion Volunteer Fire Department. He was a long time choir member of the Bergen Church. He is survived by his wife: Donna Mary; three daughters: JoAnn (David) Stockland, Vermillion, Barbara (Tom) Zorr, Dell Rapids, and Janell (Loren) Smith, Rochester, MN; two sons: Richard (Barb), Cheyenne, WY, and Jerry (Lori), Ralston, NE; and 13 grandchildren. He is also survived by six step-sons: Dennis (Kathy Chludzinski) Hanson, Seattle, WA, Scott (Jane) Hanson, Vermillion, Mark (Monica) Hanson and David (LaStella) Hanson, Eli, NE, Steve (Marcia) Hanson, Valentine, NE, and Doug (Nadine) Hanson, Gayville; two step-daughters: Teresa Hanson and Dawn (Jeff) Styles of Vermillion; 25 step-grandchildren; two step-great grandchildren; three brothers: Miles (Bobbie), Memphis, MO, Lee (Deanie), Kirksville, MO, and Lyle (Sherry Erwing), Keokik, IA; three sisters: Mary (Merle) Norton, Olathe, KS, Kathleen (Dennis) Tripp, Volin, and Garnet Tripp, Kahoka, MO; a sister-in-law: Shirley Chancellor, Rutledge, MO; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Max and Paul; a brother-in-law: Denver Tripp; and two grandchildren: Rhonda and Joseph Zorr. A memorial service was held at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, May 5 at the Bergen Lutheran Church. Hansen Funeral Home, Vermillion was in charge of arrangements.

Robert McDonald
Robert A. "Billy" McDonald, 56, of Sergeant Bluff, IA, died Saturday, April 22, 2000, at a Sioux City, IA, Hospital. Services were at 11 a.m. Thursday at Larkin Morningside Funeral Home, Sioux City, with Rev. Glen Rachuy of Calvary Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be at a later date. Visitation was from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. McDonald was born June 18, 1943, in Vermillion, the son of Lee and Irene (Delaney) McDonald. He was raised in Vermillion and moved to the Sioux City area 22 years ago. He was employed with the maintenance department at IBP for 20 years. He then owned and operated Bob's Lawn Service. He raised quarter horses and was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association. Survivors include his wife: Sharon; two sons: Ben of Dakota City, NE and Albert A. of Sioux City, IA; two daughters: Candie and her husband, Timothy Orban, of LeMars, IA, and Angel A. McDonald of Larabee, IA; six grandchildren: Taera, Travis and Morgan McDonald and Michael A., Sheldon W. and Brandon "Pete" Watterson; a stepgranddaughter: Samantha L. Orban; two brothers: Harold L. of Vermillion and Andy and his wife, Sue, of Meckling; and two sisters and their husbands: JoAnn and Jerry Mhore of Florence, CO, and Jennie and Harold Westin of Elk Point.

Marion George Slocum
A memorial service for Marion George Slocum will held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vermillion at 7 p.m., Friday, May 12. After struggling with cancer, George died in his home in Liberty, MO on March 6, 2000. George was born on May 12, 1918 in Ipswich. His parents, Marion and Marie Slocum, raised George in Vermillion, where he graduated from University High School in May, 1937. He attended The University of South Dakota in Vermillion. George married Shirley Ann Christopherson, his high school sweetheart, on Dec. 24, 1942 just before heading off to the Army Air Corps. George is survived by his wife: Shirley of Liberty; his brother: Glenn of Whitewater, WI; three children: Craig Slocum of Peabody, MA, Margie S. Clark of New York, NY, and Marion George Slocum Jr. of Wichita KS; three grandsons: Jeffrey Slocum of Spotsylvania, VA Lee Slocum of Groveland, MA, and Christopher Clark of Boulder, CO; and four great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Liberty Hospital Hospice (2525 Glenn Hendren Drive, Liberty, MO 64068), or Hosanna Lutheran Church Memorial Fund (7604 NE 84th Street, Kansas City, MO 64157), or to the American Cancer Society.

Stephen Thompson
Military honors and services will be held June 10 at 10 a.m. for Stephen L. Thompson. He is scheduled to be buried May 15, at 7 a.m. He will be one of the first in the new Dallas-Fort Worth (TX) National Cemetery. Stephen L. Thompson, 65, Red Oak, TX, died Tuesday, Aug. 10, 1999 at Compass Hospital of Dallas, DeSoto, TX. Stephen L. Thompson was born Dec. 31, 1933 in Denver, CO to James C. and Gladys Thompson. Stephen married Joan (Danielson) Thompson on May 24, 1971 at Newton, KS. They had lived in Texas for the past 22 years. Survivors include his wife: Joan; two sons: David Voigt of Tucson, AZ and Jay Voigt of Mapleton, IA; one daughter: Kelly Jo Klein of Lewisville, TX; 13 grandchildren and one cousin, Donna Stillman of Lakewood, CO. Stephen was preceded in death by his prents, J.C. and Gladys Thompson and his younger brother, Dennis Thompson who died May, 1999. Stephen was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled Veterans of America. Funeral services were held Aug. 13, 1999, at the Red Oak Funeral Home.

Mary Cisar
Mary L. Cisar, 73, of Vermillion, died Thursday, May 18, 2000, at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls. Mary Sogge was born Jan. 12, 1927 in Scotland, to Chris and Alice (Rames) Sogge. She attended Olivet grade school, and graduated from Scotland High School. She received her teaching degree and her master's degree from The University of South Dakota in Vermillion. She married Richard (Dick) Cisar on Nov. 9, 1945 in Minnesota. She had taught in the Vermillion elementary schools for 25 years, retiring in 1987. She had lived in Vermillion since 1946, and had been very active in the community. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Teachers Sorority, St. Agnes Catholic Church, and a past member of the St. Agnes Altar Society. She was a weekly golfer, and enjoyed playing the organ. Survivors include her husband: Dick, of Vermillion; a son: Craig and his wife Becky, of San Jose, CA; and granddaughter: Jamie Cisar, and two step grandsons: Ryan and Oliver Bellevue. Three sisters also survive her: Louise Martin of Long Beach, CA, Arlene Jones of Tulsa, OK, and Hazel Pearson of Rapid City. A son, Richard Jr. preceded her in death. Funeral Mass was 1 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Vermillion. Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery in Vermillion. Visitation was from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, May 19, at the Hansen Funeral Home in Vermillion, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at the church.

Ella Williams
Ella Florence Williams, 77, Vermillion, died Monday, May 22, 2000 at Sioux Valley Vermillion Hospital, Vermillion. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Vermillion, with the Rev. Mercy Hobbs officiating. Burial was in the BluffView Cemetery, Vermillion. Visitation was from 3 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Iverson-Siecke Funeral Home, with the family present from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. She was born Oct. 8, 1922, at Bakersfield, CA, to Lemoine and Thelma (Steinwand) Williams. She graduated from Vacaville (CA) High School and attended Pepperdine University in Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of Alabama. She worked as a high school English teacher. She married Gerald Williams May 17, 1941, at The Little Church of Flowers in Los Angeles. The couple lived in Florence, AL, until retirement in 1981. After retirement they worked for four years as volunteers in Cameroon, Africa, with the Heifer Project International. They moved to Lubbock, TX; Florence, AL and then to Vermillion. She was a member of the St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Vermillion, the Alabama Retired Teachers Association, and an associate member of the United Church of Christ, Vermillion. She is survived by her husband: Dr. Gerald Williams, Vermillion; five sons: Dr. Gerald W. (Ingeborg) Williams, Berlin, Germany; David C. Williams, Mattawa, WA; James R. Williams, Washington, NH; Dr. John L. (Beth) Williams, Vermillion; Dr. Grant A. (Dianne) Williams, German Town, MD; two daughters: Michelle M. Williams Clark, Sacramento, CA; Shannon J. Williams, Walpole, NH; 16 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one brother: Tom (Terry) Williams, Guthrie, OK; two sisters: Marjorie (Colton) Hanson, Paradise, CA, and Coralee Williams Patrick, Florence, AL. Memorials may be directed to the St. Paul's Episcopal Church Memorial Fund or to the Heifer Project International, P.O. Box 808, Little Rock, AR 72203.

Elmore Johnson
Elmore W. Johnson, former resident of Vermillion, died May 21, 2000 at his home at Rison Son Christian Village, Council Bluffs, IA, following a long illness. He was born Aug. 22, 1918 in Clay County, and was one of five children to Manuel and Edith (Swanson) Johnson. He was united in marriage to Grace Lawrensen on Oct. 18, 1942 at Vermillion. He was Clay County clerk of courts for many years and then worked in the finance office at The University of South Dakota until his retirement in 1980. After his retirement he especially enjoyed playing golf, hunting and watching baseball. He moved to Council Bluffs in 1994 because of illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Leslie Johnson. Survivors include his wife: Grace; a daughter: Camille Tech and her husband Dennis, Council Bluffs, IA; two sons: Roger, of LaCrosse, WI, and Clair and his wife Margie of Del Ray Beach, FL; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; one sister: Leone Moulton and her husband Ruel, of Palmdale, CA, two brothers: Donald and his wife Billy of Amarillo, TX and Wayne and his wife Beverly, of Chandler, AZ; a sister-in-law: Ardella Johnson in California; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Graveside services were Tuesday, May 23 at 10 a.m. at the Walnut Hill Cemetery, Council Bluffs. Rev. James M. Cunningham officiated. The Cutler Funeral Home in Council Bluffs was in charge of the arrangements.

Hilda Block
Hilda Marie Block, 88, of Vermillion, formerly of Yankton, died Saturday, May 20, 2000, in the Sioux Valley Hospital in Vermillion. Memorial services were held at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 25 at the Ray, Cantrell & Wintz Funeral Home, Yankton with the Rev. Judy Johnson officiating. Inurnment will be in the Yankton Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be all of Block's children. She was born May 5, 1912, at Colome to John and Minnie (Vanderheide) Koester and was baptized March 21, 1915. She married Glenn Block, also of Colome and they later moved to Yankton, where they farmed. She was a resident of Vermillion since 1998. Hilda was a loving mother of five children, a grandmother of 17, with 25 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church at Yankton. She is survived by two children: Glendae Anderson of Vermillion and Robert Block (Marlene) of Beresford; 16 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and six great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three children: Mary Ann Block, Shirley Huber and Richard Block; one sister: Mabel Read; two brothers: Harry Koester and Ernie Koester; one granddaughter; one great-granddaughter and one great-great-granddaughter.

Kathy Kidd
Kathy Kidd, 69, died Thursday, May 18, 2000 at her home, Avon Park, FL. She was born Jan. 13, 1931 at Yankton to John and Anna M. (Hansen) Erickson. She grew up in the Vermillion area and graduated from Vermillion High School in 1949. She was active in band, chorus and cheerleading. She married Leo Palensky Aug. 22, 1949 at Vermillion. She lived in Vermillion, Lincoln, NE, Sioux City, IA, Huron, Albuquerque, NM, Bowie, ME, St. Augustine, FL, and Avon Park, FL. She married Frank Kidd Oct. 11, 1969. She is survived by six children: Daniel Leo (Lynn) Palensky, Chesapeake Beach, MD, Mary Kathryn Van Flyke, Sarasota, FL, Teresa Katherine Mitchell, Avon Park, FL, Angela Catherine Ficken, O'Fallon, IL, Michael Leo (Wendy) Palensky, Chesapeake Beach, MD, David Leo (Robin) Palensky, Waldorf, MD; one step-son: Robert Kidd, Maryland; 19 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; four brothers: Ernest Erickson, Gold River, CA, Clarence Erickson, Sioux Falls, Arthur Erickson, Salem, NY, Richard "Dutch" Erickson, Yankton. She was preceded in death by her second husband, her parents, three brothers, and two sisters. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Jeffery Kumm
Jeffery C. Kumm, 26, died May 20, 2000 near Centerville due to an automobile accident. Funeral services were held 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 23 at Dalesburg Lutheran Church, rural Vermillion, with the Rev. Paul Matchan officiating. Burial followed in Dalesburg Lutheran Cemetery. He was born March 14, 1974 in Vermillion to Franklin and Marabeth (Olson) Kumm. Jeff attended Beresford Elementary School and graduated from Beresford High School in 1992. He participated in cross country, wrestling, band and track. After high school he attended The University of South Dakota in Vermillion, worked at Custom Coils, and Alkota in Alcester and at the present time was employed at the Good Times Pizza and Bowl in Beresford. Jeff was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was a member of the Daleburg Lutheran Church, rural Vermillion. He was preceded in death by his sister Andrea, maternal grandparents Chester and Avis Olson and paternal grandfather Mike Hansen. Survivors include his parents: Franklin and Marabeth Kumm of Beresford; his sister: JoAnn and her husband Tom Taylor of Vermillion; his niece: Stephanie Taylor; a nephew: Jimmy Taylor of Vermillion; a paternal grandmother: Eva Hansen of Yankton; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.