Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media, Author at Big Sioux Media Sports Network

First Electronic Recycling Day a Success

November 9, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids residents were able to bring electronics for recycling to the city rubble site in coordination with the free rubble site day on Saturday, October 29th. Some of the items that were able to be brought were televisions, computers, monitors, printers, VCR/DVD/CD players, camcorders, and telephones.

City Administrator Justin Weiland gave a report of what was brought to the rubble site to the Dell Rapids City Council during the regular meeting on Monday, November 7th. The rubble site received 63 televisions, eight microwaves, 18 DVD/VCR players, nine printers, six stereos, 33 CRTs TVs or monitors, six phones, and 23 miscellaneous items.

“It was good. The organization that we worked with out of Sioux Falls was really helpful. They actually sent a guy out there and had him out there all day helping direct traffic and help take the items. All it took from the city’s point was to drive down and pick up the boxes and took two trips to take the items back,” said Weiland.

The city worked with the Household Hazardous Waste Facility out of Sioux Falls to make this possible. Weiland mentioned that he hasn’t followed up with them yet since the event, but will ask if this is something that could be done again in Dell Rapids in the future.

Possible Recount for District 25

November 9, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

A possible recount could be had for a South Dakota State Representative seat for District 25. After all 11 precincts were fully reported, Republican Tom Pischke earned one of the two seats with 6,398 (31.22%) votes. Democrat Dan Ahlers currently won the second seat with 5,432 (26.50%) votes. Republican Roger Hunt came away with 5,399 (26.34%) votes.

Republican Kris Langer won the South Dakota State Senator seat with 7,254 (62.78%) votes.

Other results from the area and South Dakota in the November election are:

Minnehaha County Treasurer – Democrat Pam Nelson
Minnehaha County Commissioners at Large – Republicans Dean Karsky and Jean Bender
United States President – Republican Donald Trump
United States Senator – Republican John Thune
United States Representative – Republican Kristi Noem
Public Utilities Commissioner – Republican Chris Nelson
Amendment R – Yes
Amendment S – Yes
Amendment T – No
Amendment U – No
Amendment V – No
Initiated Measure 21 – Yes
Initiated Measure 22 – Yes
Initiated Measure 23 – No
Referred Law 19 – No
Referred Law 20 – No

Esther Gruneich

November 6, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Esther S. Gruneich 99, of Sioux Falls, SD, died peacefully November 3, 2016 at Sanford Hospice Foundation Cottage. A Service of Celebration and Witness to the Resurrection will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 7, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church, Sioux Falls, SD with a private family committal at Hills of Rest Cemetery. On-line condolences may be left at the Miller Funeral Home website.

Esther was born December 19, 1916 to Jacob and Susanna (Schmidt) Schindler on the family farm near McClusky, ND. She graduated from McClusky High School in 1934 and earned an elementary education certificate from Ellendale Teachers College. She was united in marriage to Rev. Solomon G. Gruneich of Kulm, ND, on May 26, 1940 in McClusky, ND. They were married for 69 years. In 1942, Esther and Solomon both entered Evangelical (Garrett) Theological Seminary in Naperville, IL where Esther earned a Christian Education Certificate, at a time when it was unusual for women to attend seminary. During WWII Esther worked in the Buick defense plant testing airplane engines.

Grateful for having shared the gift of Esther’s life are her daughter Marilyn (Tom) Gannon of Sioux Falls, son Rev. Stanley (Lonnie) Gruneich of Dell Rapids, daughter Margaret (Jim) Erick of Sioux Falls; grandchildren Jason (Mae) Gruneich, Sioux Falls, Joel (Pheonix) Gruneich, Gardnerville, NV, Nick (Kelley) Gruneich, Dell Rapids, Dan Erick and Jorina (Jason) Kruse, all of Sioux Falls; great-grandchildren Alison Rolof, Richmond, TX , Dominick Gruneich, Gardnerville, NV, Olivia, Emma, and Evan Gruneich, Dell Rapids; Owen and Jake Kruse, Sioux Falls, and many other relatives and a host of dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, Esther’s family would appreciate memorials to “Living Waters for the World” ministry, www.livingwatersfortheworld.org, or a local ministry of your choice.

Titans Top Quarriers in 11A Semifinals

November 5, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Tea Area Titans remained undefeated and moved on to the 11A championship game with a 32-21 win over the Dell Rapids Quarriers on Friday, November 4th, at Tea Area High School.

The Titans moved the ball successfully in their first two drives of the game. After receiving the kickoff to start the game, Tea Area had an 11 play, 89 yard drive that lasted 5:24 ending in a 29-yard touchdown run by Adam Heien. Their second drive was a 10 play, 70 yard drive that lasted 4:10. With 11:09 remaining in the second quarter, Kendron Rensch scored on a two-yard touchdown run to put the Titans ahead 13-0.

Dell Rapids got their offense rolling in their third drive. The Quarriers ran just four plays and covered 69 yards ending in a 39-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Hansen to Anthony Miller with 9:51 remaining in the half. The Dell Rapids defense then forced two consecutive punts, and the offense was driving late in the second quarter. With just over a minute to play, the Quarriers had the ball with a 2nd and goal from the two yard line. What happened next changed the flow of the entire game.

Hansen took the snap, ran a fake hand-off, spun to his left and was met by Logan Hoon who stripped the ball from Hansen and ran it 94 yards the other way for a Titan touchdown to put Tea Area ahead 19-7 at halftime. The play seemed to give all the momentum to the Titans for the second half.

The Titan defense forced a three and out of the Quarriers to open the third quarter. Tea Area then scored on their next drive. Payton Conrad scored on a four-yard run with 6:16 to go to push the lead to 26-7. The Titans scored again with 4:27 remaining in the third quarter when Heien reeled off a 57-yard touchdown run to make the score 32-7.

Dell Rapids was able to get two scores in the fourth quarter. Tanner Heim scored both times for the Quarriers. The first touchdown came with 6:35 remaining in the game on a one-yard run. The second score happened with 2:47 to go and was a three-yard run.

The Quarriers finished with 375 yards of offense, 188 rushing yards and 187 passing yards. Tea Area finished with 360 yards of total offense, 281 rushing yards and 79 passing yards. Adam Nagelhout had two carries for 78 yards. Seth Andersen had five carries for 55 yards. Hansen had 12 carries for 35 yards, and Heim had seven carries for 18 yards and two touchdowns. Hansen finished the game 7-11 passing for 125 yards and a touchdown. Carson Rentz was 5-10 passing for 62 yards and an interception. Heim had four catches for 41 yards. Mason Peter had two catches for 58 yards. Miller had one catch for 39 yards for a touchdown. Defensively Heim led the team with 10 tackles. Nate McKee added nine tackles, and Hansen and Andersen both had eight tackles.

Dell Rapids finishes their season with an 8-3 record. The Quarriers lost to Madison once, and Tea Area twice….the two teams that will compete for the 11A championship on Saturday, November 12th, at 1:00 p.m. in Vermillion.

Quarrier Volleyball Season Ends at Region 3A Tourney

November 4, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids Quarrier volleyball team had their season come to an end in the second round of the Region 3A tournament on Thursday, November 3rd, at Sioux Falls Christian High School.

The Quarriers opened up the region tournament in Madison on Tuesday, November 1st, against the Flandreau Fliers. Dell Rapids defeated Flandreau in straight sets by scores of 25-15, 25-20, and 25-20. Chloe Solberg finished the night with 10 points along with 34 set assists. Trinity Gordon had 20 kills and 14 digs in the match. Brooke Klein added 18 digs and 10 points. Sydney Stofferahn had eight kills, and Hannah Fletcher finished the night with 12 points.

Dell Rapids then lost to the Chargers of Sioux Falls Christian on Thursday in straight sets by scores of 22-25, 9-25, and 17-25. The Quarriers led through much of the first set, but Sioux Falls Chrisitian rallied for the win and held the momentum the rest of the night. Stofferahn had nine kills and two blocks for Dell Rapids. Klein had three ace serves and 12 digs. Solberg finished with 11 set assists.

The Quarriers finished the season with a record of 13-18 overall and 4-7 in the Dak-12 Conference. Seniors for the 2016 season are Sara Van Regenmorter, Alyssa Shellum, Alexis Krantz, MacKenzie Gullickson, Justice Haggin, and Chloe Solberg.

Joanne Cole

November 3, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Joanne Cole, 77 of Sioux Falls, SD, passed away at her home on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.

Grateful for having shared her life are her son Tim Cole and his wife Kelley, St. Paul, MN; sisters Helen Raker, Sioux Falls, SD, Margaret Godsk and her husband Don, Dell Rapids, SD; grandchildren Sam and Ben; and many other relatives and friends.

The family will be present to greet friends beginning at 1 pm with a memorial service at 2 pm on Saturday, November 5, 2016, at the Miller Funeral Home Chapel, 507 South Main Avenue. On-line condolences may be left at the Miller Funeral Home website.

Twelve Students Participate in All-State Chorus

October 31, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Twelve students from Dell Rapids and Dell Rapids St Mary schools participated in the 64th Annual South Dakota All-State Chorus and Orchestra event on Friday and Saturday, October 28th and 29th.

Over 1,000 of South Dakota’s best high school vocal and instrumental musicians were in Sioux Falls for the activities at the Denny Sanford Premier Center. The concert was performed at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evening.

The annual All-State Chorus & Orchestra, sponsored by South Dakota High School Activities Association, is the largest interscholastic high school music activity held in South Dakota. The 2016 All-State Chorus includes 928 singers representing 146 South Dakota high schools. The All-State Orchestra is comprised of 157 musicians from 28 schools.

Participants from Dell Rapids were Veronica Fritz, Justice Haggin, Micah Gleason, Thomas Petrik, Elly Petrik, Sydney Stofferahn, Timothy Jaycox, and James Lueders. Participants from Dell Rapids St Mary were Courtney Geraets, Pagie Bunkers, Jon Bares, and Zachary Geraets.

The guest conductors for the 2016 All-State Chorus & Orchestra Concert were Dr. Jerry Blackstone from the University of Michigan, and Dr. Ruth Lin from Gustavus Adolphus College. Dr. Blackstone will conducted the All-State Chorus while Dr. Lin will led the 2016 All-State Orchestra.

Norma Smith

October 30, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Norma Mae Smith, 97, passed away peacefully October 27, 2016 at her home in Dell Rapids. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Monday, October 31 at Minnehaha Funeral Home in Dell Rapids. On-line condolences may be left at the Minnehaha Funeral Home website.

Norma was born December 17, 1918 to Joe and Josie (Erickson) Lewis in Brookings, SD. She graduated from Brookings High School and earned a degree in printing and journalism from South Dakota State College. She married Virgil Miles Smith June 13, 1941 at Redwood Falls, MN. Norma worked as an editor on newspapers in Brookings, Leola, SD and Santa Monica, CA. While Virgil served in the U.S. Army during World War II, Norma cared for their two young sons in Brookings. After the war, they moved to Sioux Falls where Norma was a homemaker for their growing family.

In 1958 the family moved to Dell Rapids when the couple purchased the Dell Rapids Tribune. Norma served as editor and writer for it and four other weekly newspapers as they were added to the family business, Smith Publishing Company, Inc. They later expanded with the purchase of Moberly’s Print Shop in Sioux Falls. Norma earned numerous awards from the National Federation of Press Women and the South Dakota Press Association. She retired in 1978 when the couple sold the newspapers.

Norma enjoyed golf, travel, music and painting. She was an accomplished artist and sang in a variety of musical groups over the years. She was a member of the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids, PEO Chapter AD, Dell Rapids Lions Club and American Legion Auxiliary. An avid reader, Norma was pleased to serve on the local library board. She was a National Republican Committee Chairwoman and a delegate to the 1968 National Republican Convention in Miami, FL.

Norma was an eye and tissue donor through Dakota Lions Sight & Health.

Grateful for having shared her life are her daughter-in-law, Ginger Smith; Ginger’s son, Matthew and daughter, Jennifer; son, Gary (Alberta) Smith and their son, Christopher; daughter, Susan (Marlowe) Hovey and their daughter, Kate; son, Jeffrey (Kate Moe) Smith and their sons, Joshua and Noah; daughter, Robin Bechtold and her daughter, Kimberly and sons, Dustin and Taylor; daughter, Kimberly (Dallis) Poppen and their sons, George, Dietrich, Charlie and Sam; 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Darwin Lewis; sister, Ruth Davenport; niece, Christie Davenport; nephew, David Divine; husband, Virgil in 1996; son, Greg in 2009 and special friend, Bob Lower in 2009.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Vicki Kennedy and Brooke Bunkers, Norma’s loving caregivers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the South Dakota Children’s Home Society.

Dorothy Kuxhaus

October 28, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dorothy Ann Kuxhaus, 82, of Martin, SD, passed away on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at the Bennett County Hospital in Martin. Her Memorial Service will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Martin. Visitation with the family present will be one hour prior to the start of the service in the church. Inurnment will be in the Martin Community Cemetery. On-line condolences may be left at the Kahler Funeral Home website.

Dorothy “Dort” Ann Nelson was born on July 20, 1934 in Eli, NE. She was the daughter of Harry and Gladys (Johnson) Nelson. Dorothy attended school in Gordon, NE. She married Willard Kuxhaus on June 16, 1950. The couple made their home on a farm west of Martin, SD until 1973 when they purchased Swett Tavern. The couple ran Swett Tavern for 25 years. After Willard’s passing, Dorothy continued to reside in Swett until she retired and moved to Martin in 1998. She spent her last five years in Vetal, SD near her daughter and son-in-law, where she embraced the country scene once again.

Dort was definitely ‘one of a kind’. She had countless friends and card partners. There was rarely a moment in time when she didn’t have cards shuffling or dice rolling in the presence of company. She was never afraid to ‘shoot the moon’ in a good game of Pitch or to tell you what she was thinking. Dort was always up for having good time and making sure everyone was well fed. Most of all, she embraced life, loved God, and her family. She will be missed by so many.

She is survived by her sons, Monty (Cathy) Kuxhaus of Beloit, IL, William (Barbara) Kuxhaus of Martin, David (Roxanna) of Rapid City; her daughters, Konnie (Kenny) Boomer and Sherri (Larry) Livermont both of Martin; her 16 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren; and one brother, Alvie Nelson and several brothers and sisters-in-law.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Willard, daughter, Lorri; four brothers, Vic, Don, George, and Bob; and an infant great-grandson, Austin.

Memorials may be directed to Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Martin, SD.

Offense Shines in Second Half for Quarrier Win

October 28, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids Quarriers scored 28 points in the second half on their way to a 35-18 win over the Sioux Falls Christian Chargers in the quarterfinals of the South Dakota High School 11A playoffs on Thursday, October 27th, at Bob Young Stadium in Sioux Falls.

The Quarrier offense made great halftime adjustments as Dell Rapids was only able to put up one score in the first half. Neither team scored in the first quarter, and each team only possessed the ball one time in the quarter. Both defenses force a turnover on downs deep in their own territory to keep the game scoreless.

Dell Rapids scored first with 2:26 remaining in the second quarter when Hunter Hansen connected with Jeffrey Schuch on a jump pass from the one yard line to give the Quarriers a 7-0 lead. The Chargers marched down the field and scored on a 25-yard field goal by Jack Scott as time expired in the second quarter to make the score 7-3 at halftime.

The Quarriers scored two times in the third quarter. The first touchdown came with 7:11 remaining on a two-yard run by Seth Spielmann. Dell Rapids added to the lead with 3:59 to go on a 58-yard touchdown run by Tanner Heim. The Quarriers led 21-3 at the end of the third quarter.

The start of the fourth quarter was an offensive fury. The two teams combined to score 22 points in less than a minute and a half. Sioux Falls Christian scored with 10:30 to go in the game on a four-yard run by Riley Hogan. Dell Rapids answered :14 later when Hansen scored on a 69-yard run with 10:16 remaining to extend the Quarrier lead back to 18 points at 28-10. The Chargers answered about a minute later when Sawyer Prins found Dejay Fykstra in the corner of the endzone on a 16-yard touchdown pass with 9:04 remaining. The two point conversion was good and the Chargers were within 10 points at 28-18. After the Charger defense held Dell Rapids, Sioux Falls Christian had the ball with a chance to close the gap, but Nick Hoffman intercepted a Prins pass, and with 2:40 remaining, Heim scored his second touchdown from two yards away to give Dell Rapids a 35-18 lead.

The Quarriers had three 100-yard rushers on the night. Heim finished with 15 carries for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Hansen had 10 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown, and Spielmann had 16 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown. Dell Rapids had 367 yards of rushing offense on the night and converted 7-12 third down chances. Defensively, Nate McKee finished with 13 tackles on the night. Mason Peter had 10 tackles. Ross Wiebenga and Seth Andersen each had eight tackles. Hansen added seven tackles, and Heim and Blake Rieder both had six tackles.

Dell Rapids improves to 8-2 on the season. The Quarriers will travel to Tea to play the Tea Area Titans on Friday November 4th. The Titans defeated West Central 14-6. The game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.

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