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

Aloha King

August 21, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Aloha King, 90, passed away Friday, August 19, 2016 at Dell Rapids Nursing and Rehab in Dell Rapids, SD. Funeral Service will be 10:30 AM Saturday, August 27, 2016 at George Boom Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Sioux Falls. Family present visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 PM Friday, August 26, at funeral home with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. On-line condolences may be left at the George Boom website.

Aloha Kruger was born on August 24, 1925 to Martin and Ethal (Stevens) Kruger in Twin Brooks, SD. She attended school in Kilborn, SD. She lived in South St. Paul, MN, before moving to Sioux Falls, in 1979.

Aloha was a member at St. John’s Lutheran Church as well as Active Generations and the Moose Lodge. She had a love for dancing and belong to the Golden Age Dance Club.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Yttreness, Dell Rapids, SD; son-in-laws, Gary Yttreness, Sioux Falls, SD, Gordan Beck, Madison, SD; grandchildren, Todd (Lois) Yttreness, Kansas City, MO, Laura Baker, Brandon, SD, Jay Yttreness, Brandon, SD, Alicia Burkhard, Harrisburg, SD, Marty (Billie) Lusk, Sioux Falls, SD; great grandchildren, DJ (Christyn) Yttreness, Jason (Kris) Yttreness, Josh Yttreness, Nathan Saygili, Melissa (Colin) Pearson, Lindsey (Greg) VanZee, Cory Burkhard, Ellie Lusk, Rylie Lusk and 10 great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Russell Jacobsen, parents; daughter Sharon Lusk; sisters, Lillian Snell, Violetta Runge and Alvina Runge, brother, Lloyd Kruger.

10th Street Project Now Underway

August 16, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The 10th Street project has officially started. A pre-construction meeting was held on Tuesday, August 9th with T&R Contracting, their subcontractor, the city, DGR, and the property owners affected by the project.

All of the questions from the property owners were answered, and the city has received all the needed permanent and temporary easements associated with the project.

City Administrator Justin Weiland updated the Dell Rapids City Council during their regular meeting on Monday, August 15th, about the project.

“T&R Contracting is full bore and ready to go. The signs got placed, and they are starting removals. 10th Street is now officially closed. They (T&R Contracting) provided a schedule that shows them completing it this year, that’s if everything falls in place perfectly. I’d anticipate that probably won’t happen, but that’s the initial schedule they provided us with,” commented Weiland.

Dell Rapids Will Have New Mayor

August 16, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The city of Dell Rapids will have a new mayor as Mayor Scott Fiegen submitted his resignation during the regular Dell Rapids City Council meeting held on Monday, August 15th. The resignation was accepted by the council and was effective immediately. Until a new mayor is found, Dell Rapids City Council President Mark Crisp will assume all the duties and responsibilities of the mayor. Fiegen’s resignation comes due to him moving outside of the city of Dell Rapids.

City Administrator Justin Weiland presented three options to the council on how to move forward with the open mayor seat.

Weiland said, “The first option is the board president could just continue in the role as acting mayor until the next municipal election in April (2017). That means the board president would assume both the duties of the mayor and president until the next election.”

“The second option we put together is the council could appoint a sitting city council member to fill the role. It should be stated that this council member would have to relinquish their existing seat to take over the full mayor’s roles and responsibilities. That appointment is only good until the next election in April. That would create an open seat in the that ward where the council would have to look at appointing a new council member to fill that open seat.”

“The third option is to appoint another resident of Dell Rapids. That appointment to mayor would only last until the next election in April.”

There was potential for a fourth option. The city could have taken petitions for mayoral candidates and held an election with that elected person holding the position until April. However state statute says the city would have to have an ordinance adopted that governs how the special election would be held prior to the vacancy occurring, and the city of Dell Rapids does not have such an ordinance in place.

City council member Tom Earley said, “I firmly believe that the city needs to have somebody in position of mayor to operate until April. I think we have capable people on this board who are well versed and well aware of what’s taking place in the city right now with various projects and some potential things down the road. This council has operated with a vacant seat in the past many times. I would think that hopefully at the first meeting in Sept that we are able to agree on who we want to appoint as mayor of the city of Dell Rapids. I think it’s a position that somebody needs to be in to give it the proper attention full time.”

City council member Mary Klockman motioned to table a decision until the September 6th meeting (in hopes a full council will be present), seconded by council member Mike Sterud. The motion carried. Council members Mike Geraets and Gary Haak were absent from the meeting.

Fiegen had been serving as Dell Rapids Mayor since 2009.

Small Company Pursues National Market

August 15, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

FlagShooter’s Product Makes Placing Utility Flags Easier

GARRETSON, S.D. – In less than a decade, FlagShooter, Inc. has grown from a concept into a company that does business in 46 states.

Paul Carrette, the owner and CEO of FlagShooter, saw the need for a new tool in 2008 while watching a technician in his back yard locate and mark the path of a water line. Carrette figured there had to be a better way, and the success of FlagShooter, Inc. suggests that he was right.

Bob Bishop, FlagShooter’s marketing and sales manager, was the first employee hired by Carrette. Bishop joined the staff in 2010 to help develop the company’s namesake product: a handheld tool that inserts marking flags into the ground and also can be used to paint the surface of the ground.

The Flagshooter tool is light enough to be operated with one hand, which allows a technician to hold a receiver in the other hand to locate underground lines for marking. Client companies use the FlagShooter to mark the location of their water, electricity, gas or cable lines prior to construction so that companies or individuals who dig into the ground don’t damage lines and disrupt services.

FlagShooter, Inc.’s office and production operations are based in a building on Carrette’s farm near Garretson. The company now has seven full- and part-time employees.

2010 was a big year for the company. It developed 12 prototypes before settling on its initial model. It also began contacting utility companies and taking preorders for 2011. Sales grew steadily and jumped 100 percent from 2013 to 2014. But then sales slowed.

About that time, South Dakota Manufacturing & Technology Solutions helped by connecting the company with Richard Johnson, founder and CEO of 21st Century Marketing Systems Inc. Johnson and his Utah-based company work with MTS to help train businesses to sell products.

Johnson evaluated what Flagshooter, Inc. was doing – and some things it wasn’t doing – to help transition the company from product development to sales mode. For example, Johnson helped the company develop a positioning statement that presents in an impactful way who the company is and what it offers. The statement also outlines a central marketing message.

“He helped get us in a more consistent direction,” Bishop says. “It helped us improve our phone call conversion rate.”

Johnson does a lot of work for businesses as a vendor partnering with MTS, says Wes Kelly, center director at the office in Sioux Falls. “We want manufacturers to come to us whenever they have a problem. We’ll go out and find them a solution,” Kelly says. “We want to be a trusted source for them.”

MTS is among the state business-assistance offices affiliated with the South Dakota Small Business Development Center. In addition to connecting FlagShooter, Inc. with Johnson, MTS helped connect Bishop and Carrette with Lisa Te Slaa and the Precision Leadership Group, which provides productivity courses for businesses in the Sioux Falls area.

“It was very good training,” says Bishop, who had previously worked in sales but had no formal training in the field. Bishop credits Te Slaa, Johnson and the MTS for helping re-energize sales. For the first six months of 2016, sales were up 60 percent from the first half of 2015, Bishop says.

Midco, which provides internet and networking, cable TV, phone and other telecommunications services to homes and businesses in a three-state area, is among FlagShooter’s clients. The company locates thousands of miles of existing and planned infrastructure annually in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota.

Erin Hayes, Director of Corporate Construction for Midco in Sioux Falls, says technicians working in the field like using the FlagShooter. FlagShooter, Inc. also provides Midco with special flags that carry Midco’s logo.

Midco employees doing location work come across all sorts of weather and ground conditions, Hayes points out. “The FlagShooter shoots through ice, and the flags stand up well. The flags help ensure that our locate sites will remain visible, which helps protect our infrastructure,” she says.

“There are other tools on the market. But those who use the FlagShooter really enjoy using it and prefer not to use anything else,” Hayes says.

About the SBDC

For more information about the South Dakota SBDC and its affiliated offices see www.sdbusinesshelp.com.

The SBDC has regional offices in Aberdeen, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Watertown and Yankton, and satellite offices in Brookings and Mitchell. Other programs in the SBDC network include South Dakota Manufacturing & Technology Solutions, South Dakota Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, South Dakota International Trade Center, Small Business Innovation Research programs and the Enterprise Institute. The SBDC network is an outreach program of the Beacom School of Business at the University of South Dakota.

The Small Business Development Center network is funded through the support of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Small Business Administration. Additional support comes from the Citi Foundation and Xcel Energy.

Quarrier Boys Golf Season Begins

August 15, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids boys golf team began their 2016 season in Hartford at the West Central Early Bird Invitational on Monday, August 15th. Dell Rapids finished 10th as a team with a team score of 365. Sioux Falls Christian finished first with a team score of 333. Canton was second with 338, and Dakota Valley finished third with a team score of 351.

Jordan Kerns finished eighth individually with a round of 82. Mason Schmidt also had a round of 82 and finished ninth. Sheldon Siemonsma had a round of 99 for Dell Rapids. Zach McKee finished with a 102, Karsen Welbig at 106, and Jack Weber had a 118.

The Quarriers will be at Dakota Valley on Wednesday, August 17th.

Jean (Briley) Weelborg

August 10, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Jean Weelborg, 95, of Dell Rapids, passed away on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at the Dells Area Health Center. In honor of Jean’s wishes, there will be a private family service held. A public memorial visitation with family present will be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Kahler Funeral Home on Friday, August 12, 2016. On-line condolences may be left at the Kahler Funeral Home website.

Jean Jane Briley was born on August 15, 1920 at Dell Rapids, SD, the daughter of Frank Allen Briley and Flossie (McCafferty) Briley. She grew up and attended school in Dell Rapids, graduating from Dell Rapids High School. After high school she married Ralph Weelborg on March 28, 1940 at Emmetsburg, IA. The couple made their home in Dell Rapids. Jean worked at the Briley grocery store until helping her husband run the Weelborg Brothers Construction Company. The couple ran the business until their retirement in 1983. In retirement the couple loved to visit the Black Hills at the Rushmore Campground in Palmer Gulch on lot 265 and winter in their retirement home in Arizona. Ralph passed away on March 31, 2008. Jean remained in her home until the time of her death.

Jean was a member of the United Methodist Church in Dell Rapids, a past Girl Scout leader, a past 4H leader, an observer for the U.S. Air Force during WWII, DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), and the Rebekah Lodge.

She enjoyed the fire truck which was in many local parades filled with her children and grandchildren, golfing, bowling, knitting and crocheting. She made afghans for all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two sisters, Cathryn Brown and Margaret Peterson, an infant grandson, Colby Luttmann and great-granddaughter, Alexis Luttmann.

She is survived by her daughters, Roberta (Gary) Luttmann of Flandreau, Dolly (Mark) Feehan of Dell Rapids, Joy (Fred) Zwart of New London, MN and Peggy (Keith) Hannemann of Yankton; her grandchildren, Levi (Katie) Luttmann, Malia (Jason) Holbeck, Marcus (Katie) Feehan, Amber (Jesse) Steiner, Cory Parks, Lucas Feehan, Tom Hannemann, Noah Luttmann, Abby (Kirk) LeBrun and Dan (Tiffany) Parks and her seven great-grandchildren, Ella and Parker Luttmann, Daisy, Torin and Haydin Holbeck, Reese Feehan, and Max Steiner and her many nieces and nephews.

Lillie Heesch

August 10, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Lillie Heesch, 88, of Dell Rapids passed away Saturday, August 6, 2016 at the Brooking Hospital. A memorial service was held on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at the United Methodist Church, Dell Rapids. Private family burial will be held at Hills of Rest Memorial Park, Sioux Falls. On-line condolences may be left at the Minnehaha Funeral Home website.

Lillie was born September 27, 1927 in Sioux Falls to parents Albert and Rose (Byg) LaShier. She grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from Washington High School. After her education she worked as a dental hygienist for Dr. M. B. Paulson in Sioux Falls.

Lillie married John Heesch February 4, 1950 in Sioux Falls. She moved to the farm near Dell Rapids where she lived and farmed with her husband. She also worked for Sioux Valley Telephone Company for many years until her retirement. She then volunteered at Sioux Valley Hospice for 12 years. John died July 16, 1998. Lillie continued to live on the farm until moving to the United Living Community in Brookings in 2012.

She was a long time member of the United Methodist Church in Dell Rapids.

Grateful for having shared her life are her son, James (Virginia) Heesch, Flandreau; three grandchildren, Jonathan (Dory) Heesch, Michelle Heesch and Melissa Heesch; two great grandchildren, Jonathan and Devorah; and a sister, Bonnie Bentley, Spearfish, SD.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, John on July 16, 1998 and her son, John on March 10, 2003.

Mudcats Advance, PBR Season Ends at State B Tournament

August 10, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids Mudcats advanced to the next round of the 2016 State B Amateur baseball tournament with a 3-1 win over Dimock-Emery on Sunday, August 7th, in Mitchell.

The Mudcats scored their first run in the second inning, and then neither team scored until the seventh inning. The Mudcats scored another run in the seventh when Travis Peters singled to score Kris King. Dimock-Emery was able to push across a run in the eighth, but the Mudcats answered in the bottom half of the inning for the 3-1 win. Jared Donahue pitched a complete game for the Mudcats giving up just the one run on six hits while striking out twelve.

Dell Rapids PBR, meanwhile, saw their season come to an end on Monday, August 8th, in a 7-1 loss to the Garretson Blue Jays. Garretson score two runs to in the top half of the first inning, and then added five more in the top of the third. Cody Collier drove in the lone PBR run and also had two hits. Brian Miller collected two hits, and Matt Burpee and Preston Davis each had a hit.

The Mudcats will play the Parkston Mudcats on Thursday, August 11th, at 6:00 p.m.

Rickeman Comfort Station Put on Hold

August 9, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids City Council voted to not accept the bid for the Rickeman Field comfort station project during their regular meeting on Monday, August 1st. The lone bid received by the city came in at $98,767.60, not including additional utility work. The total project cost would have come around $108,000, which is about $38,000 over the budget set. The city budgeted $70,000 this year for the entire project.

While discussing the bid to the council, City Administrator Justin Weiland mentioned that just a few weeks ago there was an announcement made that the Land-Water Conservation Fund Grants, through the Game, Fish and Parks which only come out every two years, will be available next year. Weiland thought that the city could package the comfort station along with proposed campground expansion into an application for this grant next year.

The council voted to reject the bid. Weiland said that he would check into costs for engineering specs for the project for the possibility of applying for the Land-Water Conservation Grant.

Betty Grace (Thue) (Utesch) Hart

August 8, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Betty Grace Hart of Watertown South Dakota, died on August 6th 2016. Funeral services will be held Tuesday August 9th at 11AM, at the Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Watertown South Dakota. A visitation will be held at 9:30 am on Tuesday until service time. Family will be present from 9am until service time. Burial will follow at Garfield Cemetery rural Bryant South Dakota. Reverend Iver Possehl will officiate. On-line condolences may be left at the Osthus Funeral Home website.

Betty Grace Hart was born on July 10, 1923 to Peter & Emma (Shepherd) Thue at Bryant, SD. She attended Cleveland #3 Grade School and graduated from Bryant High School in 1941. She was baptized, confirmed, and taught Bible School at Garfield Lutheran Church, rural Bryant.

Betty attended Augustana College, Sioux Falls, for two years in 1941-1943 after which she taught grade school in Lake Norden for one year. She did office work in San Francisco, CA from 1944-1947 and returned to Bryant and taught grade school for another two years.

In 1948, Betty married Harold (Hod) Utesch on Nov. 20, 1948 and she worked at the Bryant Medical Clinic. Together, they purchased the Bryant Theatre in 1953 and she returned to teaching for another nine years until 1967 when they moved to Bloomington, MN, where she taught 4th grade for 17 years. Hod died in September, 1983. Betty married Stan Hart in Hayti, SD on August 18, 1984 and they made their home in St. George, UT. Stan passed away in July 1990.

While living in St. George, she did volunteer work and took many trips. She especially enjoyed the 3 week cruise across the Atlantic and visiting Australia and New Zealand. With her sister and brother-in-law, she was thankful to visit relatives and ancestral places in Denmark & Norway. Always on her “bucket list” was to visit St. Petersburg, Russia which she got the opportunity to do in August, 2014. One could always find Aunt Betty enjoying her reading, politics, sports especially the Minnesota Twins, playing cards, doing puzzles, or handiwork especially counted cross-stitch and crochetting. Betty returned to Watertown, SD in December 1995 to be near family. She was an active member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church along with its “Young At Heart” group, weekly Bible Study and LWML.

Aunt Betty is survived by nieces and nephews: Ken (Jane) Thue, Waunakee, WI, Lon (Denise) Arneson, Chippewa Falls, WI, Ned (Joanie) Arneson, Hayti, Chris Thue, Dell Rapids, Mary (Peter) Manley, Wisconsin Rapids, WI & Mona (Frank) Cifaldi, Cumberland, WI, William Pedder, Oakland, CA & Jim Pedder, Orinda, CA. Also surviving her are her brothers-in-law: Charles (Marilyn) Arneson, Watertown, and Charles Utesch, Charlotte, NC. Her aunt, Evelyn Thue, Bryant. She is, also, survived by many cousins, special friends (which are many) and her special caretaker, Debbie Vetter.

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