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

Yvonne (Elsinger) George

January 6, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Services for Yvonne M. George, 82, of Fairmont, MN, will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at the St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Fairmont. Burial will take place in the Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Visitation will be two hours prior to the time of service from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at the St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Fairmont. Yvonne passed away Friday morning, January 3, 2014, at the Lutz Wing of the Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont. The Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Yvonne Mary (Elsinger) George was born on September 7, 1931, in Dell Rapids, SD, the daughter of Lawrence G. and Prima M. (Ginsbach) Elsinger. She attended school in Dell Rapids and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1949. Yvonne then attended Creighton University in Omaha, NE. Following her education, Yvonne moved to Long Beach, CA, where she worked at Seaside Memorial Hospital for one year before returning to South Dakota and working for McKennan Hospital for three years.

On April 4, 1956, Yvonne was united in marriage to Melvin R. George at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dell Rapids, SD. Together the couple made their home in Dell Rapids, Coleman, and Franklin before moving to Marshall, MN, in 1965. Their travels didn’t stop there as they also lived in Dawson, MN, and St. James, MN, before moving to Benson, AZ, where they opened a nursing home and resided for three years. They then returned to Minnesota and lived in Rochester and Milaca. In 1997, Yvonne and Melvin moved to Fairmont, MN, to be closer to family

Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Melvin George of Fairmont, MN; children, Mary Ann Forster and her husband, Darell of Maple Grove, MN, Stephen George and his wife, Renee of Fruita, CO, Paul George and his wife, Reba of Choctaw, OK, Roman George and his wife, Linda of Cold Spring, MN, Kateri Wellman and her husband, Roger of Fairmont, MN, and Phillip George and his wife, Cheryl of Byron, MN; thirteen grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, MaryAnn Nelson of Worthing, SD; brothers, Father Francis Elsinger of Hong Kong, Japan, and Gerald Elsinger and his wife, Sharon of Dell Rapids, SD; one sister-in-law, Jean Elsinger of Wilmont, SD; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Yvonne was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Prima Elsinger; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Clare and William George; brothers’, Ken Elsinger, and Roger Elsinger; and an infant granddaughter, Gabriel Linda George.

www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

Sale of Rocky Run Golf Course Finalized

January 6, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Dell Rapids, SD ‐ The sale of Rocky Run Golf course to Spruce Glen, Inc. was completed on December 27th. In the early 1960’s, the local golf course was founded as a vision of many community members who were dedicated to creating an exceptional golf course in the Dell Rapids community. Over the years, there have been many area residents that have worked hard to support and carry forward this vision. Spruce Glen is a group of local investors who own and develop land surrounding Rocky Run and are committed to maintaining this valuable community asset.

It is Spruce Glen’s goal to make golf an appealing and affordable activity for both families and individuals. The membership rates for 2014 reflect an all new simplified rate structure with memberships ranging from $570 for individuals to just $800 for families. There are also options for low monthly payments starting at $50 per month. Members will be allowed to bring private carts onto the course and there will be affordable options for annual cart leases and storage. Rocky Run Members have priority tee times and will be able to reserve tee times up to 2 weeks in advance. According to Spruce Glen partner, Jill Hansen, “The advantage of being a member is that you have access to play as little or as much golf as you want whenever you want. You can use your own cart and drive to the course or you can store your cart at the course. We want people taking advantage of this community’s great golf course and enjoying the game of golf. We also want to create a friendly social atmosphere that is welcoming to all.”

Spruce Glen has also agreed to an affiliate relationship with Great Life Malaska Golf and Fitness. Great Life Members will have access to Rocky Run course at restricted times. Great Life members will be limited to Tee times up to 3 days in advance and will not have access to the course on weekends before 3 PM or on Thursday afternoons. Through this affiliation and the new membership rate structure at Rocky Run, Spruce Glen fully embraces the mission of Great Life Malaska, “to enrich the lives of families and individuals through golf & fitness”.

You can get more information regarding Rocky Run Golf Course on their website www.rockyrungolf.com. If you sign up for your membership in January and receive up to 4 free Green Fees which is approximately a $100 value.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Jill Hansen, jillhansen@div‐it.com,
(605) 310‐1770

Rocky Run Golf Course
47364 Golfview Drive Dell Rapids, SD 57022
phone 605/428-3498
manager@rockyrungolf.com

City Council Meeting: 1/6/14

January 6, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids City Council will meet in regular session on Monday, January 6th, at 7:30 p.m. at the Dell Rapids Chambers. Some of the items on the agenda include public hearing on proposed zoning ordinance proposals, reconsideration on the Northview Dr/11th St water main project decision from December 16th, library board resignation acceptance and new member appointment, consideration of water tower lease agreement for Verizon Wireless, the administrative report, along with other items. The full agenda can be found here.

The meeting will be webcast on Big Sioux Media and then archived for later viewing.

Quarrier Boys Defeat Huskies

January 5, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids Quarrier boys basketball team earned a victory over the Elk Point-Jefferson Huskies 66-55 on Saturday, January 4th, in Elk Point. The Huskies held a 17-11 lead after the first quarter, but Dell Rapids took a two-point lead into halftime at 28-26. The Quarriers led 47-44 after the third quarter before outscoring Elk Point-Jefferson 19-11 in the final quarter for the win.

Head coach Jason Fersdahl said, “I am proud of our team for coming together in overcoming a rough start in the first quarter by digging in and playing aggressive defense and beating EPJ on the boards on the night. We thought going in to the game that we could use our speed and athleticism to force EPJ into some turnovers and we were able to do that, especially in the second half.”

Dell Rapids finished the game shooting 26-55 (47%) from the field, 3-15 (20%) from three-point range, and 11-21 (52%) from the free throw line. The Quarriers pulled down 39 rebounds, had 11 steals, 12 assists, and turned the ball over 12 times in the game.

The Quarriers had three players in double-figures, led by Cody Nielsen with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Ty Hoglund finished with 17 points, three steals, and two assists, while Zane Schumaker tossed in 11 points, pulled down five rebounds, and had four assists. Ben Hammer finished the game with six blocks.

” Cody Nielsen played a great overall game, leading us in scoring and rebounding and making a ton of hustle plays that often go unnoticed. I also thought our guards pushed the ball well in transition and handled the defensive pressure EPJ applied. Ben Hammer did a good job on the defensive end by controlling the paint and blocking six shots on the night while altering many others,” said Fersdahl. “Every Dakota XII conference game this season will be difficult and we look forward to continuing our strong start in conference play.”

Dell Rapids improves to 3-1 on the year and 3-0 in the Dakota 12 Conference. The Quarriers will travel to Pipestone on Tuesday, January 7th.

	1	2	3	4	Final
Elk Point-Jefferson	17	9	18	11	55
Dell Rapids	11	17	19	19	66

Garretson Picks up Win over St Mary

January 4, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Garretson Blue Dragons defeated the Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinals 73-45 on Saturday, January 4th, in Garretson. The Blue Dragons jumped out to a 22-10 lead by the end of the first quarter. Garretson extended the lead to 36-18 by halftime. The Blue Dragons then scored 20 points in the third quarter to take a 56-29 lead after the quarter on their way to the win.

Dell Rapids St Mary falls to 1-5 on the year. The Cardinals will host Lake Preston on Tuesday, January 7th.

	1	2	3	4	Final
Garretson	22	14	20	17	73
Dell Rapids St Mary	10	8	11	16	45

Highlights

Cecilia (Ceal) Mergen

January 2, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Cecilia (Ceal) Mergen died at the Dells Nursing and Rehab Center in Dell Rapids on Wednesday, January 1, 2014. She was 99 years old.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM Monday, January 6, 2014 at St. Peter Catholic Church, Colman, SD. Burial will be in the St. Peter Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 3:00 PM Sunday at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids, with a Rosary at 3:00 PM and a Wake Service at 4:00 PM.

Cecilia Eleanor Baumberger was born on the family farm near Huntimer, SD on June 6, 1914 to Jacob and Alice (Huntimer) Baumberger. She was the fifth oldest in the family of eleven children. She attended country school and graduated from St. Mary High School in 1932. She met her future husband Art, at social gatherings which often included dancing at Swans Beach to Lawrence Welk. They were married in St. Joseph the Workman Catholic Church, Huntimer on June 4, 1935 and spent the next six week honeymoon traveling to Oregon camping along the way. The couple bought the Mergen family farm in 1942. There she and Art raised eight children along with caring for her father in law. She raised vegetables in the large garden besides helping with chickens, dairy cows and farm animals. There were always vegetables, fruit, farm raised meat and fresh bread available for the many meals she cooked not only for her family but for the many visitors that were frequently around her kitchen table. Ceal and Art retired in 1976 in Colman. They continued to enjoy traveling, fishing, gardening, card playing and feeding the birds all of which she continued to do after Art’s death in 1995. She also enjoyed sewing, especially making quilts for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She moved to Orchard Hills Assisted Living in 2010 and later to Dells Nursing and Rehab Center.

Ceal was always active in her church and community. She was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church where she was a charter member of the St. Elizabeth Catholic Daughters of America Court and a member of the Altar Society and served on the parish Council. She was also a long time member of the choir and after fifty years of singing she retired in 1985. She enjoyed attending community events and was a regular patron of the Colman Library as had had a love of reading.

Ceal’s family was of utmost importance to her. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren and their activities. Grandma Ceal has been a great inspiration to her family. Her strong faith, determination, and calm acceptance of whatever life presented her will be missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, an infant son, two daughters, Sister Martin Mergen and Carolyn Wickre, son in law, Jerry Wickre, five brothers, Earl, Charles, Verne, Robert, Terry and five sisters, Ethel Loretta Felton, Veronica Reiff, Edith Cannon and Geneva Bunkers. She is survived by her sons, Del (Carol) of Rochester, MN; Jim (Cheri) of Sioux Falls; Mark (Cheri) of Dell Rapids and three daughters, Mary Ellen (Roger) Scholz of Stuart, NE; Alice (Jack) Majeres of Dell Rapids and Teresa (Jon) Brooks of Spirit Lake, IA, twenty grandchildren and thirty-two great grandchildren.

Jr. Sioux Wheelers Play at Pentagon

January 1, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Click for larger view.

The Jr. Sioux Wheelers played at halftime of the Sioux Falls Skyforce game on Friday, December 27th. The Jr. Sioux Wheelers played a short scrimmage against the Nebraska Red Dawgs from Omaha, NE. To make the trip more worthwhile for the Red Dawgs, the two teams held a full scrimmage prior to the Skyforce game at the Pentagon. During that full scrimmage, some of the Skyforce players, Anthony Mason, Jr., Chris Ayer, Ryan Evans, and Henry Walker, came to the scrimmage and took pictures with the Jr. Sioux Wheelers. The kids were very excited to play at the Pentagon.

Click for larger view.

The Jr. Sioux Wheelers were contacted by the Skyforce after the Wheelers returned from their trip to the national tournament. Kyle Kapitan of the Skyforce and Brad Coleman from the Pentagon were the contacts to help get the event set up for the Jr. Sioux Wheelers.

The Jr. Sioux Wheelers will be hosting the Junior National Wheelchair Basketball Conference Tournament in Dell Rapids on March 22nd and 23rd.

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Ron Park

January 1, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Ron Park, age 84, died from brain cancer at his daughter’s home in Sioux Falls on December 29, 2013.

Ronald Paul Park was born to Reuben and Esther Park at the family’s Dell Rapids area farmhouse during a blizzard on February 27, 1929. He was baptized and confirmed at Dell Rapids Lutheran Church, and graduated from Dell Rapids High School in 1946. In 1950 he graduated from South Dakota State University having earned a degree in Pharmacy.

Ron was united in marriage to Patricia Sue Olson on December 26, 1949. They began their married life in Sioux Falls where Ron worked for Dunning Drug. In 1952 Ron purchased Valley Drug in Valley Springs. The family returned to Sioux Falls in 1956 when Ron and Tom Mills formed a partnership and opened Mills Park Drug on east 10th street. They also operated two clinic pharmacies. The store became Ron Park Drug in 1974 and continued to serve its loyal customers for another twenty years. Ron was passionate about providing excellent service and his customers and employees were a highly valued second family to him. When it was “retirement” time Ron sold his business to Lewis Drug and continued working for them at their East Gate location for another decade just so he could still see folks! Ron was active in initiating an Ostomy Club for the Sioux Falls area and he partnered with Al Pfeifle to create Unomed, the first unit dose pharmacy in Eastern South Dakota.

Ron was a sincere and unassuming man who loved helping others and spending time with his family — especially at the cabin on Lake Poinsett.

Ron is survived by his wife Pat; daughters, Penny Sue (Leroy) Story of Sioux Falls; Lori Park-Smith (Will), of Willmar, MN; Juli (Mark) Kinzer of St. Paul, MN; his grandchildren, Jason (Kim) Gibson, Heather Park (Tim), Jason Story (Sarah), Jami Story (Shawn), Matthew, Harrison, and Parker Smith, Sofie and Jimmy Kinzer; and eight great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Dr. Terry Park; his siblings, Phyllis Gores, Lois Tursam and Roger Park; and his parents.

Funeral services will begin 10:00 am Friday at First Lutheran Church. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Thursday at Miller Funeral Home, Main Avenue location. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/argusleader/obituary.aspx?n=ron-park&pid=168831454&fhid=18053#sthash.UPm804nM.dpuf

Screening America at Dell Rapids High School

December 31, 2013 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Screening America will be at Dell Rapids High School on Thursday, January 23rd. Anyone, ages 12-34 is able to participate in the event. Assuming at least 18 people register, a group rate of $50 will be charged for each person screened.

The Young Hearts Screening program is a specific group of tests that aid in the detection of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). The screenings are quick, painless, and inexpensive. The screenings do not replace annual athletic physicals, but offer additional information about the heart. A Young Hearts Screening includes:

Blood pressure check
Full EKG
Limited echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Cardiologist review: Dr. Vaska with Sioux Falls Cardiovascular will review the heart screenings and you will receive the results in about three weeks.

If your child is getting screened, there are 3 required forms – a consent form, a health history questionnaire, and a Marfan form completed and signed by the parent/guardian. You may pick up forms in the District office or follow the link on the school website to print the forms. Please have your child bring completed forms, signed by parent/guardian to their appointment.

When I was first introduced to Screening America, I wasn’t sure if it was something we should bring to Dell Rapids. After hearing stories about local students from Parkston and Beresford, I instantly knew this was a service I wanted to provide to our community. I encourage you to take a look at Screening America’s website along with the story featured on Keloland News, http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/a-heart-for-the-game/?id=125783.

Please know this is an individual service that you can take advantage of. Our school is not receiving any service or money for our involvement. If you are interested in the screening, please call 605-428-5473, ext. 1, and schedule your appointment with LuAnn. Appointments will take place during the school day and payment will be collected at the time of the screening. you can pay by check, cash, or credit card. It is also possible to utilize flexible spending account dollars for the payment. Checks should be made out to Screening America.

If you have any questions, please visit Screening America’s website (www.screening-america.com) or call my office.

Thank you,
Summer Schultz

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