Amie (Randy) Hemmer Archives - Big Sioux Media Sports Network

Cynthia (Kriz) Johnson

December 2, 2015 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Cindy K. Johnson, 61, Valley Springs, died Saturday, November 21, 2015, at home, surrounded by her family. Family Visitation will be 5-7pm, Tuesday, November 24, 2015, at Heartland Funeral Home, with a short Prayer Service at 7pm. Funeral Services will be 10:30am, Wednesday, November 25, at Blessed Redeemer Lutheran Church, Brandon. Interment will follow at Hills of Rest Memorial Park, Sioux Falls. Condolences may be left at Heartland Funeral Home.

Cynthia Kay Kriz was born on May 15, 1954 in Tyndall, SD, to Roy Harvey Kriz and Helen Luella (Hahn) Kriz. She entered the Kingdom of God through Holy Baptism on May 30, 1954, at St John’s Lutheran Church in Tyndall, SD. She was confirmed at Memorial Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD, on June 9, 1968. Her Confirmation Bible verse was 1 John 2:17, “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

Cindy attended both Bumbas Elementary and Vellek Elementary in rural Bon Homme County in South Dakota. She attended Edison Middle School in Sioux Falls, SD and graduated from Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, SD, in 1972. She graduated from Nettleton College, in Sioux Falls, SD.

On April 12, 1980, Cindy was united in marriage to Rick Eugene Johnson at Memorial Lutheran Church, in Sioux Falls, SD. This union was blessed with 4 children; Cody Jerome, Sarah Kay, Tyler Jerome and Alex Jerome.

She worked for over 30 years at Thurman, Comes, Foley & Co. LLP as a book keeper. During her career, she also worked at the Holiday Inn City Centre, an Answering Service, Pollard International and Crystal Ice Concessions.

In her spare time, Cindy enjoyed working with ceramics, bowling, riding horses and fishing. She participated in the Bridles N Britches 4-H club. Cindy joined Blessed Redeemer Lutheran Church in Brandon, SD in November, 1997.

Cindy will be deeply missed by her husband, Rick; three children, Sarah (Jake Wheeler) Johnson, Valley Springs, Tyler and Alex Johnson, Valley Springs; granddaughter, Lexie; parents, Roy and Helen Kriz ,Sioux Falls; two siblings, Roger (Leanne) Kriz, Sioux Falls and Karen (Michael) Beyer, Valley Springs; mother-in-law, Jan Johnson, Garretson; sisters-in-law, Darcia (Dan) Hansen, Jasper, MN, Laurie (Glen) Johnson-Newell, Lincoln, NE, Jodie (Mark Dorn) Ahlers, Luverne, MN, Jennifer (Ron) Rouse, Lincoln, NE, Amie (Randy) Hemmer, Dell Rapids, SD, and many extended family.

She was preceded by her son, Cody Johnson; father-in-law, Donald Johnson; grandparents, Helen and Henry Hahn and Emma and Albert Kriz; aunt and uncle, Ruby and Donald Kriz; and great nephew, Tayden Grohs.

In lieu of flowers, her family requests memorials be made to any breast cancer research association.

Donald Johnson

September 24, 2015 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Donald Jerome Johnson, 78, Garretson, passed away on September, 21, 2015 in his home surrounded by his family. Services will be at 1:30 pm Friday, September 25, 2015, at Zion Lutheran Church, Garretson. Visitation will be 6-8 pm Thursday at the church. Condolences may be left at

Donald was born December 8th, 1936 to Agny (Sagness) and Leroy Johnson. He graduated from Dell Rapids High School, class of 1955, a class he was very proud of and where many lifelong friends were made. He married his high school sweetheart Janice Bowles on September 8, 1955 and just recently celebrated their 60th anniversary. This marriage was blessed with 6 children. Don and Jan moved to Garretson when the kids were little, where he owned the barber shop on Main Street. Later on, he would go on to work at John Morrell’s before finally buying and owning the Silver Bullet in Sherman, SD where he spent many years doing what he loved most, meeting new people and making new friends.

Don had many hobbies that he loved including hunting, fishing, playing pool with the “Old Farts”, golfing, playing cards, and telling a good story like only he could. But more than anything, he enjoyed time spent with family, he was always very proud of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. His grandkids have wonderful memories of “whisker rubs”, singing “Jimmy Crack Corn”, stove top popcorn, Grandpa’s specha murr, and fishing trips in his boat. One thing his family will always treasure is his inspiring life lessons which began with a push of his glasses, a point of his finger and “Let me tell you something…”.

He continued to cut hair in his home barber shop for many years after his retirement, never passing up the chance for a good conversation with great customers! Proud of his Norwegian heritage, he struggled with his family’s inability to acquire the taste for lutefisk. Uffda!

He is survived by his wife Janice, his children, Rick (Cindy) Johnson, Valley Springs SD, Darcia (Dan) Hansen, Jasper MN, Laurie (Glenn) Johnson-Newell, Lincoln NE, Jodie (Mark Dorn) Ahlers, Wentworth SD, Jennifer (Ron) Rouse, Lincoln NE, Amie (Randy) Hemmer, Dell Rapids SD, two sisters, Shirley Gannon, Sioux Falls SD, and Arlene (Pete) Grav, Huntington Beach CA., two sisters-in-law, Jean Berge, Baltic SD, and Joann Park, Sioux Falls SD, 23 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and many more family and friends

He is preceded in death by his parents, one grandson, Cody Johnson, and one great grandson, Tayden Grohs.

Don will be deeply missed by his family and friends but they will continue to carry his love, his stories, and his memories with them wherever they go. They are grateful for the time they had with him and they are thankful for all those who shared his life with him.