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George Gebhart

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George GebhartGeorge J. Gebhart, 89, of Elkton, passed away Saturday, June 11, 2016 at Brookings Health System just 23 days shy of his 90th birthday.

George John Gebhart was born July 4, 1926 to George and Margaret (Lanners) Gebhart at their rural Elkton home. George attended country school at rural Elkton through 8th grade and then helped his father on the family farm. On January 3, 1952 he was united in marriage to Anastasia Maher at St. Williams Catholic Church in Aurora, SD. In 1960 George went to work for Farmers Union Co-op in Flandreau, SD where he drove the LP gas truck and the crop sprayer.

George retired in 1988 and during his retirement years George worked for several area farmers. At the age of 69 he started his own business “George’s Small Engine Repair” after receiving his degree from “Oley-Beisaw Institute.” His wife preceded him in death January 13, 2016. George was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Elkton. In 2013 George and Anastasia were named honorary referees for the annual Vince Relays. George loved to dance, play pinochle, throw horseshoes and he lived life to the fullest. Every Sunday after church was a celebration on the farm with many family and friends. The largest celebration was every 4th of July to celebrate his birthday. He was very innovative and known for his many original creations.

George is survived by nine children, Dee (Scott) Narragon, Brookings; Theresa (David) Wolf, Dell Rapids; Jean (Monte) Petersen, Colton; Tom (Regina) Gebhart, Elkton; Ervin (Lisa) Gebhart, Elkton; Everett (Joan) Gebhart, Sioux Falls; Leonard Gebhart, Elkton; Dorothy (Jim) Tipton, Plankinton; and Irene (Mark) Middleton, Grand Rapids, MI; 30 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren, sister Isabelle Short, sisters-in-law, Mary (Larry) Price, Donna (Tom) Dunklin, brothers-in-law, Francis Van Sambeek, George Maher, and many nieces, nephews, family and friends. George was preceded in death by his wife Anastasia, grandson Patrick Middleton, his parents, brothers, Joe, Leo, Felix, John, Ed, and Richard, and sisters, Mary, Margaret and Theresa.

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, June 17, 2016 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Elkton.  On-line condolences may be left at Skroch Funeral Chapel.

Alvina Woltjer

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Alvina WoltjerAlvina R. Woltjer, 77, of Willmar, passed away in her sleep on Thursday, June 9th at Rice Care Center in Willmar. Her memorial service was held on Saturday, June 18th at Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar.  Burial was in Paynesville Cemetery.  Arrangements were with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar.  On-line condolences may be left at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home.

Alvina Ruth Woltjer was born October 21, 1938, to Albert and Clara (Olson) Nelson in Colfax County. She graduated from Paynesville High School. Alvina was married in 1957 and later divorced. She was a homemaker, where she enjoyed teaching her children crafts and projects. She was strong in her faith and passed her beliefs onto her children. Alvina also enjoyed reading and was an avid Twins fan; win or lose, she would cheer them on, her favorite being Joe Mauer. She will be missed by her family and many friends at Rice Care Center.

Alvina was blessed with five children: Anita Kriegh (Ron Erickson) of Superior, WI, Pamela (Rose Dahm) Woltjer of New London, Chester Jr. (Rhonda) Woltjer of Grand Junction, CO, Timothy (Sherry) Woltjer of Dell Rapids, SD, and Kristi Robinson of Dell Rapids, SD; 6 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Alvina is also survived by her sister, Marylin Knouse of Tacoma, WA; and aunt, Esther Woltjer of Willmar.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, brother, two granddaughters and one grandson.

Maren Rae Zabel

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Maren ZabelMaren Rae (Aune) Zabel, age 39 of Circle Pines passed away unexpectedly at home on June 15, 2016. Preceded in death by father-in-law, Gary Zabel; grandparents, Morris & Gladys Vangen, Roy & Dorothy Aune; aunt, Patricia Olson.

Maren is survived by her loving husband, Anthony; children Esther & Trygve; brother, Mark Aune; parents, Edward & Sharon Aune; mother-in-law, Joan Zabel; also aunts, uncles, nieces, other family & friends.

Her funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 21st, 11 AM at St. Philips Lutheran Church, 6180 Hwy. 65 NE., Fridley. Visitation at the Miller Funeral Home, 6210 Hwy. 65 NE., Fridley Monday 5 ~ 8 PM and one hour prior to service. Interment Union Cemetery. On-line condolences may be left at Miller Funeral Home.

Betty Nelson

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Betty NelsonBetty M. Nelson, 85, of Hartford died Monday, June 13, 2016 at the Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion surrounded by her family. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 PM Thursday, June 16, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Hartford. Visitation with the family present will be from 5-7:00 PM Wednesday at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Baltic. On-line condolences may be left at Minnehaha Funeral Home.

Betty was born February 6, 1931 in Sioux Falls to parents John and Myrtle (Nelson) Moe. She grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from Washington High School in 1949.

Betty married Donell M. Nelson August 14, 1949 in Sioux Falls. They lived in Sioux Falls until moving to Hartford in 1952. After Donell died on February 22, 1990 she moved to Dells and lived there a few years before moving back to Hartford. She later moved to the Salem Assisted Living Center in Salem.

She loved playing cards with her sister, reading, china painting, word find, raising roses,and loved babies and small children. She was a foster mother for many years.

Grateful for having shared her life are her daughter, Judy Nelson, Hartford; sons, Jeff (Beverly) Nelson, Dell Rapids; John (Teresa) Nelson, Sioux Falls; James (Monica) Nelson, Nelson, Hartford; nine grandchildren, Shawna (Brandon), Dustin (Krista), Derek, Jared (Regina), Jeff, Jacie (Dominic), Ashley (Pat), Heather (Dustin), and Jennifer (DJ), nine great grandchildren; and a sister, Dianne Crisp, Dell Rapids.

She was preceded by her parents, her husband, Donell on February 22, 1990, a grandson, Scott, and a sister, Mary Jean.

Avis (Eide) Larson

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Avis LarsonAvis Larson, 96, of Dell Rapids and a former Oldham area resident died, Sunday June 5, 2016 at the Dell Rapids Nursing Home. Funeral services were held on Thursday, June 8, at the Oldham Lutheran Church in Oldham with the Rev. Joanne Nagele officiating. Burial is in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery at Oldham. On-line condolences may be left at Johnson & Henry Funeral Home.

Avis Orlinda Eide was born on March 14, 1920, to John and Johanna “Jennie” Eide. She attended grade school and high school at Trent, SD until March 1937 when her family moved to Oldham and Avis graduated from Oldham High School in 1938.

Avis married Olaf Larson on her parents’ farm west of Oldham on Nov. 30, 1939. Avis and Olaf moved to the Larson homestead in October of 1942.

Avis was a member of Oldham Lutheran Church, taught Sunday school, member of Ladies Aid, Cemetery Society and Merry Homemakers Club. Avis and Olaf enjoyed traveling and were able to travel to Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

Avis moved to Dells Nursing and Rehab Center on Aug. 13, 2008.

She is survived by her children; Ardys (Rodney) Christiansen, Marilyn (Warren) Lingbeck, Dianne (Don) Halverson and Douglas (Laurie) Larson, 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Olaf on March 11, 2005, three brothers Edwin, Marvin and Jallen Eide.

Delores (Kousman) Abeln

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Delores AbelnDolores Abeln, age 87 of Dell Rapids, SD (formerly of Mitchell, SD) passed away with her family present on Sunday, May 30, 2016 at Dells Nursing and Rehab Center, in Dell Rapids, SD. Celebration of Life Service will be 3:00 PM Saturday, June 4, 2016 at the Will Funeral Chapel with burial at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the Will Funeral Chapel.

Dolores Kousman, daughter of Anton and Clara (Bergquist) Kousman, was born December 15, 1928 in Mankato, MN. She worked in food service in various positions including Mitchell Schools and the Elks Club. She married Harold Abeln on October 20, 1947.

She is survived by her six children, Mike (Diane) Abeln, Coon Rapids, MN, Jerry (Emajoe) Abeln, Memphis, TN, Dave (Kathy) Abeln, Ft. Pierre, SD, Nancy (Greg) Haggerty, Dell Rapids, SD, Doug (Debbie) Abeln, Sioux Falls, SD, Steve (Julie) Abeln, Anchorage, AK; 15 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; a brother, Don Kousman.

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; her parents; a sister and a brother.

In lieu of flowers memorials preferred.  On-line condolences may be left at Will Funeral Chapel.

Edna (Schefsky) Olson

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Edna OlsonEdna Eloise (Schefsky) Olson was born November 22, 1918 to Herman and Alma (Rink) Schefsky at Forestburg, SD. Funeral services will be 10:30 am Friday, June 10 at the First Lutheran Church in Mitchell. Burial will be in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery at Artesian. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 pm Thursday with a prayer service at 7:00 pm at the Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell. On-line condolences may be left at Bittner Funeral Chapel.

She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was a member of First Lutheran Church in Artesian. She attended a rural school through the seventh grade and then eighth grade and high school at Forestburg, graduating from there in May of 1936. She graduated from the Sprague Hospital School of Nursing in Huron in August of 1939 with a Registered Nurses Degree. On April 19, 1940 she married Victor W. Olson at the Lutheran parsonage in Hartington, NE by Rev. Thorson. She lived in Nampa, ID and Vancouver, WA and for 68 years on the farm north of Artesian. She worked as a registered nurse in Chicago, Nampa and Vancouver and did private nursing after moving back to South Dakota. In August 2013 she moved to Countryside Living in Mitchell.

She is survived by her children; Gayle (Bill) Klein of Dell Rapids, Neal (Kathy) Olson of Artesian, Nancy (Robert) Arend of Sioux Falls; daughter-in-law, Shirley Olson of Artesian; 15 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, Irene Eining and Lottie Olson and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years on July 12, 2005, her son Doyle on April 17, 2011; her parents; brother and spouse, Orville (Irene) Schefsky and brother Edward in infancy, seven sisters and spouses, Velma (Arden) Moore, Freida (Mark) Peterson, Amelia (Walter) Jensen, Elsie (James) Sneesby, Darlene (Al) Bauer, Pauline (Mac) Eining and sister Margaret in infancy, in-laws and spouses, Orlando (Doris) Olson, Ott (Edith) Olson, Lyle Olson, Carmen Eining, two sisters-in-law, Edna M. Olson, Alice Olson in infancy, niece, Norma Deckert and nephew, Harlan Olson.

Verna Klepel

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Verna KlepelVerna was born September 27, 1937 at Canton, South Dakota, the daughter of Charles and Ruth (DeNeui) Geiken. She grew up at Ellis, South Dakota where she attended school through the eighth grade. On-line condolences may be left at Chapel Hill Funeral Home.

Verna married Karl Klepel on August 12, 1961 in Pipestone, Minnesota. They lived in Milbank for a few years and moved to the Sioux Falls area. Verna worked at home caring for her family. When her children were in school, Verna worked as a waitress for many years in Sioux Falls at local cafes as well as Sunshine and Arby’s. After she retired, she worked at the Walmart on East 10th St. as a greeter for several years.

She enjoyed camping, having a cup of coffee and visiting with family and friends. One of her favorite snacks was popcorn. Verna had been a member of Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church for ten years.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Cathy (Dan) Richardson of Dell Rapids, Steve (Ginny) Klepel of Harrisburg, MO, Greg (Terri) Klepel of Sioux Falls, Cynthia Cunningham of Sioux Falls, Karla (Greg) Eastman of Sioux Falls, Michael (Natasha) Klepel of Sioux Falls, Bradley Klepel of Sioux Falls; 19 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren; and two siblings, Dennis (Pearl) Geiken of Sioux Falls and Deanna (Melvin) Zuehlke of Sioux Falls.

Verna is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Karl; and a sister, GayAllen French.

Helen (Slinger) Burkard

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Helen (nee Slinger) Burkard, 96, died on May 17, 2016 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on June 17, 1919 in Woodstock, MN. She is survived by her four children, Merlyn (Linda) Burkard, Audrey (Hamid) Alwan, Barbara Burkard and Roger (Karen) Burkard; her grandchildren, Gretchen (Jayson) Vitamvas, Eric (Michelle) Plantenberg, Aaron (Laura) Plantenberg and Zosia Burkard and her great grandchildren, Mae, Anna and Edj Plantenberg; her two brothers and three sisters.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Edwin Burkard and 7 brothers and sisters.

A Memorial service was held May 28, 2016 at the Milwaukee Catholic Home, St. Anne’s Chapel 2462 N. Prospect Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53211. A memorial has been created for the Milwaukee Catholic Home.  A private service will be held in Dell Rapids at a later date. On-line condolences may be left at Kahler Funeral Home.

Mark Lee Anderson

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Mark Lee AndersonMark Lee Anderson passed away suddenly on June 2, 2016 at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota at the young age of 43. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Dell Rapids, SD. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 beginning at 3:00 pm with family present from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Minnehaha Funeral Home in Dell Rapids, SD. On-line condolences may be left at Minnehaha Funeral Home.

Mark was born July 11, 1972 in Elkhorn, Wisconsin to parents William and Akuei (Lee) Anderson. Mark was the oldest of three children. He has two wonderful sisters, Teresa and Tania. His family moved to Texas and Illinois before moving to Taipei, Taiwan when Mark was a young child and attended school there through the fourth grade. They moved back to the United States and lived in Kansas before settling in Sioux Falls, SD. Mark graduated from Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, SD in 1990. Mark worked at Hutchinson Technology for 18 years. He attended Southeast Technical Institute and graduated in 2011 with a System Administration degree. He worked for Raven Industries within the IT department.

Mark started his family with the addition of his amazing daughter, Jessica in 1991. Mark married the love of his life, Alana, on September 21, 2013. Upon this union, he gained 3 sons, Zachary, Logan and Carter. Mark was an incredible person with the biggest smile and an infectious laugh. He enjoyed reading, camping, biking, riding his motorcycle, music, gaming with his children and loved ones surrounding the fire pit, but what brought him the most joy, was spending time with his wife and his family. He really treasured the simple joys of having his family together.

Mark was a beloved husband, father, brother and son. Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Alana Anderson, Dell Rapids; daughter, Jessica (Zachary) Bradford, Thief River Falls, MN; sons, Zachary, Logan and Carter Schrad, Dell Rapids; father, William Anderson, Cedar Rapids, IA; sisters, Teresa (Jay) Franklin, North Liberty, IA and Tania Anderson, Cedar Rapids, IA; niece, Isabella; nephews, Austin, Braden and Aden; sister-in-law, Wendy Bruemmer, Sioux Falls, and mother and father in-law, Alan and Linda Bruemmer, Colman, SD.

Mark was preceded in death by his amazing mother, Akuei.

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