Custer County Chronicle

Curtis Lenander

Published by admin on Thu, 08/18/2022 - 9:35am

Curtis Junior Lenander was born Oct. 3, 1928 in Toronto, S.D., to John Lenander and Annie Anderson Lenander.
He was the sixth of seven children—Harry, Berniece, Andy, Stella, Violet, Curtis, then Vernon. Before he was born, his mother lost two other babies, and then she and a third sibling passed away during childbirth when Curtis was only 8 years old.

Esther Downen

Published by admin on Thu, 08/11/2022 - 8:59am

Esther C. Downen, 94, died Aug. 5, 2022.
Visitation will be from 7 p.m., with a prayer service starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, at Kirk Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 11 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Hermosa.
Burial will follow at the Fairburn Cemetery.
Arrangements are with Kirk Funeral Home.

Robert Preston

Published by admin on Thu, 07/28/2022 - 9:39am

Dr. Robert Charles “Sarge” Preston, 73, “shuffled off this mortal coil” July 19, 2022, after a life that touched countless people the world over with his charm, wit, and compassion. Sarge transitioned to the other side surrounded by the love and affection of his adoring wife, daughter, son and devoted caretakers at the Hospice House in Rapid City, S.D.

William Wakeland

Published by admin on Thu, 07/28/2022 - 9:34am

William “Bill” Edwin Wakeland was born June 3, 1945, in Methuen, Mass., to Wee and Nora (Pacheco) Wakeland. He was the oldest of three children.
Bill graduated from Quincy Jr./Sr. High School in 1963 (the same year he had his first child and the same year his beloved Terry was born). He attended several different junior and city colleges and finally settled at Northwest. In 1968 Bill completed an apprenticeship as a roofer and insulator. Bill married the mother of his second and third born children. They later divorced.

Diana Freeland

Published by admin on Thu, 07/28/2022 - 9:31am

Diana Lynn Freeland was born Feb. 28, 1958, in Hot Springs, S.D., to Ronald William Mertens and Barbara Louise (Baker) Mertens.
She was the first born of four children. Diana grew up in Custer, S.D., graduating from high school in May 1976. During her years in Custer she worked at cafes and a grocery store. During her senior year she worked for Custer State Forestry.

Raymond Asebroek

Published by admin on Thu, 07/28/2022 - 9:30am

Raymond Edward Asebroek, passed away in Custer, S.D. at the age of 99.  
Raymond was born in a caddy shack on a golf course April 16, 1923, in Van Nuys, Calif., and grew up on a chicken ranch in the San Fernando Valley.    
Raymond joined the Army Air Corp when the United States entered WWII in 1941.  After leaving the service he got married and raised four children—Judy, Curt, Randy and Bill.  

Donald Tye

Published by admin on Thu, 07/21/2022 - 11:00am

Donald Grant Tye was born to Emra “Grant” Tye and Rose (Feiock) Tye May 15, 1937, in Rapid City, S.D.
Don grew up in the Rapid City area, joining the Navy in 1960. After his time in the service, he worked as a painter/service manager and started Tye’s Auto Body in Custer, S.D., in 1983.
Don volunteered as an EMT for Custer Ambulance Service, later becoming a full-time EMT for the Missouri Ambulance Service in Chamberlain, S.D.

Della Ince

Published by admin on Thu, 07/21/2022 - 10:59am

Della F. Ince was born April 26, 1925, in Pukwana, S.D., to Frank and Hazel (Cummins) Burns.
Della was married to John A. Ince. Della was the epitome of the sweetest woman. She enjoyed old Country Western music, card playing at Custer Senior Center and church services at Landover Estates.  
Della, of Custer, S.D., passed away July 15, 2022, at Rapid City, S.D. She was 97.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Sr.; parents; nine brothers; three sisters; and sons, Michael, John Jr., and Franklin Ince.

William Wakeland

Published by admin on Thu, 07/21/2022 - 10:58am

William “Bill” Edwin Wakeland, 77, of Custer, S.D., passed away July 17, 2022, at Avantara Mt. View in Rapid City, S.D.  
Christian Funeral Vigil will be held at 7 p.m. July 22 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Custer.
Christian Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 23, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Custer.
Arrangements have been placed under the local direction of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.  Condolences may be left at chamberlainmccolleys.com

Robert Crisman

Published by admin on Thu, 07/14/2022 - 9:56am

Robert (Bob) Charles Crisman, passed away on July 11th, 2022.  Bob was born August 9, 1949, in Rapid City, and graduated high school in Hill City in 1967. He married his high school sweetheart, Colleen McNulty and joined the Air Force right away. Bob and Colleen had two children Angela and Dale. Bob retired in 2004 after 31 years of service at Mt. Rushmore National Memorial. He was most famous for rappelling the faces to maintain the majestic figures.
Bob was a real man. He could do anything from working the skidsteer, to carpentry, to plumbing/electrical and fencing.