Obituaries

Donald Olson

Published by admin on Wed, 08/28/2024 - 12:52pm

Donald L. Olson, age 78, of rural Colton, S.D., passed away Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Funeral services were April 2 at Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls with Pastor Kirk Flaa officiating. Burial followed at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls.

Mary Burr

Published by admin on Wed, 08/28/2024 - 12:50pm

Mary Lou Burr was born Aug. 1, 1931, in Moorcroft, Wyo., to Lawrence and Anna (Schmitt) Ellis.  Mary Lou grew up in the Upton/Newcastle, Wyo., area. She lived for one year in Pocatello and Paris, Idaho during World War II.  
Mary Lou graduated from Newcastle (Wyo.) High School. On April 24, 1949, Mary Lou married Wayne Burr in Sheridan, Wyo. Together, they raised three daughters, Linda, Betty, and Marlene.
They lived in Powell, Upton and Newcastle, Wyo., and Scottsbluff, Neb.

Dianne Murray

Published by admin on Wed, 08/28/2024 - 8:33am
Dianne June Murray  was born June 27, 1930, in Omaha, Neb., to parents Charles and June Clines.
Dianne and her parents moved to Hill City, S.D., in 1946. She graduated from Hill City High School in 1948. Dianne’s family began a business that grew to become Dianne’s Gift Corral and Hillyo Museum, well known for its “Cherry Cider.” The Gift Corral operated until 1990.

Darlene Metz

Published by admin on Wed, 08/21/2024 - 8:43am
Darlene Mae Metz was born April 9 1937, in Minnesota.
On Aug. 7 Darlene passed away of natural causes at the age of 87 at the Monument Health Hospice house.
She is survived by her son James Green; daughter, Darla Green (Mike); Grandchildren, Amy Duvall (John), Amber Geisner (Luke), Annie Klein (Nick) and Aaron Jacques (Tara); and great- grandchildren Haley Geisner, Lane Geisner, Kaden Kruger and Kian Jacques.

Illa Cannon

Published by admin on Wed, 08/14/2024 - 11:28am

Illa Mae (Sutherland) Cannon was born Sept. 11, 1929 in Custer County, S.D. to Edgar A. Sutherland and Mattie M. (Barnes) Sutherland.
She graduated from Custer High School in 1947 and married Irvin Cannon in 1948 in Long Beach, Calif.
During her husband’s Air Force career, Illa moved around the country as her husband was stationed at various Air Force bases, primarily in California. Illa and Irv returned to the Black Hills  of South Dakota when Irv was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City.

Delores Gisi

Published by admin on Wed, 08/14/2024 - 11:27am

Delores Gisi was born Dec. 16, 1934 at Sturgis, S.D., to Aileen (Chafee) and Harold Remington.  She attended school at Sturgis and graduated from Sturgis High School. She went on to college at Denver College and received a business degree.

Lavilla Russell

Published by admin on Wed, 08/14/2024 - 11:27am

Lavilla E. Russell was born Jan. 31, 1948, to Harry Hobbs and Bertha Cruffett, Lavilla’s life was marked by her deep love for her family and her enduring spirit.
Lavilla, a cherished Custer, S.D., resident, passed away peacefully July 31, 2024, at Seven Sisters Nursing Home in Hot Springs, S.D. She was 76.
She was a devoted wife to Ray Russell and a loving mother to her daughters, Rae Morgan and Rhonda Reinhardt. Lavilla is also survived by her beloved niece, Aimee Jamison, 11 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, all of whom brought immense joy to her life.

Ernest Hezlitt, Jr.

Published by admin on Wed, 08/14/2024 - 11:26am

Ernest Montgomery Hezlitt, Jr., age 81, of Custer, S.D., passed away peacefully July 29, 2024, at Fountain Springs Nursing Home in Rapid City, S.D.
Ernest had been a cherished member of the Custer community for 18 years before his recent move to the nursing home in April.
Born Oct. 2, 1942, in Denville, N.J., Ernest was the son of Ernest Montgomery Hezlitt Sr. and Flora Bell “Louise” French Hezlitt. He grew up in Morrisville, N.J., and graduated from Boonton High School.

David Spear

Published by admin on Wed, 08/14/2024 - 8:44am
David Wilson Spear was born, the first and only child of George E. and Winifred E. (Wilson) Spear Feb. 26, 1934 in Rapid City, S.D. His mother tragically died 10 days later, and David was temporarily given into the care of his Aunt Mary (Spear) Willet while his father attempted to rebuild his life.
After George remarried to Veronica J. Breck, David returned to his father and new mother, and the family began anew.
They first lived in the Black Hills of South Dakota in the home of his grandfather, D.C. Spear, between Hill City and Keystone, S.D.

Lynelle Brown

Published by admin on Wed, 08/07/2024 - 9:34am

Lynelle Brown was born on May 18, 1950, in her childhood town of Billings, Mont. to the late John Richmond Hartpence and Bernice Elnore Olsen-Hartpence. Lynelle became a devoted member of the Baha’i faith in her youth. At the age of 21 Lynelle traveled to British Honduras as part of a service project.