Elsie Schmidt, 91, of Marion, S.D., passed away on Oct. 29, 2020 at the Freeman hospital. A funeral service will be Tuesday, Nov. 3 at the Salem Zion Mennonite Church of rural Freeman with visitation beginning at 12 p.m. on Tuesday at the church prior to the service. The family asks that masks be worn and COVID-19 guidelines be observed.

Lillian Walter, age 96, of Huron, S.D., passed away Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 at Avantara-Huron. A private family graveside service will be held, with a celebration of life being planned for next summer. Interment will be in the Bethel Church Cemetery. Lillian Wipf Walter was born Oct. 10, 1924, at Onida, S.D., to Zack B. and Anna (Wollman) Wipf. When Lillian was 4 years old., her family moved to St. Paul, Minn., where she received her education. Lillian was very active win her church youth group and sang in the choir, many different small groups, and a trio with her two sisters.

Robert ‘Bob’ Clair Stewart, 90, of Custer, S.D., passed away Oct. 22, 2020, at his residence in Custer. Bob was born Oct. 15, 1930, in Artesian, S.D., to Rush and Emma (Winsel) Stewart. Bob proudly served in the U.S. Marines until his honorable discharge in 1952. Bob worked for NorthWestern Public Service for 41 years until his retirement in 1995, starting as a serviceman and ending as the Director of Consumer Services of the NWPS Redfield Division.

Maxine M. (Mueller) Ortman passed away on Oct. 24, 2020, at the age of 89 years at the Tieszen Memorial Home, Marion, S.D. Maxine was born July 1, 1931, to David and Lydia (Graber) Mueller on the Christian Mueller homestead in Turner County, S.D., and grew up in the scenic Turkey Ridge Valley. On May 25, 1947, Maxine was baptized by Rev. Willard Classen and received into the membership of the Salem Mennonite Church. She later transferred her membership to Salem-Zion Mennonite Church, rural Freeman, S.D., where she remained a faithful member until her death.

Jonathan “JD” Dangel, 62, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020 at Sanford USD Medical Center. A funeral mass was held Wednesday, Oct. 21 at St. Boniface/Idylwilde Catholic Church, rural Freeman, S.D.

Joyce Felsheim Schrag, age 98, of Parker, S.D., passed away Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 at the Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion due to Covid-19. A funeral is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 at the United Methodist Church in Parker. Visitation was scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the church. The service on Thursday will be live streamed at https://www.facebook/ParkerUnitedMethodistChurch. Due to Covid-19, the family request that guests wear a mask and practice social distancing at both opportunities to celebrate Joyce’s life.

Gertrude Witkop, 93, of Marion, S.D., passed away on Oct. 22 at the Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion. A service will be held on Thursday Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. at First Church of Monroe, with burial in the Spring Valley Baptist Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday at the church one hour prior to the service. The family encourages all guests and visitors to wear a mask and follow Covid guidelines.  

Robert Leal Juhnke (Bob) of Cape Coral, Fla., passed away peacefully at his home Sept. 11, 2020 at the age of 84 years and 9 months, with his wife and children at his bedside after a long bout with cancer. He was born on a farm near Milltown to Arnold and Freda (Huber) Juhnke. He was baptized on December 29, 1935 and confirmed at St Peter’s Lutheran Church in Clayton, S.D.

Allen Schmidt, 84, of Freeman, S.D., passed away on Oct. 19 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. A memorial service is pending for the morning of Saturday, Oct. 31 at the Salem-Zion Mennonite Church.    Allen Schmidt, 84, of Freeman, S.D., passed away on Oct. 19, 2020 at Sanford Hospital. A private family burial will take place at Schartner Cemetery of rural Marion, S.D. A memorial service will be held in 2021.

On Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, at the age of 39, Elisha Wright died unexpectedly. Elisha was born on Oct. 27, 1980 in Bon Homme County. Shortly after graduation from Scotland High School, he moved to Oklahoma to work with his uncle, Rick Machacek, in the oil fields. Elisha returned to South Dakota about 10 years later.