John “Cowboy” Jaros was born in Saint Paul, Minn., on July 19, 1984 and went home to be with his Lord and Savior on June 18, 2022.

A celebration of life for Thelma Mendel is planned at Salem MB Church, Bridgewater, on Sunday, July 24 at 3 p.m. Mendel passed away on May 28, 2022 in Peoria, Ariz., at the age of 90.

John Robert Wipf, 73, was born on March 11, 1949, to Vernon R. and Geraldine (Bernier) Wipf in Freeman, S.D. He died at the Avantara Arlington nursing home in Arlington, S.D. on July 4, 2022, after battling Agent Orange Exposure since the Vietnam Era. John’s life was full of excitement and passion. His flirtatious smile and memorable sarcasm will live on forever. It has been told that John was an eagle-eye shot and could hit a moving bird from three blocks away! He loved to read comic books and hunt pheasants and ducks!

Percy Brockmueller 84, of rural Freeman, S.D., passed away July 4 at his home. Funeral services will be Monday, July 11 at 10:30 a.m. at the Salem Mennonite (South) Church of rural Freeman. Visitation with the family present will be Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Walter Funeral Home in Freeman.  

Marvin Dannenbring, 79, of Sioux Falls, S.D. and formerly of Freeman, S.D., died Saturday, July 2, 2022, at his home surrounded by family. A funeral service was scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, July 7 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Freeman, with burial will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery in rural Emery, S.D.

Harris Deckert, 72, of Dolton, S.D., passed away on June 30, 2022 at his residence under hospice care. A service of remembrance and a fellowship will be held at 5 p.m., Thursday, July 7 at Fellowship Harvest Church of Freeman, S.D. (located on US Highway 81). A private family burial will be held prior. Arrangements by Walter’s Funeral Home.

Derrold Dennis Hofer, 82, Sioux Falls, S.D., went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, June 30, 2022, while under the loving care of the staff at Ava’s House. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, July 8, 2022, at Central Church, Sioux Falls, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at the Hutterthal Mennonite Church Cemetery, rural Freeman, S.D. A link to view via live stream will be available at www.heartlandfunerals.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Ava’s House at Sanford Hospital.

A funeral service for Ruth Becker, 98, of Sioux Falls, S.D. and formerly of Freeman, S.D., was held on Saturday, June 25 at Ransom Church in Sioux Falls. Ruth Becker was born on September 13, 1923 to Bernhardt and Kathryn (Tieszen) Ewert near Marion, S.D. She died on June 21, 2022 at Good Samaritan Lutheran Manor in Sioux Falls, having reached the age of 98 years. She graduated from Marion High School and attended Sioux Falls College. She became a teacher at a country school for a year followed by her moving to Chicago.

Gene LeRoy Gross was born on July 2, 1939, to Jacob S. and Elizabeth (Kleinsasser) Gross in Freeman, S.D.  Gene married the love of his life, Labelle Streyle, on June 11, 1961. In this union they had one daughter, Kandy Rae. Gene started his adult life owning a radiator and repair shop in Wagner, S.D. In 1983 they moved to Winner, S.D. and purchased the Westside Motel. They operated the business for 34 years before retiring in 2017.

Dave Janssen, 54, of Freeman, S.D., passed away unexpectedly on June 14 at his residence. A funeral service will be held on Monday June 20 at 10:30 a.m. at the Salem-Zion Mennonite Church of rural Freeman. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 19 in the church fellowship hall.