Custer County Chronicle

Michael Baertsch

Published by admin on Wed, 12/27/2023 - 3:05pm

Michael William Baertsch graduated from Beach, N.D., in 1970. He married and had Jody, Wade and Chad. He worked and managed a cattle ranch in Minnesota and then moved to become the district manager for Flying J in several different states. Later, he returned to Beach and worked in the oil field until he retired in 2016.

Doyle Johnson

Published by admin on Wed, 12/20/2023 - 11:36am

Doyle L. Johnson, 92, of Custer, S.D., passed away Dec. 18, 2023.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 29  at Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.
Celebration of Life will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 30 at Crossroads Church in Custer.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.

 

Bonita Harris

Published by admin on Wed, 12/06/2023 - 10:50am

Bonita Harris was born to Otto F. Prokop and Lois J. Prokop June 13, 1933, growing up in an 8x10 tarpaper shack on the prairies near Kadoka, S.D.The tiny home became more crowded after brother, Veryl, joined the family.
Days were full with hauling water in a horse drawn wagon from the river miles away, haying, caring for stock and the everyday life of living in the depression-era ’30s.

Stacey Bauer

Published by admin on Wed, 11/29/2023 - 11:30am

Stacey L. Bauer was born in Eureka, S.D., to Jerry and Barbara (Kurle) Bauer on Nov. 10, 1966. He grew up on the family farm along with his four brothers.
Through this “farm life” he developed a strong, never-quit and never-settle work ethic, an appreciation for the priorities in life and a fierce love and devotion to family, a trait he carried with him the rest of his life.

Richard Waddington

Published by admin on Wed, 11/29/2023 - 11:29am

Richard LeRoy “Roy” Waddington was born in Rapid City, S.D., March 30, 1953, to Violet (Kester) and Richard Waddington, the oldest of five. He was raised in the Black Hills of South Dakota by his mom and step father, Herbert Holmes.
He attended school through the eighth grade, and then began his career in the logging industry. He married Nancy Jane Buchholz Nov. 27, 1971.

Devota Hadley

Published by admin on Wed, 11/29/2023 - 11:28am

Devota Dawn Hadley was born March 22, 1933, the fourth and last child of Bert and Amy (Coon) Ferwerda in Murdo, S.D.
The family lived in the Okaton, S.D., area and Devota graduated high school in Belvidere, S.D.
Devota attended Secretarial/Bookkeeping College in Pierre, S.D., where she met and married Billie Creasman. The couple traveled while Billie worked construction on I-25 and I-90, making their home in Rapid City full time. To this union, three children were born:  Richard, Ramona and Letha.

Bernice Herra

Published by admin on Tue, 11/21/2023 - 11:16am

Bernice LaVerne Herra (Haht), the daughter of Ernest and Elizabeth Thomas Haht, was born Dec. 25, 1926, on the family farm in Paullina, Iowa. She received her education in a country school in O’Brien County.  
Bernice was confirmed in Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina. She enjoyed the farm life very much and she met her future husband, William Zeeb, when he came through with a thrashing machine crew. They married Dec. 27, 1945.

Kim Mills

Published by admin on Wed, 11/15/2023 - 10:29am

Kim Ilene Mills was born on Sept. 1, 1956, to Floyd Robert Mills and Norma Kathryn Mills in Watertown, S.D.
Kim spent her childhood in
Watertown until they moved to Huron, S.D., where she attended Huron High School and graduated in 1974.

Twylah Hertz

Published by admin on Wed, 11/15/2023 - 9:48am
Twylah Ruth (Fair) Hertz was born to Frank Fair, Sr., and Helena (Mettler) Fair in her parents’ home in Weber, Kansas  Oct. 3, 1930.  She joined an older brother, Frank, and older sister, IdaMae.  She was followed by brother, Walter.  Growing up she lived in Kansas and then in Menno, S.D. 
On Sept. 14, 1954, she married Leo Hertz and after he completed law school in Vermillion, S.D., they moved their two young sons to Armour, S.D., to start his law practice. In Armour their daughter was born and completed their family. 

Winifred Bland

Published by admin on Wed, 11/01/2023 - 9:56am

Winifred “Sammie” Marie (Cochran) Bland was given the name to honor her mom. But to all that knew her, her name was Sammie, which was her nickname given to her by her father.
Sammie was born Feb. 3, 1964, in Monmouth, Ill., to Paul and Winifred Cochran (Aho). She joined siblings Paula, Jesse and Michael; she would later be joined by younger brother, Jamie.  Sammie’s family moved her last year of school, but she remained to finish, living with her best friend Carmel McGrath, whose family became like another family to her.