Custer County Chronicle

David Coppess

Published by admin on Thu, 08/12/2021 - 8:57am

David “Dave” Coppess was born July 10, 1938, in Sunfield, Mich., to George and Margaret (Sherwood) Coppess.
Dave proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and after his honorable discharge he married Kay LaVonne Darby in 1958.

Eric Shull

Published by admin on Thu, 08/05/2021 - 9:21am

Eric David Shull came into this world June 27, 1980, at 7:20 p.m. in Hot Springs, S.D. From the time he was big enough to climb onto his grandfather’s backhoe he was hooked. His first solo operation was at the age of 5, when he drove the backhoe from the back pasture in Custer, S.D., to the shop where his grandfather was waiting. He loved operating and working on all types of equipment.

Robert ‘Ski’ Kaliszewski

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 9:03am

Robert Stanley Kaliszewski, known simply as “Ski” to everyone, was born July 19, 1949, in Illinois and raised in Missouri. He joined the Air Force after graduating from Saint Thomas Aquinas High School. He was stationed in Minot N.D.,, Dover, Del., and finally Ellsworth AFB, S.D.  In 1979, he left the Air Force and became a full-time mechanic, advancing to manager of Kmart Auto in Rapid City, S.D., which led to opening his own shop in Custer.
Ski’s first wife, Sandy, went to be with Jesus in September 1992. The Lord brought Ski and Iris together and they married in 1994.

Susan Brown

Published by admin on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 9:02am

Susan Deann Brown was born Nov. 8, 1960, in Kalispell, Mont., to Byron and Lorraine Brown (Carr).  Susan was the fourth of six siblings along with Joe, Kevin, Sharrol, Wayne and Sheldon.  
Susan passed away Monday, July 19, 2021 at Teton Peaks Assisted Living Facility in Choteau. Mont. She was 60.
Susan’s final wish was for everyone she loves and throughout the world to “Always stay humble and kind.”
Condolences may be left online at gorderjensenfuneralhome.com.

Catherine Wahle

Published by admin on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 10:23am

Catherine Grace Wahle (Hall) was born Sept. 30, 1930, to Leon Earnest and Susan J. (Barr) Hall on their farm in Potter County near Gettysburg, S.D., where she grew up the youngest of nine children.
She attended the Kula County Grade School in Artichoke Township and Gettysburg High School. During her senior year and also after graduating she worked at the Potter County Register of Deeds where in those days all records had to be hand typed. She also was a part time secretary for Civil Air Patrol where her salary was airplane rides with her boss.

John ‘Frank’ Swindall III

Published by admin on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 10:22am

John “Frank” Swindal III was born Dec. 23, 1954, in Jacksonville, Fla., to Frank and Jean Swindal.   
Within a year of his birth they moved to Coral Gables, Fla., where he lived until he moved to Custer, S.D.
Growing up in Florida Frank enjoyed the outdoors, especially water sports, swimming, boating and fishing due to his closeness to the ocean. After high school he went on adventures in his VW bus. He then went on to manage the family whole furniture business with his brother, Ken for 25 years.

Delores Hoime

Published by admin on Thu, 07/15/2021 - 9:03am

Delores “Dee” Julia Hoime was born Dec. 6, 1947, in Pierre, S.D., to George (Ray) Whalen and Bernadette (Moriarty) Whalen.
She attended high school at Mount Marty Academy in Yankton, S.D.  Later she attended Presentation College in Aberdeen, S.D., completing her AA degree at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Dee married Tim Hoime Nov. 9, 1985, and together they embarked on a journey that would take them from South Dakota to Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, back to South Dakota and finally to Arizona.

Edward Vandel

Published by admin on Thu, 07/15/2021 - 9:02am

Edward Harold Vandel was born April 15, 1950, in Hot Springs, S.D., to Paul and Burdean (Bowen) Vandel.
Ed, of Custer, S.D., passed away July 9, 2021, at Monument Health Custer Senior Care. He was 71.
He was preceded in death by his sister, MariLu Kirk.
Ed is survived by his brothers, William Vandel of Custer, Jim Vandel of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Rick Vandel of Texas; and sister, Sue Zeimet of Custer.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Hot Springs.

Norma Cannon

Published by admin on Thu, 07/08/2021 - 9:37am

Norma Cannon was born July 17, 1929, in Scranton, Pa., to Gus and Clara Neuls. She was the eldest of two children, sharing a close bond with her brother, Karl.
She spent her first years in Scranton speaking only German. When she was a young child, the Neuls family moved to Dewey, S.D., on her father’s homestead, beginning a life-long tenderness in her heart for the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Deborah Rizzs

Published by admin on Thu, 07/08/2021 - 9:37am

Deborah (Rodick) Rizzs was born Oct. 6, 1957 in Mobile, Ala., to Martha (Rodick) and Whitey Gorman.
She was a resident of Vancouver, Wash., for 16 years. Deborah was retired, and attended the Light of Hope Church there.
Deborah died June 22, 2021, in Vancouver, Wash. She was 63.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Martha (Rodick) Gorman and Whitey Gorman.