Ruth Katherine (Creagh) McPherson

Ruth Katherine (Creagh) McPherson
June 6, 1912 – Jan. 9, 2015

In loving memory of Auntie Ruth Katherine (Creagh) McPherson. Born 6-6-1912
Orient, SD. Died 01-09-2015 in Palmdale, CA.. Laid to Rest in Santa Paula, CA
with her husband Don and son Herbie. She was 102 years, 6 months and 9 days old.
She worked in Miller, SD and Custer, SD, but when WWII started she came to CA.
and worked at Douglas Aircraft as Rosie the Riveter.She came from good, strong
Irish ancestors, was a kind, good person and had an an incredible “Irish wit”.

Mary Kuper

Mary Kuper, 70, of Ree Heights and formerly of Wessington, passed away Thursday, July 27, 2017 at Highmore Health in Highmore, SD.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 31, 2017 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Miller with Father Paul Josten, celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Ann’s Cemetery, Miller. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, July 30, 2017 followed by a 6:00 p.m. prayer and rosary service, all at the church.

Mary Louise Salisbury was born March 1, 1947 to Robert and Mary (Paulger) Salisbury in Huron, South Dakota. She was raised on the family farm in Wolsey; graduation from Wolsey High School in 1965. She then worked at Raven’s Industries in Huron but quit to re-unite with the love of her life, Vernon Lee Kuper, in Milton, Florida where he was stationed in the Navy. They were married on February 10, 1968 and had two sons, Lonnie and Robb, before moving to Ree Heights in 1970. Daughter Shellee was born in 1973 and then the family moved to Springfield in 1976 so Vernon could attend college. Mary managed the Casey’s convenience store in Springfield. Their youngest son, Quinnten, was born in 1979 and the family moved to Wood, South Dakota for Vernon’s first teaching job. The Kuper family resided there for the next 17 years. Mary was a teacher’s aide at the Wood school which inspired her to pursue her special education teaching degree from Sinte Gleska University in 1998. Vernon and Mary moved to Woonsocket so Mary could teach special education until 2003. They relocated to Wessington where Mary worked at the Wessington School after school program and R&B grocery store.

Vernon and Mary retired to Ree Heights in 2007 until the early onset of Alzheimer disease caused Mary to be placed at the nursing home in Woonsocket in 2014. She was moved to the Highmore Health in 2016 to be closer to Vernon.

Her memory will be cherished by her husband, Vernon Kuper of Ree Heights; son, Lonnie Kuper of Woonsocket with two grandchildren, Corbin and Cassie, along with two great grandchildren, Kayleigh and Carter; son, Robb Kuper of Petersburg, NE with five grandchildren: Koby, Tanner, Brayden, Sydney, and Alyssa; daughter, Shellee (Victor) Finley of Spearfish with four grandchildren: Justin, Shawn, Owen and Aidan; son, Quinnten Kuper of Pierre; brothers: Robert Salisbury, Jr. of Wolsey and Kevan (Kary) Salisbury of Watertown.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Mary “Mickie” Salisbury; and brothers: Charles “Chuck” Salisbury and Danny Joe Salisbury.

Thank you to all our family and friends who gave us their love and support through this difficult time. Mrs. K will be dearly missed, but in our hearts forever.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Mary’s arrangements.

David Gerlach

David Gerlach, 62, of St. Lawrence, passed away Thursday, June 29, 2017 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Funeral arrangements are currently pending.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with David’s arrangements.

Marjorie Faust

Marjorie Faust, 91, of Miller, passed away Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society in Miller.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 3, 2017 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Miller with Father Chester Murtha, celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Ann’s Cemetery, Miller. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, July 2, 2017 with a 2:30 p.m. rosary and 3:00 p.m. prayer service, all at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Miller.

Marjorie Marie was born on July 28, 1925, to Floyd and Freda (Weiss) Cotton. Marge, her mother and brother, Mike, moved in with Grandma Weiss in 1925. She attended Banner School until the 8^th grade.

She married Wilfred Joseph Faust on November 17, 1942, in Polo, South Dakota. After their wedding, they moved to Seattle, Washington where Marjorie worked at Boeing Airlines as a press operator. After 5 years, they moved back to South Dakota in 1947, and lived south of Polo for awhile. Then they moved west of Orient, where she worked at the Orient Bar for Frank and Emma Ulrich.

In April 1967, Marge and Wilfred moved to Miller. Marge went to work at Sommers Bar for Ray Sommers and later for Dwaine Herman. She then worked at Prairie Good Samaritan Society as a nurse’s aide in the 1970’s. She also worked at the Oasis Tavern and Lips Dining Center.

Her favorite past times and hobbies included all her grandchildren. She loved Rodeo’s, especially watching Bull Riding. She loved country music, John Wayne movies, and dancing to Polka music. She also lived to go fishing, catching lots of bullheads.

Marjorie is survived by her daughter, Dawn (Craig) Price; eight grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and four great great grandchildren.

Marjorie is preceded in death by her husband, Wilfred; parents, Floyd and Freda Cotton; daughter, Mary Teller; brother, Mike Cotton; granddaughter, Regina; and great grandsons: Todd, Mitch, Lucas, and Jayden.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Marjorie’s arrangements.

William “Bill” Oligmueller

William “Bill” Oligmueller, 84, of Miller, passed away Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 22, 2017 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Miller with Father Chester, celebrant. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Ann’s Cemetery, Miller. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 21, 2017 with a 6:30 p.m. rosary service and 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at St. Ann’s Church, Miller.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Bill’s arrangements.

Lynn Brown

Lynn Brown, 68, of Wessington, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on Monday, June 12, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society in Miller.

Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 15, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church in Wessington with Rev. Brian Jones officiating. Burial with masonic rites will follow at the Wessington Cemetery. Visitation will begin one prior to the funeral.

Lynn Edward was born on May 2, 1949 to Edward and Dorothy (Fritzsche) Brown in Huron, SD. He grew up in Nance Township, Beadle County and attended school in Wessington. He worked with his father on the farm and then as a metal worker at Vern’s Manufacturing in Wessington for 23 years.

Lynn enjoyed watching baseball (especially if the Twins were winning), working crossword puzzles in pen, attending auction sales, reading suspense thrillers, playing 9-point pitch with friends, and driving his side-by-side. In his younger days, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and bowling. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Wessington American Legion, Masonic Lodge, and Yelduz Shrine.

He is survived by his mother, Dorothy Brown of Cedar Falls, IA; one sister, Nola (Jerry) Roitsch, Bristol, SD; one step-brother, Steve Brown of Cedar Falls, IA; one step-sister, Denise Brown, Waterloo, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

Lynn was preceded in death by his father, Edward Brown; his step-father, Harold Brown; one sister and brother-in-law, George and Connie Bates; and one step-sister, Cindy Flores.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Lynn’s arrangements.

Alice Wagner

Alice Wagner, 92, of Miller, passed away Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society in Miller.

Funeral Mass was held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Miller with Father Chester Murtha, celebrant. Burial followed at G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller. Visitation was held at one hour prior to the funeral.

Alice was born January 1, 1925 to Elmer and Helen (Huisman) Parsons. She attended elementary school in Glendale Township and graduated from Miller High School in 1944. On November 14, 1945 she married Beryl Wagner in Mitchell, South Dakota. To this union, two children were born, Carol and Gary.

Alice worked as the Hand County deputy auditor from 1966 to 1972 and then the assessor from 1972 to 1987. She later delivered the Huron Plainsman. She and Beryl farmed in the Corsica area until 1958; then moving to Alice’s family farm in Glendale Township to farm. In 1974, they moved into Miller to retire. In her free time, she and Beryl enjoyed going on Sunday drives and out to eat. She was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church.

She is survived by her son, Gary (Janet) Wagner of Mountain Home, ID; one granddaughter, Megan (Mathew) Neuman; three great grandchildren: Keenan, Connor, and Tyler.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Beryl; and daughter, Carol Reck.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Alice’s arrangements.

Bud Johnson

Bud Johnson, 72, of Miller, passed away Saturday, June 3, 2017 at his home.

Memorial service was held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at Reck Funeral Home, Miller with Rev. Brian Jones officiating. Burial followed at G.A.R Cemetery, Miller.

Clinton Royce “Bud’ Johnson was born August 26, 1944 to Trygve and Edith (Campbell) Johnson, the fourth of eight children. He attended rural school in Hand County and high school in Gann Valley. He was drafted into the Army and was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam Conflict from 1965 to 1967.

On October 28, 1967, he married Nancy Heezen in Miller. They made their home in Hand County for 32 years. During this union, they were blessed with three children: Sondra, Sherry, and Troy.

Bud loved working with horses, shearing sheep, and working as a ranch hand. He drove truck, worked at Huron Dressed Beef and Darrel’s Rock, Sand, and Gravel. Bud loved playing pool, darts, cards, watching sports on TV, spending time with family, and visiting with the good ole boys. He also enjoyed attended 4-H events at the local and state level.

Bud is survived by his two children: Sherry (Greg) Schortzmann and Troy Johnson; four grandchildren: Christopher (Katie) Schortzmann, Melissa (Clint) Bohr, Emily and Shane Schortzmann; four great grandchildren: Hayden, Wyatt, Briella, and Brynlee Bohr; four brothers; Cecil (Rachel), Clayton (Karen), Robert (Bev), and Bill (Gloria); sister, Tryva; and numerous nieces and nephews; and special friend, Nancy Johnson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Clair (Norma) and Stan (Diane); and his daughter, Sondra.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Bud’s arrangements.

Clifford Petersen

Clifford Petersen, 90, of Miller, passed away Thursday, May 25, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society of Miller.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 2, 2017 at the First Baptist Church, Miller with Pastors Kent Atkinson and Will Page officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery, Miller. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 1, 2017 at Reck Funeral Home, Miller.

Cliff was born October 18, 1926 to John and Laura (Landgrebe) Petersen in Watertown, South Dakota. He was thirteen years old when they moved to Miller. On September 11, 1948, he was married to Donna Haeffmen. Cliff had various jobs before he started working with the City of Miller; dedicating 30 years to the city before retiring in 1996.

He served as deputy for Bruce Hammill, when he was sheriff. He was a member of the fire department for 33 years; serving on the board for 6 years. Cliff enjoyed going hunting and enjoyed his grandkids very much, he loved taking them fishing and camping.

Cliff is survived by his three children: Barbara Petersen (partner, Jim Schafer) of Blain, MN, Charles (Mary Lou) Petersen of Deer Lodge, MT, and Judy (Jeff) Haessig of Redfield; two grandchildren: Amber (Bret) Lind of Rapid City and Dustin Haessig (Allison Nelson and Drew) of St. Lawrence, one great granddaughter, Audrey Marie Haessig; and one sister, Diane Hawbecken of Vegas, NV.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Donna and his parents.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Cliff’s arrangements.

Betty Beck Fink

Betty Fink, 78, of Colorado Springs, CO and formerly of Ree Heights, SD, passed away Thursday, May 18, 2017 at the University of Colorado Health at Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs, CO surrounded by family.

Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 25, 2017 at the Ree Heights Auditorium with Pastor Sheena Thomson officiating. Burial will follow at the Morningside Cemetery in Ree Heights.

Betty was the third child of Howard and Grace (Williams) Beck on March 9, 1939 in Miller, South Dakota. She attended grade school through high school at Ree Heights; graduating in 1957. Betty married Norman Fink of Delmont, South Dakota, and had two children. A son Calvin in 1961 and a daughter Michelle in 1967. In 1963 the family moved to Farmington, New Mexico where Betty continued to live until 2012 when she moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to live with her son.

Betty worked at the First National Bank of Miller, South Dakota. She was a house wife and used babysitting for extra money. After her divorce, she worked full time at admissions at San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico until she took a job as an archivist at the City of Farmington, New Mexico, working there until her retirement. Betty was a prolific and avid reader and Westerns by Zane Grey were some of her favorite.

She is survived by her son, Calvin Fink of Colorado Springs, Colorado; step son, Calvery Hogue of Phoenix, Arizona; one brother, Delton Beck of Ree Heights, South Dakota; and many nieces and nephews.

She was proceeded in death by her daughter, Michelle Fink (1973); parents, Howard (1974) and Grace Beck (1978); her sister, Ellen Jones (2005); and her brother, Dean Beck.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Betty’s arrangements.