St. Lawrence High School Alumni Obits

1937 AYMAR, LaVerne Frank - Died November 18, 1987 - Miller, SD hospital
LaVerne Frank Aymar was born September 3, 1917, to Henry & Mabel Aymar in Greenleaf Township in Hand County, South Dakota. He graduated from St. Lawrence High School in 1937.
He served from March 1942 to December 1945 in the US Army as a Technical Sergeant in Europe.
In 1946 he became a Standard Oil Agent in Ree Heights and continued working with Standard Oil until 1976 when he retired and moved to Miller.
He married Marilyn Grace Phinney in Rapid City on May 9, 1948.
He was a member of the Ree Heights Community Church where he was treasurer for 24 years; a member of the American Legion Heasley Post #101 and was in charge of the firing squad for Memorial Day Services for over 30 years; member of Veerans of Foreign Wars, Masonic Lodge and Order of the Eastern Star and Ree Heights Volunteer Fire Department.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn, son Gregory (Jacalyn) Aymar of Ree Heights, daughter Nancy, Miller, two grandsons Gregory Alan and Jonathan, granddaughter Larisa.
He was preceded by his parents, and only brother Glenn. (SLHS 1940 - died April 1970)
Pallbearers were Leland Sivertsen, F.M. Abernathy, Roy Hill, Virgil Lips, Francis Deuter & Kenneth Steptoe.
Funeral at Ree Heights Community Church - Rev. Lewis Line - Burial GAR Cemetery, Miller, SD.

Parent BAHR - Melvin F. Bahr, Sr. 87, of Miller, S.D., died Saturday, March 20, 1999 at Prairie Good Samaritan Center in Miller.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 25, 1999 at 10:30 a.m. at Reck Funeral Home in Miller with the Rev. Richard Gould officiating. Burial will be in the Howell Cemetery, Orient, S.D. Visitation will be Wednesday afternoon and evening at Reck Funeral Home.
Melvin F. Bahr was born April 16, 1911 in Howell, S.D., the son of William and Anna (Wirtz) Bahr. He lived in and attended school in Hand County, South Dakota.
He married Dorothy Peterson (SLHS 1939) in 1939 in Miller. He farmed in Hand County for several years before going to work for George Niederauer on the Oahe Dam project. He later drove trucks for several years before returning to wheat farming for Bryce Sample. He farmed wheat for several years until retiring in his 70s. In his earlier days, he enjoyed playing baseball as a center field and was a well known snooker player. He enjoyed playing cards. Survivors include one daughter, Gloria (Dan) McGough of Rapid City; three sons, Joe (SLHS 1960) (Karen) Bahr of Rapid City, Don (MHS 1963) (P.J.) Bahr of Rapid City, Jerry (MHS) (Carrie) Bahr of Tacoma, Wash.; three brothers, Glen Bahr of Ashton, Idaho, Paul Bahr of Mesa, Ariz., Wayne Bahr of Sidney, Mont.; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Ralph. Pallbearers will be Terry Bahr, Wade Bahr, Chad Bahr, Chris Singer, Jason McGough and John Hassett.

1945 BENTLEY, Betty J. WHITTINGTON, 73, of Rapid City, died Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2000, after an automobile accident in Mule Creek Junction, Wyo.
A memorial service was held August 14 at South Park United Church of Christ, Rapid City.
Betty Whittington was born April 28, 1927, to George and Jessie (Carr) (SL1908) Whittington in Miller. She lived in Hand County until graduation from St. Lawrence High School. She attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, and later graduated from South Dakota State College in Brookings, with a bachelor of science degree.
She married Donald D. Bentley in Carmel, Calif., and moved to San Diego, where she was a pioneer in local television broadcasting. They later lived in Minneapolis, Chicago, Cody, Wyo., and Miles City, Mont. In 1963, they moved to Glendale, Ariz., where she attended the American Institute for Foreign Trade.
In 1965, they and their four children moved to the Republic of the Philippines, where she taught at the American School in Manila. She later lived in Hong Kong; Northern Ireland; Tehran, Iran; and London. She continued her teaching career at the Hong Kong International School and at the Tehran American School.
After her husband�s death in 1980, she relocated to Rapid City, where she became involved with the Girls Club. This led to a long-term association with Youth and Family Services, where she worked for many years in the Head Start program, retiring this year.
She also enjoyed her association with the South Park United Church of Christ, where she was active with many youth programs.
She is survived by four children, Jan Bentley-Graf, Phoenix, Bert Bentley of Singapore, Todd Bentley, Mesa, Ariz., and Chris Bentley, Fremont, Calif.; five grandchildren; and a sister, Genevieve (Whittington) (SLHS 1936) Sloan, Spirit Lake, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Ernest; her sister, Fairibelle Whittington, and sister, Marie E. (SLHS 1932) Corrin, who also died in the traffic accident.
The family prefers memorials to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in the names of Betty and Don Bentley.

1934 CORRIN, Marie Elizabeth WHITTINGTON
Marie Elizabeth Corrin, 84, of Rapid City, died Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2000, after an automobile accident in Mule Creek Junction, Wyo.
Services were held August 14 at the First Presbyterian Church in Rapid City, with Dr. David Miller officiating. Interment was in the G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller, with the Rev. Brian Jones officiating.
Marie Elizabeth Whittington was born March 25, 1918, near Miller to George and Jessie (Carr) Whittington.
She married George Corrin April 21, 1935, at Presho. They moved to Rapid City in 1944.
She worked as an office typist for the County Extension office in Miller, the Register of Deeds office for Pennington County, and for First Federal Savings, Rapid City. She also helped her husband in his insurance business.
She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Rapid City, and a 50-year member of the Double 6 Extension Club. She was a volunteer with the Red Cross and Hospice and a member of the Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Center.
Since education was so very important to her, she provided scholarship funds for all her children and grandchildren.
Her love of music was shared with the community through her involvement with the church handbell and chancel choirs, senior dances, and organ and piano accompaniment at churches and senior centers. She also enjoyed sharing her musical passion and talents with her family and friends.
She is survived by two sons, Kenneth (Roberta) Corrin, Rapid City and Denis Corrin, Bryant Pond, Maine; two daughters, Jana Faye and her friend, Ray Stanton, Longmont, Colo., and �Georgia� Kay (George) Larson, Holyoke, Colo.; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and a sister, Genevieve (SLHS 1936) Sloan, Spirit Lake, IA.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Faribelle Whittington; a brother, Ernest G. Whittington; and her sister, Betty (SLHS 1945) J. Bentley, who also died in the traffic accident. A memorial has been established.

Parent DUNCAN Bertha M. Duncan, 76, of Wellman, Iowa, formerly of Miller, S.D., died Saturday, Jan. 30, 1999, at her daughter's home in Wellman from cancer.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Feb. 4, 1999 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Miller with the Rev. Gene Cannon officiating. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery, Miller.
Bertha May Cuppy was born February 23, 1922 near Wessington, S.D., the daughter of George and Ella (Ward) Cuppy. She grew up near Wessington and attended schools in South Dakota. Between the ages of 11 and 14, she lived at the South Dakota Children's Home in Sioux Falls.
On September 13, 1941, she was united in marriage to Welby A. Duncan in Pierre. They lived on various farms near Miller until moving into Miller in 1963. She was a homemaker and worked as a cook for Hand County Memorial Hospital for 23 years. She moved to Iowa City, Iowa, in September of 1997.
Survivors include one daughter, Ethel (MHS 1963)(Lynn) Yoder of Wellman, Iowa; one son, David Duncan of Huron; four brothers, Ray (Bernice) Cuppy of Faulkton, George (Lee) Cuppy of Portland, Ore., John (Alvina) Cuppy of Faulkton, and Howard (Darleen) Cuppy of Wessington Springs; one sister, Viola (Vincent) Regan of Butte, Mont.; three granddaughters, Angela Yoder of Berlin, Germany, Amy Yoder of Dallas, Texas, and Holly Duncan of Sioux Falls; one grandson, Andrew Yoder of Goshen, Ind.; and two great-grandchildren, Jordan and Robert.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband on June 22, 1972.

1957 ELYEA, Duane L.
Duane L. Elyea, 62, of Sioux Falls, died Monday, Feb. 28, 2000, at Avera McKennan Hospital of cancer.
The funeral was held March 3 at St. Lambert�s Catholic Church in Sioux Falls. Burial was in St. Michael Cemetery, Sioux Falls.
Duane L. Elyea was born April 4, 1937, at Highmore to Arthur and Dorothy (Volz) Elyea. He attended elementary schools in the Highmore and Miller areas, and graduated from St. Lawrence High School. He enlisted in the Navy in 1958 and was discharged in 1962.
He married Pat Kirsh in San Diego January 28, 1961. They lived in Woonsocket, and he worked for Nehi Bottling in Huron for a short time. They later moved to Sioux Falls, where he worked for Metz Bakery as a bread salesman. He retired in 1997 after 30 years.
He was a member of St. Lambert�s Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife of Sioux Falls; three sons, Jeff (Jodi), Tracy (Jenny), and Jason and his fiancee, Becky, all of Sioux Falls; three daughters, Anna (Jim) Lynch of Allen, Texas, Cori (Mike) Cordell of Tea, and Ginna (Frank) Palma of Omaha, Neb.; nine grandchildren; a brother, Bob (Dorothy), of Brookings; four sisters, Lois (Jerry) Dal Porto of Kansas City, Kan., Sylvia Hoffman of Redfield, Sharon (Ray) Clayton of Medina, N.Y., and Joyce (Dwight) Owens of Lockport, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Darrell Hoffman.

1939 GREY, Beulah May STORY - Died March 7, 1996 - Miller, SD hosp.
Beulah May Story was born February 10, 1922 to Edgar Vincent & Olive (Davis) Story on a farm near Vayland, SD. The family later moved to a farm north of Miller.
Beulah attended the Union Grove School through 8th grade and graduated in 1939 from St. Lawrence High School. On June 2, 1940 she married Robert Warren Grey (SLHS 1937) in the Sunbeam Congregational Church in Holden Township. For two years they lived on a small farm near Robert's parents and moved to the Grey family farm when his parents moved to town. They remained there until they retired in November 1990 and moved into St. Lawrence.
She was an Extension Club member, a 15-year representative for Tupperware, and was correspondent for The Miller Press.
She was baptized as a small child in the Miller Methodist Church, joined the Sunbeam Congregational Church in 1942, and joined the St. Lawrence Community Church in 1978.
She is survived by husband Robert, St. Lawrence; children, Ramona (Frank) Fischer of Fort Morgan, CO, Larry Grey of Platteville, CO, Gary Grey of Pierre, SD, and Kelvin Grey of St. Lawrence; nine grandchildren, Carla Ann Fischer Hewitt, Gregory Arlen Fischer, Joshua, Russell and David Grey, Ellery and Nicholas Grey, Kristina and Kathy Grey; one great-granddaughter, Ashley Lauren Hewitt; one sister, Ruby Story Lofstrom (SLHS 1943) of Modesto, CA; one brother, Damaree Lee Story of Seattle, WA.
Funeral at St. Lawrence Community Church - Rev. Lee J. Smith - Burial G.A.R. Cemetery Miller, SD
Reck Funeral Home, Miller, SD

1960 HORN, Robert D. - Died December 20, 1999 - Miller, SD
Robert D. Horn was born September 15, 1942 in Miller to Earl �Jick� and Alice (Cox) (SLHS 1933) Horn.
He attended York Grade School in St. Lawrence and graduated from St. Lawrence High School.
He worked on the family farm for a short time before joining the Army. Upon discharge, he worked for Terrace Park Dairy and construction.
Survivors include three brothers, Earl Ray (SLHS 1957) of Westminster, Colo., Bill (SLHS 1961) of Rapid City, Jerry (Meta) of Rogers, Minn.; four sisters, Joan (SLHS 1956) (Lars) Nelson of Alexandria, Minn., Barbara Jean (SLHS 1958) (Darel) Palm of Brookings, Carol (Terry) Sommer of Sioux Falls, Sandy (Fred) Slunecka of Sioux Falls; and nieces, nephews and cousins.
His parents preceded him in death.
Pallbearers were Gene Labor, Bob Blasdell, Randy Sporrer, Steve Auch, DeWayne Herman and Jim Coyle.
Reck Funeral Home, Miller, SD

1925 -g JOY, Gertrude BUTTS, 91, of Miller, S.D., died Friday, Jan. 1, 1999 at Prairie Good Samaritan Center in Miller. Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 4, 1999 at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Lawrence Community Church in St. Lawrence with the Rev. Scott Sedar officiating. Burial was in the G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller. Gertrude Butts was born February 5, 1907 north of St. Lawrence, S.D., to Henry and Caroline (Danburg) Butts. They moved to St. Lawrence where she attended school through the eighth grade. She married James W. �Bill� Joy. They moved to Omaha, Neb., where they made their home until March, 1942. They then returned to farm in the Burdette area. Four children were born to this union. She continued to live on the farm for a year following the death of her husband. In December 1979, she moved to Miller. Survivors include one son, James (Alice) Joy of Huron; one daughter, Artis (Mike) Curtis of Sioux Falls; 11 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; one brother, Cecil Butts of Sioux City, Iowa; and many friends. She was preceded in death by her husband and two daughters, Maxine Joy and Billie Lavonne Stanfield. Pallbearers were James Curtis, Michael Curtis, Donald Curtis, Dennis Joy, Marvin Sessions (SLHS 1958) and John Pollock.

Husband McKENZIE, Dale, son of Kenneth and Kathern McKenzie was born on September 23, 1918 in Oacoma, SD. He died February 15, 1990. He received his Associate Degree in Education from Wessington Springs Jr. College and a Bachelors Degree from the University of South Dakota. On December 31, 1941 he married Agnes Kerkhoff (SLHS 1937). He taught rural schools in Buffalo and Lyman counties and in towns of Reliance and Marion, SD. He coached high school basketball and football in Reliance, and elementary basketball in Marion. He was County Supt. of Schools in Turner County for eleven years and Elementary Principal at Howard, SD, until health problems forced his retirement in 1974. He was a WW II veteran, receiving the Purple Heart. He was a member of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, American Legion, VFW and DAV. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brother, his twin, Darrell, and Clare. He is survived by wife, Agnes (Sally); two sons: Jerry and wife Carol, of Lakewood, CO; Michael and wife, Janet, Pierre, SD; two daughters: Carolyn and husband, Ken Norberg of Watertwon, SD; and Pamela of Lincoln, NE; seven grandchildren: Chad and Carrie McKenzie; Katie and Jilliam McKenzie; Brent, Brian and Teresa Norberg; one brother, Kenneth, of Sacramento, CA; one sister, Laurette Mulloy, of Yankton, SD. He was brother-in-law of local residents, Mrs. John (Armista Kerkhoff) Wheelhouse(SLHS 1937-) and Mrs. Lloyd (Lois Kerkhoff) Warren, both of Miller, SD.

1948 MOON, Vincent K. - Died May 1, 1996 - Sioux Falls, SD at Sioux Valley Hospital.
Vincent K. Moon was born March 2, 1930 to V. Arthur & Viola (Turner) Moon in St. Lawrence, SD. He graduated from SLHS in 1948.
On January 6, 1951, he married Marjorie Klapperich (SLHS 1950) in Miller. They lived in Rapid City, St. Lawrence and Huron before moving to Redfield in 1968. They owned and operated Anderson Dry Cleaners until he retired in April 1994.
He was a member of St. Bernard's Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and 4th Degree, was past district deputy and past grand knight of the Knights. He was past member, president and lieutenant governor of Kiwanis and was a member of the Redfield Chamber of Commerce and president in 1963. He was member of Redfield Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Marge of Redfield; three sons, Thomas (Jacalyn) of Northfield, MN, Tim (Rose) of Norwalk, CA, and Bill of Redfield; five daughter, Chris (Steve) Dvorak of Spearfish, Paula Wipf of Aberdeen, Susanne (Duane) DuKart of Fargo, ND, Diane (Dan) Schultz of DeSmet, and Jill (Tracy) Schroeder of Redfield; 15 grandchildren, a brother, Norman Eugene (SLHS 1950) of Cherokee, IA, and a sister, Ardith (SLHS 1943) (Roy) McKown of Hot Springs.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, a sister and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral at St. Bernard's Catholic Church, Redfield, SD - Rev. John Fischer - Burial church cemetery.
Thelen Funeral Home, Redfield, SD.

1939 REINHARDT, Mildred E. CARL Reinhardt, 59, died Friday, October 31, 1980 at Hand County Memorial Hospital, Miller, SD. She was born March 15, 1921, in Hand County to Robert E. and Emma J. Carl. She attended grade school in Carleton Township. She graduated from St. Lawrence Hih School (1939). On November 25, 1942, she married Emerald Reinhardt. They farmed for several years before moving to their current home in Miller in 1972. She was employed by Virgil Lips for several years.
Survivors include her husband, two daughters, Mrs. Charles (Shirley) Seefeldt, Clark, SD and Mrs. Roger (Sharon) Styer, Huron, SD; two sons, Keith of Weinheim, Germany, and Neil of Huron; six grandchildren; three brothers, Howard Carl, St. Lawrence, SD Percy Carl of Bolton, IL, and Bernard Vens, Miller.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother and an infant sister.
Funeral, Monday at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Miller, SD, with Rev. Fred Rosin officiating. Burial will be in GAR Cemetery. Reck Funeral Home in charge.

1916 SHEPHARD, Vera Marie THOMPSON Shephard, 101, of Bremerton, Wash., died April 2, 1999, at Belmont Terrace in Bremerton.
She was born March 14, 1898, in Sioux County, Iowa, to O.D. and Emma (Darr) Thompson. She was raised in St. Lawrence, S.D., and graduated from St. Lawrence High School in 1916.
Services were held April 24 at the Manette Community Church, and internment was at Twin Firs Cemetery in Belfair. Her grandchildren took part in the memorial service. They were Steve, Kevin, Barbara and Kristen Schultz, Susan Brown, and Katie (Brown) Becker.
Survivors include a son, C. Vance of Aurora, Ore.; a daughter, Virginia Schultz of Bremerton; nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by husband, Claude E. Shephard in 1983; and a daughter, Nadine Leaverton in 1998.
Memorials may be sent to her daughter, Mrs. Virginia Schultz, 1700 Jacobsen Blvd. Bremerton, Wash., 98310.

1938 SMITHERS, Lorraine FANNING 70, of Reno, NV, died Tuesday, May 29, 1990, at her home in Reno.
Lorraine Josephine Fanning was born May 2, 1920, at St. Lawrence, SD to John William and Jessie (Parrott) Fanning. She spent her childhood in Hand County, moving to Nevada in 1940 where her husband was with the police department and later the Nevada Highway Patrol. She was involved in the retail business until the time of her death. Lorraine's Fashions and later, Lorraine's Interiors, which she operated, also had a branch in Anchorage, AK for several years.
Survivors include her mother, Jessie Fanning of Miller, SD; a brother, Jack Fanning (SLHS 1946-), St. Lawrence, SD; seven sisters, Mrs. Cleo (SLHS 1936-) Bryant and Mrs. Ted (Leone) (SLHS 1942) Perkins of Mossyrock, WA, Mrs. Nadine (SLHS 1940-) Fanning Davis, Reno, NV, Mrs. Anne (SLHS 1948-) Antonechuk of Harrison, AK, Mrs. Eugene (Dessie) (SLHS 1949) Price, Mrs. Bernard (Donna) (SLHS 1952-) Coss, and Mrs. Leo (Beth) (SLHS 1954) Veskerna, all of Miller, SD; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, John Fanning' four brothers, Vince , Joe (Bub)(1935-), Gary (SLHS 1958) and Larry (1960-) Fanning; three nephews and one niece.
Funeral Mass was held on June 2, 1990 at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Miller, SD with Rev. Donald Molumby officiating. Burial was in St. Ann's Cemetery. Pallbearers were nephews: Tim and Daniel Coss, Randy and Jerry Fanning and Craig and Chris Price.

1941 WEBER, Viola Margaret CARTER Lanz - Died Saturday, December 25, 1999 - Mesa, AZ
Viola Margaret Carter was born July 27, 1923 in St. Lawrence, SD to James A. & Maude (Key) Carter.
She grew up there, and married Louie C. Lanz (SLHS 1941), also of St. Lawrence.
She graduated from SLHS in 1941, Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, and obtained her master�s degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls.
She taught in South Dakota rural schools, in Chamberlain, and retired from Hawthorne School in Sioux Falls.
In retirement, they spent summers near their daughter in Virginia City, Mont., and winters in Mesa, AZ..
Her first husband died in 1991. She married George Webber in 1994.
She is survived by her husband of Mesa; a daughter, Linda (John) Rice of Ennis, Mont.; two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter; her mother of St. Lawrence; and nine brothers and sisters. (All SLHS Grads)Leone (SLHS 1938) Karge-Liebers, Dorothy (SLHS 1940) (Francis) Marshall (SLHS 1941) , Lois (E.L.) Harris, B. Evelyn (SLHS 1945) (Fred) Fanning (SLHS 1944), James H.(SLHS 1946), Rachael (1950-) (Clyde) Rediger, Roger (SLHS 1953-) (Aloa Testerman (SLHS 1954-), Dixie (SLHS 1953) (Al) Young, Dale (SLHS 1958)).
She was preceded in death by her father and her first husband.
Burial in St. Lawrence Cemetery, St. Lawrence, SD..

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