Obituaries

Oct 1, 2021

Grace Barbara Hofer Duerksen went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 1, 2021 at the age of 99. Grace was born August 18, 1922 to Reverend Jacob and Barbara (Wipf), three and a half miles west of Dolton on her grandparents’ farm.

Grace received her elementary education at Freeman Grade School and Hofmann District #55 northwest of Freeman....

Sep 30, 2021

Darlas Don Lehmann, the son of Walter and Linda Kaufman Lehmann, was born Sept. 12, 1931 and died Sept. 30, 2021. He departed this earth to be with his Lord and Savior at the age of 90 at home in Freeman, S.D.

He attended District 32 and Hurley High School. He was baptized May 25, 1947, at Salem Mennonite Church where...

Sep 25, 2021

Leland Wiedmeier, 86, of Menno, S.D., passed away on Sept. 25, 2021 at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. Visitation was scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at Salem Reformed Church, Menno, with family present at 6 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. on...

Sep 14, 2021

Hilda Jane Kaufman was born on September 5, 1926, to Henry Jac and Ida Kaufman Waltner. Her education was at Rose Valley District 98 and graduated from Freeman Academy in 1944.

On May 25, 1948, she married Kenneth Kaufman. They farmed in the east freeman area for 25 years before moving to Sioux Falls. While in Sioux Falls she worked at...

Sep 1, 2021

Eldon Berg was welcomed to his heavenly home by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sept. 1, 2021, at the age of 84. He was a resident of Tieszen Memorial Home, Marion, S.D., when he passed.

Eldon H Berg was born on Aug. 17, 1937 to Henry C. and Mary Engbrecht Berg. He grew up on the family farm....

Aug 30, 2021

Arlen Clare Miller was born Feb. 26, 1940 to Clarence J. Miller and Goldie G. Gering and grew up on the family farm. He was joined later by brother Steve and sister Jessie. As a teenager, Arlen became convicted of his sin and accepted Christ as his per­sonal Savior and experienced God’s forgiveness. He was baptized by J. Herb Fretz...

Aug 18, 2021

Allen Schrag was born on Sept. 20, 1924 to Rev. John and Katie (Miller) Schrag and raised on the family farm south of Marion, S.D. He was the eighth of nine children.

He was baptized June 1, 1941 at Salem-Zion Mennonite Church where he remained a faithful member. Dad served as a Sunday school teacher and trustee. When COVID-19 started he...

Jul 25, 2021

Christopher Kerkhove, 55, of Bridgewater, South Dakota, passed away Sunday, July 25, 2021 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Christopher Kerkhove son of Edward and Mary Lou (Hibbs) Kerkhove, was born August 8, 1965, in Norfolk, Virginia. He was raised by his grandparents Ernest and Hazel Kerkhove on a farm south of Salem until 1978 when they moved to Montrose. He...

Jul 6, 2021

Ada Agnes Walters Koerner was born on June 16, 1922 to Zach and Mary (Marie) Walters near Blunt, S.D. Ada attended country school in Sully County until the family moved to Stickney, S.D. Ada graduated from Stickney High School in 1943.

In 1944, the family moved to Bridgewater, S.D. Ada worked at the Red & White grocery store until she married....

Jun 29, 2021

Lorraine Ardell (Gross) Tusha, daughter of John S. and Amalia (Hofer) Gross, was born on December 18, 1941 in Sioux Falls, S.D. Lorraine died on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls.

Lorraine was baptized Dec. 7, 1958 at Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman, S.D. She was a member of Bethany Mennonite Church until she became a...

Jun 29, 2021

Rita Ann (Graber) Graber was born Feb. 14, 1931, in East Freeman, S.D., to Carl J. and Lena (Preheim) Graber, joining two older brothers, Cleon and O’Ray. They shared fond memories of growing up on the farm and attending grade school at North Star District 66. On May 26, 1946, Rita was baptized by Rev. J.J. Regier at Salem-Zion Mennonite...

Jun 19, 2021

Mary Wollman Hofer was born July 12, 1920, the eldest of six children born to Andrew R. and Barbara (Glanzer) Wollman in Bridgewater, South Dakota. Mary passed away on June 19, 2021, while under Hospice Care at the home of Gary and Gloria Stahl in Torrington, Wyoming.

Mary is known to most folks as Missionary Mary Wollman, Our Sister/Sister-in-law, Mary, Aunt...

May 9, 1925

John Frederick Gregory Vondra passed away on Nov. 9, 2021 at Diamond Care Center in Bridgewater, S.D.

Jack was born in Spencer , Nebraska to Carl and Gertrude Ernst Vondra on May 9, 1925. He graduated from Wood High School in 1943. He served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946. After his discharge from the Navy he attended South Dakota...

Virginia Kleinsasser Graber left the world a better place. With a positive attitude she gracefully made the best of each situation and treated others with kindness and respect.

She was born December 8, 1923 to Isaac and Emma Kleinsasser, and was baptized at Bethany Mennonite. Virginia attended Freeman Public School, Freeman Jr. College, and Dakota State University in Madison, SD. She...