JEREMY WALTNER  -  PUBLISHER The final cross-country race of Morgan Edelman’s career is one she will remember, not for the finish, but for the weather conditions she and the 119 other runners competing in the Class B field endured. “I only fell once,” the Menno senior said following her 55th-place finish in her seventh and final state cross-country meet held in snowy, slippery and cold conditions at Hart Ranch Golf Course just south of Rapid City Saturday morning, Oct. 24. “It was not fun; I couldn’t feel anything.”

JEREMY WALTNER  -  PUBLISHER Voters across the country will head to the polls next Tuesday, Nov. 3 for a general election headlined by a contentious race for president between Republican incumbent Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden. But there’s more on the ballot than that, including in South Dakota, where voters will weigh in on three ballot issues — two of which would legalize marijuana in the state and a third that would legalize sports betting in Deadwood.

JEREMY WALTNER  -  PUBLISHER As COVID-19 cases surge across South Dakota — active cases went from an average of 2,594 the third week of September to 8,983 the third week of October while average daily hospitalizations went from 58 the third week of August to 332 the third week of October — the coronavirus pandemic continues to have a major impact locally.

Lillian Walter, age 96, of Huron, S.D., passed away Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 at Avantara-Huron. A private family graveside service will be held, with a celebration of life being planned for next summer. Interment will be in the Bethel Church Cemetery. Lillian Wipf Walter was born Oct. 10, 1924, at Onida, S.D., to Zack B. and Anna (Wollman) Wipf. When Lillian was 4 years old., her family moved to St. Paul, Minn., where she received her education. Lillian was very active win her church youth group and sang in the choir, many different small groups, and a trio with her two sisters.

Robert ‘Bob’ Clair Stewart, 90, of Custer, S.D., passed away Oct. 22, 2020, at his residence in Custer. Bob was born Oct. 15, 1930, in Artesian, S.D., to Rush and Emma (Winsel) Stewart. Bob proudly served in the U.S. Marines until his honorable discharge in 1952. Bob worked for NorthWestern Public Service for 41 years until his retirement in 1995, starting as a serviceman and ending as the Director of Consumer Services of the NWPS Redfield Division.

Maxine M. (Mueller) Ortman passed away on Oct. 24, 2020, at the age of 89 years at the Tieszen Memorial Home, Marion, S.D. Maxine was born July 1, 1931, to David and Lydia (Graber) Mueller on the Christian Mueller homestead in Turner County, S.D., and grew up in the scenic Turkey Ridge Valley. On May 25, 1947, Maxine was baptized by Rev. Willard Classen and received into the membership of the Salem Mennonite Church. She later transferred her membership to Salem-Zion Mennonite Church, rural Freeman, S.D., where she remained a faithful member until her death.

Jonathan “JD” Dangel, 62, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020 at Sanford USD Medical Center. A funeral mass was held Wednesday, Oct. 21 at St. Boniface/Idylwilde Catholic Church, rural Freeman, S.D.

Joyce Felsheim Schrag, age 98, of Parker, S.D., passed away Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 at the Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion due to Covid-19. A funeral is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 at the United Methodist Church in Parker. Visitation was scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the church. The service on Thursday will be live streamed at https://www.facebook/ParkerUnitedMethodistChurch. Due to Covid-19, the family request that guests wear a mask and practice social distancing at both opportunities to celebrate Joyce’s life.

Freeman Public will go into the region tournament riding a nine-match winning streak. The Flyers haven’t lost since Sept. 26 when they dropped two matches at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls and finished off their regular season with a 3-1 victory over Alcester-Hudson in Alcester Tuesday night, Oct. 27.

This photo from 1977 shows the Pioneer Hall auditorium all set up for Schmeckfest. This has been the norm since the beginning of the festival, when entertainment followed the traditional German meal, and especially since 1967, when full stage productions began a tradition and a big part of the festival. But COVID-19 has impacted that; "Matilda the Musical" was not staged in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic and officials announced this week that the musical would not be presented in 2021, either. Other details about next year's Schmeckfest are still being worked out.