Agnes Hofer, age 90, of Huron, S.D., passed away Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, at Huron Regional Medical Center. Her funeral service will be held Friday, Dec. 30 at Prairie Bible Church, rural Carpenter, S.D. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. 

Michael Leder, 58, of Brookings, S.D., passed away on Dec. 16, 2022 at Advance Assisted Living in Brookings. A memorial service is pending for spring of 2023. Michael is the son of Wadie and the late Willis Leder of Canistota.  

Waneta L. Ragels, 83, of Rapid City, S.D., passed away on Nov. 27, 2022 at the Westhills Village Healthcare Center. Born Waneta Schrag on Dec. 1, 1938 to Edward and Elsie Schrag, she was the youngest of three children with older brothers Dellis and Larry. She grew up on the family farm east of Freeman, S.D. Waneta graduated from Freeman Junior College in 1956 with a one-year Teachers Training Course Certificate.

Moses Joseph Glanzer was born on Dec. 27, 1925 to Joe P. and Theresa (Kleinsasser) Glanzer on a farm north of Freeman, S.D. He died on Dec. 5, 2022 at Oakview Terrace with his family by his side. A funeral service was held Saturday, Dec. 10 at Hutterthal Mennonite Church of rural Freeman.

On Nov. 11, 2022, Veterans Day, Vernon Handel (Colonel Retired) passed from this life into eternal life. He was 80 years old. Vern was raised on a farm in Menno, S.D., before catching the flying bug and attending the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he graduated with a bachelor of science degree and an assignment to train as a fighter pilot for the Air Force. More importantly, during this time he also met the great love of his life, Connie, though, at first, she wasn’t so sure about him.

Gideon William Schaeffer was born on the family homestead located southeast of Menno, S.D. on Nov. 5, 1929. His parents were Wilhelm Jacob Schaeffer and Anna (Bender) Schaeffer. He was the seventh of 11 children.  Gideon was baptized by Pastor John Bodenman and confirmed by Pastor Erich Kaempchen at Saron Reformed Church in rural Menno.  Gideon died on Nov. 13, 2022 at Splendido (a retirement community) in Tucson, Ariz., at the age 93. 

Lorraine Ortman, age 96, of Bennington, Neb., formerly of Marion, S.D., moved to her final Heavenly home on Nov. 14, 2022. Preceding her in this journey and waiting to greet her is her husband, Harvey; her parents, Harry and Adeline Kaufman; her brothers, Lawrence and Maynard; and sister Anette; grandsons James and Stuart Berry, and in-laws: Sally Kaufman, Loretta Kaufman, Barbara Kaufman, Marvin and Edna May Ortman, Alvin and Arlyss Ortman, LeRoy Ortman and Arnold Becker.

Joan Joyce Smidt, 93, following the advice of one of her trademark expressions, “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” crossed the bridge to her heavenly home on Nov. 4, 2022. Family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 at Miller Southside Funeral Chapel, 7400 S. Minnesota Ave., Sioux Falls, S.D. A celebration of Joyce’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Dec. 9 at Miller Southside Funeral Chapel, with refreshments following the service. Interment will be at 3 p.m. Friday at the Menno Cemetery, Menno, S.D.

Anette Eisenbeis joined her Lord and Savior in heaven on Nov. 11, 2022, after many years of struggling with Alzheimer’s. A celebration of life was held Tuesday, November 22, at Salem-Zion Mennonite (North) Church of rural Freeman, S.D. Anette Ann Kaufman was born to Harry and Adeline (Boese) Kaufman on Oct. 25, 1934, in the southeastern South Dakota farm home in which she grew up. The fourth of six children, she joined older siblings Lorraine, Maynard and Alice. Younger brothers Lawrence and Sherman Roy completed the family.

Sharon Buechler, age 75, passed away on Oct. 18 at Oakview Terrace Nursing Home, Freeman, S.D. A funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Freeman, with Rev. Terry Makelin officiating.  Burial will be in the Menno Cemetery, Menno, S.D., at approximately 3:30 p.m. Visitations will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 23 at St.