Ronald D. Leeper was born May 28, 1959 in Lincoln, Nebr., to Melvin and Helen Leeper. He completed two years of college at Yankton College and was married to Janis L. (Huber) Leeper. Ron worked for Gurneys, The Human Services Center, as a cook for the Quarry Restaurant, and then the job that he retired from after 20 years, a talk show host and the News Director for KYNT, where he was known as David Leonard.

Terry Gross was born to Paul P. Gross and Betty (Stahl) Gross on March 21, 1957. Terry attended country school at Valley #7 and then attended and graduated from Freeman High School in 1975. Terry took over the farm after his dad retired in the 1980’s. His sister, Tonda, helped with the farming and dairy milking. Terry enjoyed farming and attending tractor pulls. He enjoyed selling his big square bales to Rock Valley Hale Sales and to other people that bought them. Terry liked helping people and neighbors whenever they needed help.

Darla Faye Tieszen, 72, of Marion, S.D., passed away on Friday, April 2, 2021 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., after a five-month battle with pneumonia. A funeral service was held Wednesday, April 7 at the First Church of God in Marion, with burial in the church cemetery.

Patricia Keiper, 74, of Rapid City and formerly of Milltown, passed away on Tuesday, March 30 at her residence in Rapid City. Visitation will be Thursday, April 8 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Walter Funeral Home in Freeman, with burial to follow at St. Peters Lutheran Cemetery of Clayton.

Dennis D. Mendel was born on a farm west of Freeman, S.D. on June 21, 1927 to Mike F. and Emma (Hofer) Mendel and passed away in Peoria, Ariz., on March 21, 2021 at the age of 93. He married Thelma D. Hofer on June 7, 1952, a relationship of 68-plus years.

Alvaro (Doc Al) Tieszen passed away peacefully early in the morning on March 17, 2021. He was 92 years of age. He was born July 17, 1928 to Fred and Helen Tieszen of Marion, S.D. 

Myrtle Lundin, age 85, of Milbank, S.D., passed away on March 13, 2021, at Milbank Area Hospital-Avera Health. A funeral service was held Thursday, March 18 at Valley Baptist Church in Milbank with burial at Evergreen Cemetery, Stockholm, S.D. 

Robert W. Massey, age 90 of Yankton, S.D., passed away on Monday, March 15, 2021 at Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton. A funeral mass was held Friday, March 19 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yankton with the Rev. Fr. Larry Regynski as celebrant.  Burial was in St. Boniface Idylwilde Cemetery, rural Freeman, S.D., with military honors conducted by Ernest Bowyer VFW Post 791 and Ellsworth Air Force Base Honor Guard. 

Verlyn Fae Deckert, 71, passed away on Feb. 28, 2021 in her home in the Boise, Idaho with her brother, Gary, and his wife, Muriel, and some close friends by her side. Verlyn was born on Aug. 9, 1949 at Freeman, S.D. to Herman and Delila Ratzlaff Deckert. She attended a country grade school and graduated in 1967 from Bridgewater High School. Following high school she attended Airline School in Kansas City.

Robert “Rob” Lee Globke passed away in his home on March 14, 2021 surrounded by his loving family at the age of 50 after a courageous battle with cancer. A celebration of life was held Thursday, March 18 at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church at Marion, S.D.