Obituaries

Elliot ‘Sonny’ Laramie

Published by admin on Wed, 11/23/2022 - 9:19am

Elliot “Sonny” Fabian Laramie was born in Florissant, Mo., in September 1936 to Fabian and Goldie Laramie.   He was the second oldest of six children and ended his education to help provide for the family by working after he finished 8th grade.
Sonny was an Army paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division after being drafted into the Korean war in 1958.

Alexander Easson

Published by admin on Wed, 11/23/2022 - 9:17am

Alexander R. Easson, 77, of Custer, S.D., died at his residence Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022.
Services will be at 11a.m., Monday, Dec. 5 at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, S.D.
He is survived by his wife, Pamela Easson of Custer.
Arrangements have been placed under the local direction of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.

Doris ‘Dotty’ Mae Tillman

Published by admin on Thu, 11/17/2022 - 10:07am
On April 24, 1932, the lives of Arthur and Dorothy Gould were brightened when they welcomed a tiny little baby girl into this world. They named her Doris Mae Gould. But she preferred to be called “Dotty.”
 
Doris grew up in Hill City, S.D. She attended all 12 years of school in the original Hill City school building. She was active in choir, science and debate (which she enjoyed all her life). Doris had a beautiful singing voice.
 

William ‘BJ’ Johnson

Published by admin on Thu, 11/17/2022 - 9:31am

William “BJ” Johnson was the oldest of eight children born to Alice and Bert Johnson Sept. 2, 1940, in Chicago, Ill.
BJ moved to the Black Hills of South Dakota after leaving the U.S. Navy in 1964. He loved the Black Hills so much he moved to Custer, S.D., to live and work his entire life.
BJ passed away Nov. 4, 2022, in Hot Springs, South Dakota. He was 82.
Preceding him in death were his parents; daughter, Erica; and siblings, Butch and Barb.

Rick DeHaven

Published by admin on Thu, 11/17/2022 - 9:31am

Rick Lee DeHaven was born to James Leroy and Carol May (Coovert) DeHaven Aug.12, 1959, in Orange, Calif.
Rick was the oldest of three brothers and attended Pacifica High School and Golden West College.  Rick pursued the plumbing trade, having his plumbing contractor business for the last 15 years of his career.
Rick met Adriana at Shoshin Ryu dojo, where he taught Jujitsu. They married in 1991 and had two children, Michelle and Sean. In 2000 they moved to Custer, S.D. The Black Hills was a perfect place to raise his family.

Taylor Ziolkowski

Published by admin on Thu, 11/10/2022 - 8:42am

Taylor Shea Ziolkowski graduated from Custer (S.D.) High School and attended college at Chadron State (Neb.) College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in science for criminal justice.
Taylor was a cheerleader in both high school and college. She had a special love of animals and she collected many stray dogs.  
Taylor loved playing softball with her dad as her coach. She was an artist and loved to do crafts. Taylor had a big compassionate heart to go along with her big smile.
Taylor called home on Oct. 31, 2022. She was 34.

Nancy McMonagle

Published by admin on Thu, 11/10/2022 - 8:41am

Nancy Wendel McMonagle was born Aug. 22, 1952 to Allen Martin Wendel and Rose Eileen Chabot Schuenman Wendel, the third of five children born to Allen and Eileen. She was later joined by a foster brother.
Born into a household of boys she learned to hold her own at an early age and to work hard on the large family plot in downtown Bountiful, Utah. Summers were spent picking weeds, helping mother pick and preserve fruits and vegetables and enjoying pick-up games of basketball with her brothers and cousins. It was a happy time in her life.

William Johnson

Published by admin on Thu, 11/10/2022 - 8:40am

William L. Johnson, 82, passed away Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Hot Springs, S.D.

Jennifer Sharkey

Published by admin on Thu, 11/03/2022 - 9:12am

Jennifer Kay Sharkey was born Oct. 25, 1980, at the Campbell County Hospital in Gillette, Wyo., to Gary and Sherry (Lang) Sharkey.  She was baptized at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Gillette.  She attended school at Conestoga Elementary.
Her athletic career began in the third grade as a Conestoga Piston with Jeff Bauchman and her father, Gary Sharkey as the coaches. The Pistons were undefeated in basketball her fifth and sixth grade years.

Marilyn Tounsley

Published by admin on Thu, 11/03/2022 - 9:12am

Marilyn Tounsley was born to Joy and Donald Olson in DeSmet, S.D., in 1942. She was raised on the family farm along with her three sisters. After completing her schooling at DeSmet High School, she married Jerry Tounsley in 1959.
Marilyn and Jerry lived in Huron until 1975, when they moved to Wessington Springs, S.D.