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Obituaries

Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Contact email@bhpioneer.com for more information.

Darlene Schafer

July 24, 1943 - January 12, 2026

Sandy Bill Matson

October 11, 1952 – January 20, 2026

Linda Kay Humbracht

September 15, 1953 - December 21, 2025

Leslie Gene Kaitfors

November 5, 1957 – January 14, 2026

Troy Howard Chapman

December 23, 1956 - January 10, 2026

Mary Lea Negaard

August 17, 1934 – January 6, 2026

Donald C. Clanton

December 22, 1926 - December 8, 2025

Lyle Sainsbury

July 1, 1946 – November 3, 2025

Forrest Giannonatti

November 18, 1924 - July 27, 2025

Russell Fox

February 5, 1959 - September 15, 2025

Alvin James Heggem

July 10, 1956 – August 5, 2025

Diana Shinabarger

March 24, 1943 – August 6, 2025

Rosalie English

Rosalie English

-

Susan Schilling

June 29, 1967 – July 12, 2025

Philip W. Hanify

Philip W. Hanify

July 31, 1941 – March 19, 2025

Wallace Reuben Kehrberg

Wallace Reuben Kehrberg

July 31, 1940 - May 24, 2025

Andrew W. Johnson

Andrew W. Johnson

2/7/1938 - 5/20/2025

Marie Larine Mott-Clyde

Marie Larine Mott-Clyde

Duane Allen Kaitfors

Duane Allen Kaitfors

October 6, 1948 – May 28, 2025

Amy Elizabeth Denzin

Amy Elizabeth Denzin

March 27, 1972 – May 20, 2025

Audrey Cordell

Audrey Cordell

October 18, 1933 – May 17, 2025

Donald Krambeer

Donald Krambeer

July 13, 1945 - February 16, 2025

Donald Krambeer

Donald Krambeer

July 13, 1945 - February 16, 2025

Sidney LuVerne “Vern” Anders

Sidney LuVerne “Vern” Anders

January 27, 1943 – April 24, 2025

Maria Ester Oleson

Maria Ester Oleson

April 6th, 1942 – April 22, 2025

Peter Claude Larson

Peter Claude Larson

August 15, 1935 – April 18, 2025

Irene Abelseth

Irene Abelseth

October 27, 1921 - April 16, 2025

Judith Gertrude Johnson

Judith Gertrude Johnson

August 25, 1949 – April 14, 2025

Wilma J. (Brengle) Negaard

Wilma J. (Brengle) Negaard

March 8, 1919 – April 9, 2025

Edgar Samuel Kumley

Edgar Samuel Kumley

October 15th, 1922 - April 6th, 2025

Marlene (Domke) Carlson

Marlene (Domke) Carlson

November 18, 1932 - March 13, 2025

Chuck Lavern Davis SR.

Chuck Lavern Davis SR.

August 29, 1945 – February 8, 2025

Lane Sheridan Kopren

Lane Sheridan Kopren

March 12, 1995 – January 5, 2025

Harold David Haivala

Harold David Haivala

January 23, 1937 – December 27, 2024

Edwin L. “Buck” Mayberry

Edwin L. “Buck” Mayberry

September 28, 1934 – November 24, 2024

Celia Jean (Bickerdyke) Welch

Celia Jean (Bickerdyke) Welch

September 3, 1940 – November 7, 2024

Sharon Ruth (Wilson) Jenkins passed away peacefully on October 20, 2024, at her home in Summerset, South Dakota. Sharon loved her family deeply and without conditions. She had a beautiful spirit and was a wonderful friend who greeted you with open arms regardless of how long it had been since she last saw you. Her wit and humor will undoubtedly live on in the hearts of all those who knew her.
Sharon was born April 2, 1940, to Frederick W. Wilson II and Barbara Neal (Slater) Wilson. She was born in Montpelier, Idaho, because there was no hospital in the small town of Cokeville, Wyoming, where her family lived.
Her parents were teachers, and the family moved several times in her early youth. From Cokeville, Wyoming, they moved to Spearfish, South Dakota, and in 1949, the family moved to Buffalo, South Dakota onto the original Wilson homestead. She remained in Buffalo throughout her school years but was blessed to spend time with her grandparents at their cabin in Spearfish Canyon, as well as their home in Hot Springs.
Sharon graduated from Buffalo High School in 1958 and spent that summer working in a café in Hot Springs, but she knew that wasn’t where she wanted to stay. She enlisted in the US Navy that fall and began basic training in October 1959 in Bainbridge, Maryland. She recalled being “woefully unprepared” for life outside rural South Dakota, but it turned out to be the second-best decision she ever made.
After training to work in the Photo Lab, she was stationed in Jacksonville, Florida. This is where she would ultimately make the best decision ever, in accepting a recommendation from friends and going on a blind date with a dashing young gentleman from Alabama named Leonard Jenkins.
Sharon and Lenny became best friends, and were married December 28, 1960, at the Congregational Church in Buffalo, South Dakota. They remained best friends through several station assignments and deployments. While in Jacksonville the following year, they welcomed their first child, a son who they named William Curtis to honor their fathers.
In 1962, Sharon was expecting their second child and Lenny’s ship was deployed in support of the Viet Nam War, so Sharon came to South Dakota and stayed in New Underwood, South Dakota, with her sister Terrill. Their daughter, Barbara Ellen was born at Ellsworth Air Force Base and named to honor their mothers.
Following Barbara’s birth, they were stationed at San Diego, California, and then transferred to the US Naval Station in Guam. In 1964, they welcomed their third child, a daughter they named Debora Ann.  Lenny’s ship was deployed again, and the family was moved back to San Diego until the end of the war.
Their next station was Great Lakes Naval Training Center, in Chicago, Illinois. Lenny taught electronics and communications and served as a substance abuse counselor, while Sharon took accounting classes and managed their household.
In 1974, the family moved to what would be their final duty station at Summerville, South Carolina. After a year or so there, Lenny made the decision to retire and move, in his words, as far away from water as he could get. So, the family moved to Sharon’s hometown of Buffalo, South Dakota. They bought a local business and settled into the community.
Sharon loved being back home in Buffalo. She helped start the Harding County EMT Association. In fact, she was a member of the very first EMT class in Harding County. She was active with the Harding County Ambulance Board and taught countless CPR and EMT classes in service to the community. Sharon inspired many members of the community to take those classes and serve their community. She became the first EMT-Intermediate in Harding County out of concern for the long distances rural patients had to travel for definitive emergency care. She was invited to be part of the very first class of EMS Instructor Trainers in the state. In recognition of her service, Sharon was awarded the South Dakota EMT of the Year award by the South Dakota Emergency Medical Technician Association (now SD Emergency Medical Services Association) in 1995.
Following Lenny’s death in 1998, Sharon invited her granddaughter Allison to move back to Buffalo so she could stay with Sharon and attend school in Buffalo instead of in Rapid City. This brought life and joy back into Sharon’s life, as her house became again filled with love and laughter. Ally’s friends frequently dropped in at Granny’s house, and she loved them all.
Shortly after Ally graduated from high school and moved back to Rapid City, Sharon decided she was getting older, her vision wasn’t what it used to be, and it was time to move closer to her medical providers and, of course, her family. Sharon became a member of Zion Lutheran Church where her great-grandchildren attended school. She enjoyed their LifeLight Bible Study, brought her great-grandchildren to Vacation Bible School, and loved attending the great-grandkids’ school programs.
Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick and Barbara Wilson, her husband Leonard, sisters Terrill Eckert and Barbara Adams-Bleth, her daughter Barbara Everson, sister-in-law Jackie Jenkins, two nieces and a nephew,
She is survived by her son William (Gabriele) Jenkins of Schoenaich, Germany, and their children Frederik, Philipp, and Josephine; her daughter Debora (Robert) Weinert of Rapid City, SD; granddaughter Ally (Cody) Ford of Black Hawk, SD; great-grandchildren Kolby Rosser, Kaelyn Bertsch, and Landon Ford, as well as Kolby’s daughter, Sharon’s great-great-granddaughter, Aria Head. She is also survived by her remaining siblings: Fred (Judee) Wilson of Belle Fourche, SD; Linda Wilson of Tavares, FL; Tom (Lori) Wilson of Buffalo, SD, and Julie (Michael) Lipparelli of Eustis, FL, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and in-laws.
Visitation will be Tuesday, October 29, 2024, from 5-7 PM at the Buffalo Rec Center. Funeral services will be at the Buffalo Rec Center on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 10:30 AM. Committal will be Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 2:30 PM at Black Hills National Cemetery. Sharon will be buried with full military honors and laid to rest next to her beloved husband.

Sharon Ruth (Wilson) Jenkins

April 2, 1940 – October 20,2024

Dorothy Clarkson Teague

Dorothy Clarkson Teague

October 16, 2024

Fr. Daniel G. Juelfs

Fr. Daniel G. Juelfs

Nov. 25, 1946 - Sept. 10, 2024

RAPID CITY, S.D. - Fr. Daniel G. Juelfs, 77, Piedmont, S.D., died Tuesday, Sept. 10, in Rapid City.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. and a vigil at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 18, at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rapid City

Gary Byers

Gary Byers

Gary E. Byers passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 24, 2024, in Melbourne, Florida at the age of 85. Gary was born in McMinnville, Oregon on August 1, 1939, and worked his entire life in the gasoline industry, moving to Wheatland, Wyoming in 1971.
Fountainhead Funeral Home - Palm Bay

Robin (Clark) Garcia

Robin (Clark) Garcia

Robin Marie (Clark) Garcia January 28, 1977 - August 7, 2024
Robin Marie (Clark)Garcia was guided by her Lord and Savior to her eternal home on August 7th, 2024. Her loving husband Mario was by her side to the end. She lived with her family at Tie Creek, Montana and Buffalo, South Dakota until 1978.

Michael Green

Michael Green

Michael Green, 83, of Scranton, ND, passed away on July 16, 2024 at the Southwest Healthcare Services in Bowman. Memorial Services for Mike will be on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 4pm at the Ludlow Hall in Ludlow, SD. Terry Bagley will officiate with burial to be held at a later date. There will be a Family and Friends Service on Monday, July 22, 2024 at 7pm at the Scranton Community Center in Scranton ND.

Amiel Talks

Amiel Talks

May 26, 1980 - July 10, 2024

FLANDREAU, S.D. - Amiel Talks, 44, Mandan N.D., formerly Jackson, Minn., died Wednesday, July 10, in Flandreau.

Services were previously held.
Arrangements by DaWise-Perry Funeral Chapel.

Doris Richter

Doris Richter

Doris Richter, 89, Sturgis, SD, passed away June 11, 2024, at Monument Health Sturgis with family at her side. Doris was born April 18, 1935, in Bennett County, SD, to Edgar and Rhoda (Jackson) Gardner. She grew up in Harding County, SD and graduated from Harding County High School in May 1953.m.m.

Marge P. Waterland

Marge P. Waterland

Marge P. Waterland, 84, of Spearfish, SD, died Friday, May 31, 2024, in Spearfish, SD.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, June 10, 2024, at Alzada Community Hall in Alzada, MT.

Sondra Lee Floyd (Giacometto Courtney)

Sondra Lee Floyd (Giacometto Courtney)

Sondra Lee Floyd (Giacometto Courtney) 84, of Belle Fourche passed into God’s hands, May 29th, 2024.

Janis Gail (Taylor) Anderson

Janis Gail (Taylor) Anderson

August 9, 1954 – May 20, 2024
Janis Gail (Taylor) Anderson, 69, of rural Harding County, South Dakota, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children, her sister, grand-children and friends at Southwest Healthcare Services, Long Term Care Center, Bowman, North Dakota, on May 20th, 2024. Friends and Family Service will be held Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 at 7pm and funeral service for Janis will be held, Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 at11am, both will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Scranton. Fr. Greg Hilzendeger will officiate the services and burial at St. Isidores Cemetery will take place at a later date. A lunch will be served at the Scranton Community Center following the service on Wednesday.

Lyle L. Becker

Lyle L. Becker

October 13, 1939 – April 16, 2024
Lyle L. Becker, 85, of Bement, IL., passed away at 10:10:00 pm, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL.

Marvin Lee Heggem

Marvin Lee Heggem

Whitewood - Marvin Lee Heggem, 69, passed away April 3, 2024 in Rapid City, SD.
Funeral services are set for 1:00 pm April 12, 2024 at Hills View Evangelical Free Church in Piedmont, SD with Pastor Ethan Ryan of Midtown Baptist Church in Madison, AL officiating.
Please go to WestRiverFuneral.com for a full obituary listing.

Dennis Amburn

Dennis Amburn

Oct. 18, 1953 - March 6, 2024

RAPID CITY, S.D. - Dennis Amburn, 70, Rapid City, S.D., died Wednesday, March 6, in Hospice House.

A service will be 10 a.m. Friday, April 5, at Grace Fellowship Church in Spearfish, S.D.

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