THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Change something you don’t enjoy now rather than regretting it later.
— Rory McIlroy

GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

Class “AA”: Sioux Falls O’Gorman 55, Brandon Valley 42.
Class “A”: Vermillion 60, Tea Area 54.
Class “B”: Centerville 62, Arlington 44.

BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS

Class “AA” at Sioux Falls:
12:00, Mitchell vs. Sioux Falls Jefferson.
1:45, Sioux Falls Roosevelt vs. Sioux Falls Washington.
6:00, Harrisburg vs. Watertown.
7:45, Brandon Valley vs. Huron.

Class “A” at Rapid City:
12:00 MDT, Sioux Falls Christian vs. Vermillion.
1:45, Pine Ridge vs. Dakota Valley.
6:00, Hamlin vs. Groton Area.
7:45, Sioux Valley vs. Rapid City Christian.

Class “B” at Aberdeen:
12:00, White River vs. Viborg-Hurley.
1:45, Wessington Springs vs. Howard.
6:00, De Smet vs. Gregory.
7:45, Castlewood vs. Leola/Frederick Area.

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

Boys basketball: In their SoDak 16 game the Governors lost to Sioux Falls Washington, 52-43. Jett Zabel scored 19 points, Luke Olson 15 and Cade Kaiser 12. The Govs finished the year with a 10-11 record.

Girls basketball: In their SoDak 16 game the Governor girls trimmed Huron, 63-36, led by 19 points from Lennix Dupris, 18 from Reese Terwilliger and 15 from Ryann Barry. In the opening game of the state tournament Pierre lost to Sioux Falls Jefferson, 45-41. A two-point second quarter spelled doom for the Governors, who trailed at halftime by 24-9. Dupris scored 16 as did Terwilliger, who also had 10 rebounds. In the consolation semifinals Pierre defeated Rapid City Stevens, 52-45, led by Terwilliger’s 21 and Dupris’ 20 points. The game was tied 34-34 after three periods. Pierre then won the fifth-place/consolation title with a 48-47 win over Mitchell, a team to whom Pierre had lost by one point in the regular season. Four free throws in the final half-minute by Dupris—two with 18 seconds left and two more with 12 seconds remaining—saved the day for Pierre. She had 14 points, Barry 16 and Terwilliger eight.

Boys basketball: Pierre’s Jett Zabel earned honorable mention on the ESD Conference all-conference team.

Girls basketball: Reese Terwilliger and Lennix Dupris were named to the ESD Conference all-conference team.

Boys wrestling: The Governors dominated the ESD Conference all-conference team with these athletes so honored—Elijah Boutchee, Chance Carda, Lucas Chamberlin, Jaxon Ducheneaux, Trey Lewis, Alex Oedekoven, Tristan Spencer.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

Boys basketball: In their semifinal game of the Region 6A tournament, the Buffaloes lost to Cheyenne-Eagle Butte, 55-46, ending the season with a 14-8 record. The Buffs led at halftime by 12 points, but a 24-7 third quarter for the Braves turned the game around. Paxton Deal scored 14 points as did Broch Zeeb, the only senior on this year’s roster.

Boys basketball: Broch Zeeb was named to the Big Dakota Conference all-conference team. On the honorable mention list were Paxton Deal and Kaden Montana.

COUNTDOWN

3 days: St. Patrick’s Day (March 17).
5 days: First day of spring (March 19).
8 days: Sioux Falls Storm indoor football season opener (March 22).
9 days: All-State Band concerts, Pierre (March 23).
10 days: Palm Sunday (March 24).
11 days: Pierre track season opener, Brookings (March 25).
14 days: Minnesota Twins season opener, Kansas City (March 28).
15 days: Good Friday (March 29).
16 days: Pierre softball season opener, Pierre (March 30).
17 days: Easter (March 31).
19 days: Pierre boys tennis season opener (April 2).

WORDS OF WISDOM

Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally but from what you do consistently.

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball (Nick Wittler): The Tiger men lost their first-round game in the GPAC postseason tournament to Northwestern College, 78-65. Nick got in for three minutes and sank a three-point field goal. DWU finished Nick’s senior season with a 14-15 record.

University of Sioux Falls women’s wrestling (Toby Bryant): The first year of women’s wrestling at USF saw the Cougars send four women, all of them freshmen, to the national tournament, and one of them won a match there for USF’s first-ever victory in a match on the national level. Toby’s team was 6-3 in duals and outscored opponents 261-154 in duals.

Georgia Tech women’s basketball (Caleb Currier): The Yellowjackets won their opener in the ACC tournament over Pittsburgh, 73-60, but lost in the next round to Duke, 70-58. Their final record in Caleb’s first year there as an assistant coach was 17-16.

Dakota Wesleyan wrestling (Aric Williams, Tyson Johnson): Pierre’s two men on the Tiger team both earned their way to the NAIA national tournament. There Tyson lost a 17-3 decision to a #3-in-the-nation wrestler from Corban, then lost his first consolation-round match by 11-7 to end his season. Aric upset the #14 wrestler from Morningside in the first round, 13-7; lost his first consolation march, 5-4; then won his next one, 7-5; then lost by major decision. That put him in the seventh-place match where he lost by pin to the #12-ranked wrestler from Dickinson State. Aric earned All-American honors for placing at the national tournament.

University of Mary women’s basketball (Chloe Lamb): The Marauders won in the quarterfinals of the NSIC tournament over St. Cloud State, 73-61, then beat Minnesota-Duluth in the semifinals, 83-75. Mary lost in the championship game to Minnesota State-Mankato, 89-74. The team’s final record in Chloe’s second year as an assistant coach was 22-11.

Northern women’s basketball (Katie Bourk): The Wolves lost their opener in the NSIC tournament to Southwest Minnesota State, 86-75, ending the year at 20-9. This was Katie’s first season as an assistant coach at Northern after many years in the same role at Augustana.

South Dakota men’s basketball (Max Burchill): Relegated to playing in the play-in game at the Summit League tournament, the Coyotes lost to Oral Roberts, 77-62, ending their season with a 12-20 record. Max missed a three-point attempt and was 2-of-2 in free throws and also had five rebounds and an assist.

Black Hills State men’s basketball (Jackson Edman): The Yellowjackets earned the #4 seed in the RMAC postseason tournament. At home they won their first-round game over Metro State of Denver, 75-72, then lost in the semifinals at Colorado Mesa, 86-59. In the latter game Jackson got in for five minutes. In his freshman season Jackson played in 12 games, starting two of them. He was 9 of 20 in field goals, 1 of 4 in three-pointers and 2 of 2 in free throws for 21 points with 22 rebounds, one block, four assists and two steals.

Texas State baseball (Peyton Zabel): The season is well underway in San Marcos, Texas, where the Bobcats have an 8-8 record. They have three wins over Youngstown State and single wins over Tarleton State, Texas, Houston, Prairie View A&M and Washington State while losing three to Sam Houston State and single losses to TCU, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. This weekend the Bobcats are home for three vs. Appalachian State. Peyton has a 1-1 pitching record so far, starting two games and appearing in four. He has thrown 8 1/3 innings, striking out 10, walking nine and allowing 10 hits and nine runs.

Northern softball (Tessa Bryant): The Wolves have a 10-4 record already and this week are in Florida for a slew of spring break games, six of them remaining Thursday through Saturday. Northern has two wins each over Black Hills State, USF and Valley City State and single wins over Bemidji State, Dickinson State, Slippery Rock and Quincy. They have lost single games to St. Cloud State, American International, Northwood and Jamestown. Tessa is listed on the roster as a sophomore pitcher but has not appeared in any games to date.

ZESTO SHERBET SCHEDULE

Thursday: coconut.
Friday-Sunday: lime.
Monday-Tuesday: orange.
Wednesday-Thursday: root beer.

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

• It is hard to believe that it was 20 years ago this week that I spent my last day at the Capital Journal. It was a Wednesday, then I took off for three days at the state “A” tournament in Rapid City, then returned to Pierre to get stuff and get ready for the move west. Earlier that same March community friends held a big send-off reception in the Riggs gym for me—a fabulous event that included music by the Riggs High marching band, the First Methodist choir and the Over Forte big band; Tyler Merriam as the emcee and several other speakers. I don’t regret the last 20 years for sure—2 ½ years on the staff at the Custer Chronicle, six years in Vermillion including time on the music accompanist staff at USD and four years writing sports for the Vermillion Plain Talk, and now 11 years back in Rapid City. But I will always treasure all those years at the Journal, especially covering school activities, music, sports and all, and Post 8 baseball.
• As you sit daydreaming over your next cup of coffee, give me a hand. I need to compile a list of song titles that contain numbers. You know, like “Three Blind Mice”? So jot down a few and send them to me at parkerhome16@hotmail.com.
• My new laptop is scheduled to arrive today, so perhaps by next week I will be doing the Update at home again after spending the past month doing it at daughter Holly’s house after my 11-year-old laptop crashed and died.

BASEBALL UPDATE

Oahe Zap: The Zap announced that Matthew Rehfeldt, an assistant baseball coach at Kalamazoo College in Michigan, will be an assistant coach for the local team this summer.

Minnesota Twins spring training schedule:
Thursday: Toronto.
Friday: Boston.
Saturday: Tampa Bay (Bally Sports North).
Sunday: Toronto.
Monday: Boston (Bally Sports North).
Wednesday: Detroit (Bally Sports North).
Thursday: Washington.

BASKETBALL UPDATE

NCAA tournaments: In case you want to find out whom, where and when the SDSU teams play in the first round of the respective tournaments, watch the selection shows. The men’s selection show is at 5 p.m. CDT Sunday on CBS, and the women’s selection show is at 7 p.m. CDT on ESPN.

HOCKEY UPDATE

Oahe Capitals girls varsity: At the state tournament the Capital girls won their opener over Brookings, 6-3. Dakota McEntaffer, Emily Nemec, Micah Buffalo, Haley Fuerst, Brylee Kafka and Audrey Stewart each scored a goal, and Sophia Peschong made 18 saves. In the semifinals the girls lost to Sioux Falls, 7-1, with Kafka scoring the lone goal and Peschong making 31 saves. Oahe finished fourth after losing the third-place match to Mitchell, 4-3. Kafka had two goals and McEntaffer one while Peschong made 21 saves in goal.

Oahe Capitals boys varsity: At the state tournament last weekend the Caps stunned Sioux Falle East on opening day, 4-2. Aidan Dozark gave Oahe a 1-0 lead in the first period, then Devin Dodson scored once and Dozark twice more, all in the second period, to put the Capitals up by 4-1. Spencer Anderson achieved 29 saves in the net. In the semifinals the Caps lost to Brookings, 2-1, with Keller Herman scoring in the second period for a short-lived 1-0 Oahe lead. Anderson made 32 saves. In the third-place game against Sioux Falls West, Dozark scored in the first period, then Dylan Dodson, Corbin Beastrom and Barret Schweitzer lit the lamp in the second period for a 4-3 Capitals lead. Sioux Falls tied the game in the third period, but at 4:42 of overtime, Keegan Kitts scored the winning goal, assisted by Dozark and Dylan Dodson, as the Capitals ended their season on a high note, winning third place with a 5-4 victory. Anderson had 20 more saves.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

You meet saints everywhere. They can be anywhere. They are people behaving decently in an indecent society.
— Kurt Vonnegut

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, March 14:
Kevin Huxford, Lucas Lindholm, Tara Hiller, Maria Melius, Tarrent Stoeser, Darcy Sorenson, Jim Iverson, Ann (Beemer) Candler, Jennifer (Lomheim) Sieveking, Kenley Jo Boyer, DeeDee Raap, Isaiah Melius.
— We fondly remember Jon Olinger, who passed away 12 years ago today.;

Friday, March 15:
Justin Elrod, Mariah Heiss, Kasey (Anderson) Cappellano, Brooks Hanson, Tavis Weidenbach, Seb Axtman (#91), Cassie (Rausch) Stoeser, Lance Spears, Ward Judson, Arlene DeVany, Loren Thompson, Nora Wheeler.

Saturday, March 16:
Deb Mortenson, Leah Ries, Jennifer (Brink) Anderson, Ava Bauck, Avery Askew, Patrick Burger, Bob Frieberg.

Sunday, March 17:
Jackson Jennings, Melissa Brock, Bill Markley, Chad Cooper, Peggy Stout, Jack Aadland, Nick Burke, Jesse Krell, Joe Gormley, Chris Derry.
— We fondly remember Jon Olinger again on his birthday.

Monday, March 18:
Kendall Light, Jane Brehe, Nash Hogan, John Palmer, Madeleine Lindberg, Travis Benbow, Nickolas Rabern, Daniel Mayer, Asher Yackley, Ryker Schumacher, Janice Karber, Jamey Howard.
— We fondly remember Kathy Valnes, who passed away nine years ago today.

Tuesday, March 19:
Betty Garrett, Darlene Neiles, Layndon Dewell, Sarah Yackley-Ploeger, Calvin Wagner, Stacy (Hull) Cottrell, Mary Welsh, Craig Long, Heather Forney, Hadley Bryant, Brenda Badger, Donald Tassler.
— 5th anniversary, Dan/Lacy Johnson.

Wednesday, March 20:
Debby Wagner, Samantha (Lytle) Irvine, Rachel Beck, Jayde Englund, Scott Jones, Beth (Cruse) Dokken, Jessica (Wood) Steele, Misty Burton, Ben Johnson, Max Huber.

Thursday, March 21:
Ben Gilmore, Loni McQuistion, Mark Hardwick, Gerald Johnson (#93), Jacob Tschetter, Diana Vogel, River Fischer, Linda Knox, Bentley Frost, Matthew Heintz, Wanda Meyer, Ben Brown, Kara (Knadle) Schumacher.
— 26th anniversary, Dan/Lora (Den Ouden) Moore.
— 9th anniversary, Zach/Ashley Parsons.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Rachel Bobby, 72, died March 2. Her funeral was held March 8 at New Life Assembly of God. She was born at South Shore to Loren and Erna Wohlwend and grew up on a farm near Harrold. She and her twin sister were among 15 children in the family. Rachel attended Stewart’s School of Hairstyling and National College of Business. She was blessed with four sons—Eric Bren of Pierre, Steven (KayLynn) Bren of Mitchell, Matthew (Michelle) Fenske of Pasadena, Calif., and Anthony Bobby of Pierre. She is also survived by three grandchildren, five brothers and six sisters.

One of the members of the Rapid City Stevens cheerleading squad for girls basketball, which received the Spirit of Six award at the state “AA” girls tournament last weekend, was Olivia Roberts, a senior at Stevens. She is the daughter of Lance and Jerilyn (Cass) Roberts and the granddaughter of Larry and Gerry Cass of Pierre.

Maynard Wagner, 87, died March 11 at Avantara Pierre. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. this Sunday at Feigum Funeral Home, followed by a Masonic service at 7. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at New Life Church. Maynard graduated from Agar High School in 1955 and served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957. He married LaDonna Lienau in 1960. They moved in 1965 to the Jim Sutton ranch where he worked as a ranchhand, then to Las Vegas where he was a mechanic. From 1965 to 1975 Maynard worked for Matt Sutton on his ranch. Maynard began operating Wagner’s Welding Service in 1975. In 1993 he purchased Mory’s Pumping Service, which later became The Royal Flush. He retired in 2015. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, LaDonna Wagner; his sister, Deloris (Harry) Vernon of Muscatine, Iowa; his son, Danny Wagner of Fort Pierre; his daughters, Linda (Jeff) Oyen of Crooks and Christine Wagner of Fort Pierre; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Arlene Barker, 95, formerly of Pierre, died in Rapid City March 9. Her funeral is being held this (Thursday) morning at 11 a.m. at Feigum Funeral Home.

Steve Steele has been selected as the new chief executive officer at the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area. He will begin work there part-time April1, completing his contract with the school district to finish out his teaching year. He will then be full-time at the Boys & Girls Club beginning June 1. He will continue to be head football coach of the Pierre Governors. (News courtesy of KCCR Radio)

Leonard “Pete” Petersen, 86, died March 2 at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital. His funeral was held March 9 at Oahe Presbyterian Church. A graduate of Gann Valley High School in 1955, he earned a civil engineering degree at SDSU. He worked for the Department of Transportation until retiring i 1997. He and his wife, the former Marijean Brown, were married in 1955 and raised three children. He is survived by his wife of 62 years; his daughter, Lana (Rob) Laurenz of Pierre; his son, Scott (Cheryl) Peterson of Vacaville, Calif.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Carole Wilson and Doris (Dick) Kirkie. Among those who preceded him in death was a son, Mark.

Two of the members of the undefeated state “AA” girls basketball champion Sioux Falls O’Gorman team are daughters of former Pierre and area residents, Keith and Kristie (Hallock) Moore. Lucy Moore was a senior guard and Ruby Moore a freshman guard for the Knights, and we understand that are more Moore daughters in the pipeline on their way into the O’Gorman program.

Bernard “Bern” Stoeser, 93, died March 9. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. this Sunday at the Isburg Funeral Chapel, followed by a prayer service there at 7. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Bern attended grade school at Sansarc, spent two years at the Catholic boarding school at Polo, then spent his last two years of high school in Pierre, graduating in 1949. He and Pat Pashby were married in 1952. They lived in Colorado Springs where Bern was stationed with the National Guard at Camp Carson, then in Alaska until his discharge in 1952. They moved to the ranch near Hayes in 1953. The Stoesers eventually moved into Pierre. He was a state representative in 1973-74. Survivors include his children, Steve (Sherri) Stoeser of Fort Pierre, Pam (Dean) Olson of Rapid City, Bob (Susan) Stoeser of Fort Pierre, Lori (Brad) Clark of Pierre and Nancy (Steve) Howard of Littleton, Colo.; 17 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law Gene Pashby of Santa Clara, Calif., and Gary (Linda) Pashby of Sioux Falls, and sisters-in-law Phyllis Stoeser of Fort Pierre and Cheryl Dickson-Smith of St. Paul. Among those who preceded him in death were his wife, his parents, his in-laws, five brothers, six sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law and grandson Johnathan Stoeser.

The planning committee of the Oahe Days music and arts festival coming up in June announced their concert performers. On Friday night, June 14, Rowan Hibbard of Rapid City (known as Rowan Grace professionally since her appearances on “The Voice”) and the Dirty Boots Band will lead off the concert, finished at 10 p.m. by Drake Milligan. On Saturday night, June 15, the band 280 Fifth will open up at 7:30, followed at 10 p.m. by Hinder.

Blunt native Peggy (Marshall) Engstrom will celebrate her 75th birthday on March 29. Peggy is fighting ALS, and there is a Caring Bridge page on which friends and former classmates can follow her progress. Friends can send birthday greetings to Peggy at 34336 Chestnut Circle, Moose Lake MN 55767.

Mike Walton of Pierre was inducted into the South Dakota Amateur Basketball Association’s Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Sully Buttes High School team where he was an All-State selection his senior year of 1990. He then played at Dakota Wesleyan, graduating there in 1994. Mike played on amateur teams throughout central South Dakota, including at Mobridge, Herreid, Redfield, Pierre, Mitchell and Presho. At Presho he was on their state amateur championship teams in 2008 and 2009. He has been named to the all-tournament teams at the state tourneys five times. Mike and his wife, Michelle, live in Pierre. They are the parents of Cooper, Ronni and Tya.

A son, Dean Samuel Schaefer, was born to Dr. Steven and Anna Schaefer of Rapid City on Jan. 17. He is their first child and the second grandchild for Troy and Kim (Merkwan) Schaefer. Their older son, Gregory, and his wife also had their first child in the past year. Great-grandparents of Dean are Gary and Twila Merkwan of Pierre and former Pierre residents Greg and Karen Schaefer of Rapid City.

Doug Hillmer, 77, died Feb. 27. His funeral took place March 8 at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Doug grew up in Pierre and graduated from Riggs High School. He and Peggy Adams were married in 1968. He is survived by three children, Vance Hillmer, Nickol (Jay) Penrod and Zachary Hillmer; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a brother, Rex (Deb) Hillmer, and a sister, Mary Lou Stuart. Doug worked for the city of Pierre in the sanitation department over a long career. He was also an avid outdoorsman.

No municipal election will be held in Onida this spring. Incumbent city council members Jessica Olivier in Ward 1 and Marla Mosiman in Ward 3 were the only persons filing petitions of candidacy for those seats, so they are unopposed. No petitions at all were filed for three other vacancies—the seats now held by Caleb Shepherd in Ward 1, Clark Jordre in Ward 2 and Brooke Jacquot in Ward 2. Those seats will be filled by city council appointments.

Dave Voeltz, who has driven Pierre athletic and activity students by bus for more than three decades, was honored by Riggs High School at a recent basketball game. Voeltz has been driving Governor buses since 1987.

Riggs High senior athlete Ryann Barry signed a letter of intent to attend Chadron State College in Nebraska to play basketball.

Leo Rawstern, who lived in Onida many years ago, died at the age of 85 at his home in Rapid City on Feb. 21.

This will be opening weekend for “Fiddler on the Roof,” the spring musical presented by Black Hills Community Theatre at the Performing Arts Center in Rapid City. The show will run on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons this weekend and next weekend. Jason Knox is playing the role of Lazar Wolf, the butcher; Holly Knox is in the cast but has also been choreographer for the show; Holly’s older daughter, Olivia, is one of the three older daughters of Tevye, and Jason’s son Parker is one of the village children.

Jim Forney, 84, died Feb. 29. A celebration of his life was held March 9 at TKO’s Catering. A private family service and burial will take place at a later date with Isburg Funeral Chapel handling details. Jim was born in Indiana in 1939, the third child of Fritz and Marjorie Forney. In 1945 the family moved to South Dakota. Jim graduated in 1957 from Pierre High School where he was active in basketball, football and track. He earned a B.A. degree from USD in 1962. At the university he met Shari Hanselman, and they were married in 1966. Their son, John, was born in 1967. Jim owned Oahe Adjustment Services and later established Forney Insurance and Real Estate. In 1988 he introduced Dakota Futures with offices in Pierre, Presho and Winner. He had a passion for horses, raising them, training them and playing polo with them. He is survived by his wife, Shari; his son, John (Heather); his granddaughter, Peyton, and his grandson, Connor.

Jessica Rausch, from a pool of 17 nominees, was named Teacher of the Year in the Agar-Blunt-Onida School District. A native of Blunt, she has taught at both Blunt and Onida centers and now is a fourth-grade teacher in the Onida elementary school.

Pierre Players announced the cast for the next community theater show, “Love, Loss and What I Wore.” Cast members will include Molly Valentine, Anne Rathbun, Rachael Person and Mandy Nielsen. Kathy Riedy is directing the show, assisted by Eileen Crandell.

Long-time Sully County resident and in later years a Pierre resident, Hazel Baumberger, has just celebrated her 108th birthday.

Raymond Neuhauser 93, died March 6 at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Miller. His funeral took place March 11 at Feigum Funeral Home. The son of Reuben and Bertha Neuhauser graduated from high school in Pierre in 1948. He married Velva Weidenbach in 1951. She died in 1999. Raymond married Nancy Stirling. They lived in Pierre, then at Good Samaritan. Nancy passed away in 2022. A life-long rancher, Raymond is survived by three sons, Randy (Leanne) Neuhauser of Midland, Clayton (Mary Thomas) Neuhauser of Spokane, Wash., and Craig Neuhauser of Pierre; nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Bob Graff of Onida, who coached wrestling in its early days at Sully Buttes High School and later officiated the sport for 38 years, including eight state tournaments, was inducted into the South Dakota Wrestling Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame.

Leanne Schlekeway, special education teacher at Riggs High School, has been named Teacher of the Year in the Pierre school district. Others nominated were Paula Weeldreyer, fifth grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary, and Katrina Mosteller, fifth grade teacher at Buchanan Elementary.

Jean Hertel, formerly of the Onida area, died March 5 at Edgewood where she had lived since March 2018. Visitation will be from 5 to 6 p.m. this Sunday, March 17, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Onida, followed by a service there at 6. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 18, at the church with burial at Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Blunt. Born in Missouri to Harvey and Mildred Main, Jean came to Onida with her parents in January 1949, her senior year of high school. She thus graduated from Onida High School that year, then earned a teaching degree at Northern State Teachers College. She was over the years a frequent substitute teacher and teacher’s aide. She married Henry Hertel in 1950. They lived on another farm for four years, then on the Hertel family farm from 1954 until Henry’s retirement in 1997. Jean was the organist at St. Pius X Church for 22 years. She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne (Bill) Stahl; grandchildren Zona Hertel and Joseph Stahl; sister-in-law Joycelyn Pietrus and many nephews and nieces. Among those who preceded her in death were her husband, her son Terry Hertel, and her parents.

In Blunt the municipal election day is April 9. In Ward 1 incumbent Dawn Tassler and challengers Jeff Millage and Eric Monsen are all vying for one seat. The other council member from that ward is Jessica Big Eagle. In Ward 2 where Samantha Irvine is a sitting council member, there will be a race between incumbent Mike Bourk and challenger Dianna Knox. In Ward 3 councilmen Rich Doyle and Spike King are unopposed. Mayor Bryce Chambers did not file a candidacy petition, so Rachel Comes will become mayor.

The Pierre Educational Foundation will host its annual Evening of Excellence in early May. Already announced as 2024 Scholars of Excellence (those seniors who have maintained at least a 3.75 grade-point average) for that evening’s event are Ryann Barry, Corbin Beastrom, Gavin Black Bear, Campbell Boddicker, Jenna Bucholz, Joslyn Bush, Tyan Buus, Aleise Christopherson, Jocelyn Corrales, Matthew Coverdale, Ava Doyle, Miles Doyle, Madilyn Eckstine, Gunner Edson, Haley Fabel, Isaac Gilk, Austin Griffith, Jillian Hansen, Chace Humphrey, Isabella Jackley, Morgan Johnson, Chyler Jones, Abigail Kropp, Melania Lamb, John Lees, Erin Leiferman, Levi Letellier, Abigail Lott, Mackenzie Magee, Jordan Mayer, Natia Mchedlidze, Madison Murphy, Taylor Newell, Bella Nickolas, Caitlin Ott, Daylen Palecek, Nolan Peterson, Riley Pfeifer, Lainey Reinke, Kaitlyn Richey, Jazzlyn Rombough, Amber Sargent-Granberg, Jasie Smith, Claire Steffensen, Reese Terwilliger, Henry Thronson, Ciara Tipton, Blake Weisgram, Ruby Wyatt and Sapphire Wyatt.

Dorinda Daniel, long-time reporter at the Capital Journal, employee at Rawlins Library and member of the staff at the Cultural Heritage Center, has been named grand marshal for Pierre’s St. Patrick’s Day parade this weekend.

Joyce (Schrock) Keller died March 11. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at Feigum Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. She had become ill in 2018, requiring first assisted living, then long-term care in 2020. Born in Denver, Joyce came to Pierre 12 years later and attended Stanley County schools. She married Terry Keller in 1972. She worked at various retail jobs in Pierre, managing the Hallmark store and the Peanut Shack at the Pierre Mall and working for several years at Dakotamart and then Walgreen’s. She taught CCD at St. Joseph School for 34 years and administered communion to shut-ins. She is survived by her husband, Terry Keller; her daughter, Misty (Mark) Skinner of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; her son, Shaun (Brittney) Keller of Summerset; five grandchildren, and a brother, Rex (Lisa) Schrock of Sturgis. She was preceded in death by four sisters, a brother and her parents.

PONDER THIS

Intelligence isn’t knowing everything. It’s the ability to challenge everything you know.