Edward H. Seifert

SPEARFISH — Edward H. Seifert, 93, Spearfish, died Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, at the Veterans Association Medical Center at Fort Meade.

Edward was born Feb. 5, 1916 to at Wahpeton, N.D., the son of Albert and Olivia (Grundman) Seifert into a family of four boys and one girl. He was raised and went to school in Wahpeton. 

He entered the U.S. Army in March of 1941 and was stationed at Fort Meade in the 4th Calvary. He was discharged in 1943.

He married Muriel Millis on Sept. 1, 1943 at Cayuga, N.D. They purchased land and built a beautiful farm, and raised their family, Carl, Gloria, Lonnie and Tom who with their spouses produced 14 beautiful grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

They sold their farm in 1976 and moved to Spearfish and operated an antique shop. Ed was an avid trapper and hunter who loved the outdoors.

He is survived by his wife, Muriel of Spearfish; his children, Thomas Edward Seifert of Spearfish, Lonnie Gold of Lidgerwood, N.D., Carl (Janice) Blumhoff of Sioux Falls, and Gloria Machaud of East Grand Fords, N.D.; 14 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a baby daughter.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. today at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Spearfish.  Burial, with military honors, will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

A memorial has been established to Spearfish Meals on Wheels.

The Aldinger Funeral Home & Cremation Service has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Condolences may be left at www.aldingerfuneralhome.com.

Marilynn Aileen Abel

STURGIS — Marilynn Aileen (Beck) Abel was received into heaven on Friday, Nov. 20, 2009. She was admitted to Sturgis Regional Hospital on Nov. 13, entered the Lippold Hospice Suite at Sturgis Regional Hospital on Nov. 19, and this is where she passed away on Nov. 20. She had Alzheimer’s for over 10 years.

Marilynn was born June 12, 1926, at the family home at Lake Preston. She was the seventh of eight children born to Melvin Howard and Achsa Bell (Nelson) Beck. Marilynn was baptized when she was 19-years-old at the United Methodist Church at Lake Preston.

She married Chester Marvin “Chet” Abel on July 16, 1946, at the United Methodist Church at Lake Preston. They lived in Huron for a few years. After waiting five years, they were blessed with their first child, Merwin Chester, born Oct. 24, 1951. The family moved to the Lake Preston area and on Nov. 3, 1953, they had their second child, Connie Aileen.

Besides raising their family through hard times, Marilynn was an LPN at the Lake Preston Nursing Home for four years, then home care for two years in DeSmet.

In 1965, they moved to Sturgis. Marilynn did home care in Sturgis for two years before going to work at Fort Meade in the dietary department. She had worked there about two years when she slipped and hurt her back and couldn’t work for a few years. Later, she worked for Anderson Assisted Living.

In 1975, Chet passed away after battling cancer for three years. In 1976, Marilynn began working for the Sturgis Cleaners and Sewing Center on Main Street until they closed. In 1982, she purchased a home in Sturgis and started her own assisted living home. Marilynn had just paid off the home when she had a stroke in 1991, also the beginning of her Alzheimer’s. She moved into an apartment and continued to volunteer at the Fort Meade Chapel where she greeted veterans every Sunday as she had done since 1975. She later moved into Sturgis Regional Senior Care in 2002.

The family says, “Thank you for letting our family use the Hospice Unit. It was like being able to take Mom home.”

Marilynn was a member of the DAVA of Sturgis. She volunteered at Foothills Assisted Living (owned by Ron Anderson, whom she considered her second son). Marilynn was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and was active in the Meade County Senior Citizen’s Center.

She is survived by one daughter, Connie (Harley) Weyer, Sturgis; five grandchildren, Cara Abel-Riker, Rapid City, Justin Abel, Sioux City, Iowa, Cody (Denise) Weyer, Marcus, Merle Weyer, Vale, and Desiree (Tyler) Hippen, Gillette, Wyo.; eight great-grandchildren, Sebastion Boerke, Shelby Riker, and Charlee Riker, all of Rapid City, Tristen and Trinity Weyer of Marcus, Whitney Weyer, Vale, and Payton and Colton Hippen of Gillette, Wyo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her son, Merwin “Bud” Abel; two brothers, Howard and Merwin Beck; five sisters, Margaret Tschetter, Helen Marie Webster, Leila Bowes, Jean Pederson, and Lois Sass; one great-nephew, Travis Sass; and her mother in-law.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel, with the family present from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, at the First Wesleyan Church in Sturgis, with the Rev. Herbert Cleveland officiating. Burial will follow at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

A memorial has been established to the Lippold Hospice Suite at the Sturgis Regional Hospital.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.

Leonard G. Wormstadt

SPEARFISH — Leonard Grant Wormstadt passed away Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, at home.

Leonard was born Dec. 13, 1941 in Huron to Walter and Lucille (Drumm) Wormstadt. He attended Hoskins one-room schoolhouse (which is now on display at the S.D. State Fairgrounds) until the ninth grade. He graduated from Huron High School in 1959.

When he was 14, Leonard began a part-time business breaking and training horses, eventually working with several hundred of them. He was a professional bull rider and was the youngest member of the Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) at that time.

Leonard married Cheryl (Marvel) Nov. 10, 1963. Two children, Cindy (Karl) Forsburg and Kevin Wormstadt, were born to this union.

He was drafted into the Army in 1966 and served one year in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal w/Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Devices, and Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar. Upon his return, he and Cheryl moved to a ranch north of Pierre, where he worked as a cowboy.

In 1969 Leonard began his business Dakota Roofing Company in Huron, which he operated until his retirement in 2002. Leonard and Cheryl then moved to Custer in the Black Hills. In 2008 they moved to Spearfish.

Leonard was a member of the Custer Lutheran Fellowship Church, lifetime member of the Custer County Historical Society and the Mile High Garden Club, a member of the Custer VFW and American Legion, and the Rodeo Cowboy Alumni Association.

Survivors include his wife, Cheryl; son, Kevin; daughter, Cindy and husband Karl Forsburg; nephews, Chad Wormstadt, Kansas, and Mike Wormstadt, Nebraska.  Preceding Leonard in death were his grandparents, Fred and Lucy Wormstadt and Carl and Pauline Drumm; gus father, Walter Wormstadt; his mother, Lucille Wormstadt; step father, Kenneth Tolbert; and brother, Milo Wormstadt.

Memorial services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, at the Custer Lutheran Fellowship Church, with Pastor Kent Narum and Pastor Tom Opoien officiating.  Another memorial service will be at 10 a.m. CST Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the First United Methodist Church in Huron, with Pastor Don Crippen officiating.

A memorial has been established in Leonard’s name to benefit the Rapid City Club for Boys, Inc. or the Custer Lutheran Fellowship Church.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley’s Chapel of the Hills in Custer and Kuhler Funeral Home in Huron. Written condolences can be made at or www.mccolleyschapels.com or www.kuhlerfuneralhome.com.

Rev. Richard L. Mefford

RAPID CITY — The Rev. Richard L. Mefford, 81, Rapid City, died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Survivors include his son, Daniel Mefford, St. Joseph, Mo.; his daughter, Michelle Nenortas, Birmingham, Ala.; and three grandchildren.

Arrangements are pending with Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

James ‘Jim’ Knispel

RAPID CITY — James “Jim” Knispel, 86, Rapid City, passed away Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, at his home.

Jim was born Aug. 25, 1923 at Centerville to Arthur and Veva (Engman) Knispel. He graduated from Centerville High School and moved with his family to Rapid City. He worked in construction prior to entering the Army in 1943. He served in the European Theater under General George Patton who presented him with the Purple Heart after he was injured in his tank.

Upon returning home after the war, he was again engaged in the construction business. In 1983 he and his brother Waddy started LaCrosse Tackle and Bait in Rapid City. He continued to operate the bait shop until it burned down in 2000. Jim married Cheri Ricke on Aug. 26, 1988.  

He was a member of the DAV, VFW, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and 712th Tank Battalion.

He is survived by his wife, Cheri Knispel, Rapid City; four sons, Jerry Lee Knispel, Rapid City, Bucky (Jeanie) Dunbar, Monroe, Darrell Evenson, Rapid City, and Dave (Joey) Ricke, Rapid City; three daughters, Jan Knispel, Valentine, Neb., Karol (David) Sindt, Sioux City, Iowa, and Shelli (Jon) Herman, Sioux Falls; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; his sister, Betty Taylor, Rockford, Ill.; his sister-in-law, Gloria Knispel, Rapid City; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Waddy and wife Mary Knispel; his brother Kendell Knispel; brother-in-law, Jimmy Taylor of Rockford Ill.; and grandson, Michael Jon Herman.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, at Kirk Funeral Home and one hour before services.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 27, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Herb Cleveland officiating. Interment, with military honors provided by VFW Post 1273 and the SD Army National Guard, will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

A memorial has been established.

Friends and family may sign Jim’s online guestbook at www.kirkfuneralhome.com.

Gary James Fritz

McINTOSH — Gary James Fritz, 65, McIntosh, died Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, at his home.

Survivors include his wife, Rose Mary; one son, Derry Fritz, Billings, Mont.; three daughters, Kerry Seurer, Overland Parks, Kan., Doreen Jung, Bismarck, N.D., and Tanya Seyer, Spearfish; a brother, Dennis Fritz, Belle Fourche; a sister, Peggy Ten Broek, McIntosh; and 10 grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a 7 p.m. rosary service, Friday, Nov. 27, at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at the McIntosh School Gymnasium, with the Rev. Jim Hoerter officiating. Visitation will be one hour before services at the school.

Burial will be at St. Bonaventure Catholic Cemetery.

A memorial has been established.  

An online guestbook is available at www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com.

Reinhold Hartmann

RAPID CITY — Reinhold Hartmann, 89, passed away Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, at Westhills Village.

Reinhold was born in Mannheim, Germany and immigrated to Chicago with his parents in 1925. He attended Kelly High School in Chicago until he and his family returned to Germany in 1938. He was subsequently drafted into the German Army, spent five years on the Russian Front and another five years as a Russian POW. After his release in November 1949, he worked as a steel salesman in Saarbruecken, Germany. In 1955, he returned to Chicago with his wife and two children. He was extremely proud of the fact that the whole family became U.S. citizens in 1961. He worked as a research assistant at the University of Chicago until his retirement in 1983.

After Gertrud, his wife of 62 years, passed away in August 2003, Reinhold moved to Westhills Village to be near his daughter Debbie and her family. He thoroughly enjoyed his last six years living in the Black Hills.

Survivors include his daughter, Debra (Dennis) Schroedter, Rapid City; his son, Rolf (Patricia) Hartmann, Marengo, Ill.; grandchildren, Keri (Nate) Deitschman, Rapid City, David (Nora) Schroedter, Naperville, Ill., and Robin Wojcik, Dan (Kelly) Hartmann, Penny (Tim) Touhy and Eric (Heather) Hartmann, all of Illinois; and 15 great-grandchildren.

In accordance with his wishes, no funeral services will be held.

Donations in his name may be made to St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Rapid City.

Mabel R. ‘Bunnie’ Frame

RAPID CITY — Mabel R. “Bunnie” Frame, 83, Rapid City, died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Survivors include her five children, Carol Daugherty, Newcastle, Okla., Raquel Frame, Allen, Panama, Janice Reed, Oneida, Ill., Sheryl Garland, Rapid City, and Michelle Cunningham, Gillette, Wyo.; two sisters, Grace Greer and Ruth Primm; 19 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are pending with Edstrom & Rooks Funeral Services at Serenity Springs.