Christina Stroh, 88, of Sioux Falls, died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, at Good Samaritan Luther Manor.

 Christina L. Rutschke was born July 7, 1924, to John and Christina (Bauer) Rutschke in Zeeland, N.D.

 On August 13, 1944, she was united in marriage with Herbert Stroh in Zeeland, N.D. Following their marriage, the couple farmed until her husband's death in 1979. Christina continued to live on the farm for another 10 years. She moved to Aberdeen, where she lived for 10 years, then moved to Sioux Falls. She was living in Sioux Falls at the time of her death.

 Grateful for having shared her life are her two daughters: Connee (Les) Feiock, of Harrisburg, S.D., and Pam Doppenberg, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; four grandsons: Jason, Jeff, Jon, and Erick; nine great-grandchildren; and two sisters: Elsie Weisenberger and Idella Weisenberger, both of Eureka, S.D.

 Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at the Carlsen Funeral Chapel in Ashley, N.D. Interment will follow immediately in the Reformed Cemetery, Venturia, N.D.

 Janet Moser Taylor, 54, of Aberdeen died Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, at her home.   

 Arrangements are pending with Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory of Aberdeen.

carlsenfh.com

 Funeral services for Tanner Gray, 12, of LaPlant will be at 10 a.m. MDT, Monday at the Eagle Butte Auditorium. Burial will be at the Gray Ranch Cemetery under the direction of Kesling   Home of Mobridge. An all-night wake will start at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. John's Episcopal Church in Eagle Butte. Meeting at the Four-mile Junction at 4 p.m., MDT. Tanner passed away Nov. 19, 2012, in LaPlant.

 Martha Krein, 84, Eureka, died Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, at the Avera Eureka Healthcare Center. Her funeral arrangements are pending with Lien-Straub Funeral chapel of Eureka.

 Ellendale, N.D.: Patricia J. Davis, 62, of Ellendale died Nov. 23, 2012, at her home in Ellendale. Services are pending with Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale.

hovenfuneralchapel.com

 Ellendale, N.D.: Ida C. Kellogg, 98, of Ellendale died Nov. 24, 2012, at Evergreen Place, Ellendale. The funeral is 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27 at Presbyterian United Methodist Church, Ellendale, with Pastor Paul Henschen officiating. Visitation is from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday and prayer service at 7 p.m., all at Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale. Burial is at Ellendale City Cemetery. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale.

hovenfuneralchapel.com

 The Rev. R. E. Utecht was born Aug. 8, 1928, in Merrill, Wis., to Emil and Alma (Lutzke) Utecht. Ordained into the ministry in 1951, he was the longest serving Lutheran Church Missouri Synod pastor in South Dakota, serving congregations at Alexandria, Emery, Gettysburg and Dimock. He founded the churches at Rosebud and Pine Ridge as the first Missionary at Large to the Native Americans in South Dakota. A pioneer of puppet and magic ministry, he used visual arts to innovatively proclaim the Gospel. South Dakota State Fair attendees enjoyed "Pastor Bob" and his Puppet Place for 40 years. His ministry concluded in the spring of 2012 after 59 years of ordained ministry.

 He is survived by his wife, Donna, Lead; children: Richard (Pat) Soyk, Dickinson, N.D.; Dave (Sandi) Soyk, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Mark (Lynn) Utecht, Virginia Beach, Va.; Dorcas Gienger, Mount Carmel, Ill.; Ken (Bev) Soyk, Parkston; Rob (Karen) Utecht, Mount Carmel, Ill.; Kathy (Wallace) Schulz, Augusta, Mo.; Luke Utecht, Rapid City; Mary (George) Oxar, North Miami, Fla.; Linda Utecht Houston, Texas; Peter (Rachel) Utecht, Redfield; Andrew (Lori) Utecht, Rosebud; Sarah (Patrick) Gaffney, Beecher, Ill.; Joanna Utecht, Valentine, Neb.; along with 29 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Marge (Tom) Trembath, of Ely, Minn.

 The Rev. Robert Utecht was preceded in death by his wife, Grace; father, Emil; mother, Alma; and brother, Richard.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Rev. Robert Utecht Family Scholarship Fund, Native American Missions or LWML.

 Visitation at the mortuary will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday and one hour before the service Monday. Friends may sign her online guestbook at schriversmemorial.com.

 Bernice passed away Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, at Aberdeen Health and Rehab.

 Edith "Bernice" (Huck) Russell was born July 27, 1914, in Roscoe to Walter Huck and Edith (Fowler) Huck. She graduated from high school in Ipswich and from a hairdressing academy in Fargo, N.D. She was employed as a hairdresser in Britton when she met her future husband. She married Charles F. Russell on May 1, 1937, in Aberdeen. They shared 53 years together.

 After her marriage, she was kept busy raising her four children, but somehow had time to paint beautiful oil paintings for her children and grandchildren. She was also an accomplished pianist and spent many hours perfecting pieces she loved. She was an excellent cook and everyone especially enjoyed her homemade potato salad and chocolate chip cookies.

 She is survived by her four children: Patrick (Theresa) Russell of Aberdeen; Betty (Marvin) Adler of Lakewood, Colo.; Mary (Terry) Twomey of Delta, Colo.; and Robert (Yvonne) Russell of LaCenter, Wash.; 12 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; a sister, Virginia Huck of St. Paul, Minn.; a sister-in-law, Sister Mary Ancilla of Presentation Convent; three nieces and two nephews.

 Pallbearers will be her grandchildren: Todd Adler, Steve Russell, Jon Russell and Rebecca West.

 Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren who are not able to attend: Deborah Goldbarth, Russell Schmitt, Edie Reed, Maria Hurlbert, Cassie Fuhrman and Taunya Perlin.

 Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 Fifth Ave. N.W., Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Friends may sign his online guestbook at schriversmemorial.com.

 Robert died suddenly on Nov. 14, 2012, at Marshall County Healthcare Center Avera in Britton.

 Robert Francis Patten was born to Francis and Gail (Weishaar) Patten on July 20,1942, in Aberdeen. This is the area where he was raised and attended school, graduating from Aberdeen Central High School. Robert was employed at the American News in Aberdeen for 20 years and later at Steven Lust Chevrolet for 24 years. He had been retired since 2004.

 Robert was a U.S. Army reservist, lifelong member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, devoted outdoorsman, skilled golfer, music lover, enthusiastic photographer and avid traveler. He specifically loved traveling to the Black Hills, camping with his niece, vacationing with his family in Michigan and his girlfriend in Washington. Over the years, he enjoyed motorcycling, camping, fishing, hunting and loved his Minnesota Vikings - a diehard dedication he shared with his older brother, James and great nephew, Anthony. Rob held a special place in his heart for the elderly and volunteered a great deal of his time helping others in a local assisted living facility. He was a fixture in Aberdeen his entire life and was always eager to share a beer and good conversation with most anyone he encountered. We will all miss his humor, conversation, gentle nature and devotion to those he loved and cared for.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Gail Patten, Aberdeen; and his brother, James Patten, Grand Ledge, Mich.

 He is survived by his sister-in-law, Beverly Patten; nephew, Robert Patten and his wife, Kelly, and their four children: Anthony, Elliott, Amelia, Jameson and his niece, Dana Patten, all residing in Grand Ledge, Mich. He is also survived by his loving and longstanding girlfriend, Sandi Rowe, of Kennewick, Wash., along with countless friends and extended family from Aberdeen.

 Memorials are preferred to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Robert's name.

 The funeral service is 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25 at Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale, N.D., with Pastor Jim Maunu officiating. Visitation was Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Hoven Funeral Chapel. Burial is at North Savo Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery, rural Frederick. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel.

hovenfuneralchapel.com

 Thank you Mom, Grandma, friend, Mamie for all you did for your family and those who knew you.

 We will never forget you.

 Love Always,

 Your family and friends

 Sam was born March 3, 1919, shortly after the death of his father from the swine flu. His widowed mother became blind and raised her five children on a small farm and ran a boarding house in Plattsburg, Mo. As the youngest child, Sam went with her to the blind school in St. Joseph, Mo., learned to make brooms and baskets and sold them on the streets. He helped her burn bedbugs off steel bedsprings and his first job was making molasses with the neighbor. At age eight, he journeyed with a local stonemason and learned to play a wicked croquet game in Roosterville. His idyllic days hunting squirrels, eating papaws and studying to be a doctor in Kansas City were interrupted by the radio announcement of Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.

 He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and spent 3½ years patrolling the Pacific Rim, forming a lifelong love of Australia. As a Navy Pharmacist Mate First Class, he received the Silver Star, Purple Heart and a Presidential Unit Citation for heroic service. He survived the battles of Tassafaronga, where the front of his ship was torpedoed at midnight, and Iwo Jima, where his deeds of lifesaving are legendary. He turned down the Navy Cross so no one would die retrieving his body under the line of fire.

 On June 10, 1944, he married Jacintha George of Raytown, Mo., after a whirlwind courtship on shore leave. They honeymooned at Camp Pendleton as he trained to be the medic for Heavy Weapons Company, Headquarters Battalion of the 28th Marines. After the war, he changed to veterinary medicine, saying he had seen too many men die to become a doctor.

 He graduated from Iowa State University in 1951, and practiced 53 years in Wessington Springs and Aberdeen. He is a lifetime member of the American and South Dakota Veterinary Associations. He served on the S.D. Livestock Sanitary Board. He also served his community as the Jerauld County coroner and proud Democrat. A fellow veterinarian said "It will be a long time before S.D. has someone who will work so hard to solve so many problems for so many people." Sam loved to shake hands, never met a stranger and made sure no one was alone. He used scientific knowledge to show mercy to every living thing. Life was his business and he was good at it.

 He, Jacintha and Tandy saved Easton's Castle from demolition for 46 years by making it a family home and prosperous veterinary clinic, putting it on the National Register of Historic places.

 Sam is survived by his wife, Jacintha; five children; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and fifteen nieces and nephews.

 A summer burial at Arlington National Cemetery will be announced this spring with full arrangements available after March on arlingtoncemetery.mil.

 The family is humbled by your generous outpouring of love and support and wish to say the same to you. We are so sorry for your loss.

Ashley, N.D.: Hilda Wolff, 89, of Ashley died Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, at the Ashley Medical Center.

 Carlsen Funeral Home of Ashley has been entrusted with arrangements.

carlsenfh.com

Herreid: Funeral services for Dorothy Klaudt, 89, of Herreid will be 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Mound City.

 Visitation will be 6 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the church.

 Burial will be at Mound City Cemetery, under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home.

 Dorothy passed away Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012, at Mobridge Regional Hospital.

 Dorothy (Rossow) Klaudt was born Aug. 6, 1923, in a sod house in rural Campbell County, South Dakota. She was the older of two daughters born to John F. and Laura (Kluckman) Rossow.

 When Dorothy was 3 months old, the family moved one mile south, where she resided the rest of her life, except for a brief time in McMinnville, Ore., and Rapid City.

 While growing up, she attended Schley School and Herreid High School, graduating in 1940. She enrolled at Northern State Teachers College and received a teaching certificate. She then taught at Burke and Pudwill schools. Years later, she substituted at Mound City grade school and, lastly, taught kindergarten in Mound City.

 After working in McMinnville as a bookkeeper in the shipyards, she moved to Rapid City and attended National School of Business, and was employed by Seeley's Clothing Store as a bookkeeper as well.

 In 1947, she married Melvin Klaudt in Rapid City and moved to the Herman and Sarah Klaudt farm north of Herreid. They then moved back on to the Rossow Farm, where she and Melvin lived and raised their family.

 On March 10, 1984, Melvin was fatally injured in a farm machinery accident. Up until the time of her death, she and her youngest son, Thomas, resided on the farm.

 Dorothy is survived by her four boys: John (Pam), Blackhawk, Peter, Pollock, Paul (Maureen), Montrose and Thomas, Herreid; six grandchildren: JB and Jesse (Sheena), Ashley, KC (Tonia), Laura, Michael; four great-grandchildren; and one sister, Esther Schuetzle, Herreid.

 She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Melvin, in 1984; both mother- and father-in-laws; daughter, Linda Klaudt, on March 1, 2012; and special friend, Albertus "Bert" Brandner.

Leola: The funeral service for Nicholas A. Gill, 27, of Leola will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Leola High School Gymnasium.

 Burial will follow at Green Mound Cemetery in Leola.

 Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Saturday at the school gymnasium.

 Nicholas died at his residence in Leola.

 Services with Gramm Funeral Home of Ipswich.

grammfuneralhome.com

Aberdeen: Robert "Bob" Nelson, 69, of Aberdeen died Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

 Arrangements are pending with Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 S. Main St.

spitzerfuneralhome.com

Faulkton: Altha Stammer, 91, of Faulkton died Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, at the Meadows in Faulkton.

 Arrangements are pending with Luce Funeral Home in Faulkton.

familyfuneralhome.net

Eagle Butte: Theresa Ducheneaux, 23, of Eagle Butte died Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, near Eagle Butte.

 Arrangements are pending with Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.

Hoven: Larry Hawkinson, 79, of Hoven died Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, at the Faulkton Area Medical Center.

 Mass of Christian burial will be 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hoven, with Father Kevin Doyle, celebrant.

 Military rites will be performed by the Hoven Legion Post.

 Musicians will be Alice Simon and St. Anthony's Catholic Church Choir. Lector will be Chuck Simon and eucharistic minister will be Marvin Schmidt. Mass server will be Peter Rausch and offertory will be Brittany and Courtney Hawkinson.

 Wake services will be at St. Anthony's at 7 p.m. Thursday, with visitation beginning at 5 p.m.

 Larry Dean Hawkinson, son of Elsie L. (Nold) and Carl H. Hawkinson, was born Jan. 5, 1933, in Potter County. He received his formal education at Logan Township Rural School southwest of Tolstoy and Gettysburg High School.

 Larry married Virginia Schmidt on April 7, 1953, in Hoven. Larry served his country in the U.S. Army, being inducted Oct. 2, 1953. His military service took him to aircraft mechanic school in Texas and to Fort Lewis, Wash. He was honorably discharged Oct. 1, 1956, and he and Virginia lived in Renton, Wash., where Larry was employed at Boeing Aircraft. In 1958, they returned to South Dakota and settled on the family farm four miles southwest of Tolstoy. In 1973, they relocated to Hoven. In addition to farming, Larry was also a truck driver. In 1976, he purchased his own truck and hauled livestock and freight. He drove truck in the 48 contiguous states. Larry retired from trucking in 1998. He continued farming with his son, Dennis, until he retired in 2008. Larry belonged to St. Anthony's Church, John J. Peter's American Legion Post No. 159, Hoven, and the Swan Lake Sportsman Club. He enjoyed fishing, bird watching, camping, and hunting. Larry was especially proud of his trucks.

 Surviving Larry is Virginia, his wife of 59 years; five sons: Daniel (Jeanie) Hawkinson of Watertown, David (Tami) Hawkinson of Lenexa, Kan., Dennis (JoLynn) Hawkinson and Dean (Kerrie) Hawkinson of Hoven and Don (Jackie) Hawkinson of Bismarck, N.D.; one brother, Jerry Hawkinson of Gettysburg; one sister, Oleatha Goeke of Jefferson, Ga.; 16 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

 He was preceded in death by his father on Nov. 15, 1951; his mother on May 4, 1984; two brothers; one sister; two brothers-in-law; one grandson; one great-grandson; one daughter-in-law; and his stepfather, Frank Hixon.

 Casketbearers will be Larry's grandsons: Kelly Hawkinson of Milwaukee, Wis., Brent Hawkinson of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Aaron Hawkinson, Alan Hawkinson and Austin Hawkinson, all of Aberdeen, Trevor Hawkinson of Lenexa, Shannon McGrath of Hoven and Dawson Hawkinson of Bismarck.

 Lien Funeral Home of Bowdle is in charge of arrangements.

millerlienfh.com

Aberdeen: Mass of Christian burial for Robert Francis Patten, 70, of Aberdeen will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aberdeen.

 Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery, with military rites.

 Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory of Aberdeen is in charge of arrangements.

 Visitation at the mortuary will be 3-5 p.m. Sunday, with liturgical wake service at 5 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour before Mass.

 Robert died Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, at Marshall County Healthcare Center Avera in Britton.