Arlein M. Fransen, 90, of Wessington Springs, died Oct. 3, 2013 at Weskota Manor Avera Nursing Home.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Wessington Springs, with burial in Prospect Hill Cemetery. Pastor John Paulson officiated.
Arrangements were by Basham Funeral Service, Wessington Springs.
Arlein was born June 21, 1923 in Willow Lake to Andrew and Hilma (Haug) Rekstad.  She was raised on a farm near Willow Lake. The farm has been in the family for over 100 years.
She attended school at Willow Lake and graduated from Willow Lake High School in 1941. She went on to earn her teaching degree from Augustana College. She taught high school in Willow Lake, Bryant and Oldham.
On Aug. 22, 1948 she married Charles Fransen at Montevideo, Minn. Together they lived in Denver, Onida and Scotland, before moving to Wessington Springs in 1961.  There they owned and operated Fransen Jewelry.
Arlein also taught English at the Wessington Springs High School and was head librarian there, until her retirement in 1988.
She was an active member of P.E.O. and the American Legion Auxiliary.  She devoted much of her volunteer time to the Dunham Historical Society, spending many hours at the Heritage Center Museum. She had a love for reading, watching the Minnesota Twins and following her grandchildren’s sporting events throughout the years.
Arlein had an excellent memory and her stories of her youth and family were always entertaining.
She is survived by two sons, Roger and wife, Bonnie, of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Robert and wife, Mary, of Issaquah, Wash.; a daughter, Melanie Baysinger and husband, Kevin, of Woonsocket; six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Charles Fransen.

Sheryl J. Thompson, 62, Mitchell, passed away peacefully Sept. 30, 2013 of natural causes.
Funeral services were Thursday, Oct. 3, in the Resurrection Lutheran Church at Mitchell. Burial was in the Servicemen’s Memorial Cemetery.
Sheryl Janett Thompson was born Dec. 5, 1950 at Mitchell. She was the fourth child of James and Dorothy (Miller) Zeal.
She grew up on a farm near Artesian and attended school at Plano and Artesian. On Jan. 4, 1975 she married Raymond Thompson at the Farwell Methodist Church. She lived in Mitchell and was a member of the Resurrection Lutheran Church. She was employed at Starr Fireworks, Herters, was a professional housekeeper and was a housekeeper at various motels in Mitchell.
She is survived by her husband, Raymond; three children, Michael (Angie) Bollweg of Harrold, Robert Thompson of Sioux Falls and  David Thompson of Brandon; three grandchildren; four sisters, Sonya (Alvin) Hartman of Brandon, Sandy (Dick) Gerstenecker of Mitchell, Sharon (Royce) Titze of Mitchell and Sharon Shenkel of Mitchell; and numerous nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Carol Ann Zeal.
Arrangements were under the direction of Bittner Funeral Home.

Leonard “Lenny” Filter, age 71, of Ethan died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013 at Avera Bormann Manor in Parkston.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Will Funeral Chapel with burial in the South Spencer Cemetery, Spencer. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Will Funeral Chapel.
Leonard Filter, son of Harold and Bernice (Warner) Filter, was born July 12, 1942 in Spencer. He grew up and received his schooling in the Spencer area and graduated from Spencer High School in 1960.
Leonard then joined the U.S. Navy in 1960 and served during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1960 and remained in the U.S. Naval Reserves until 1966.
Leonard was united in marriage with Barb Nelson on Dec. 22, 1965. The couple made their home in Mitchell, Dimock and Ethan. Leonard was employed at DX-Texico, Larry Green Landscaping, Murtha Repair, Blasius Trucking and was employed for 34 years with South Dakota Concrete/Cretex in Mitchell.
Leonard was a member of the Ethan Fire Department and had served as Fire Chief. He enjoyed snowmobiles, hunting, fishing, racing, family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Barb Filter, Ethan; five children, Lynna Rae Filter and Greg Isakson, Corsica, Todd Filter, Artesian, Brenda James and Bill Goldammer, Mt. Vernon, Randy and Tara Filter and Kari and Jesse Helma, Ethan; 21 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; numerous brothers-in-law; a sister-in-law; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two daughters, Tammy Kay and Kimberly Dee; his parents; a brother, Raymond Filter; his grandparents, Raymond and Dora Mae; his in-laws, Nels and Clara Nelson; and a brother-in-law,  Rocky Mundy.