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LaVonne R. Grassel, 66, of Sioux Falls, passed away peacefully Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, at the Avera Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls.
Her funeral service was Monday, Aug. 29 at Hope Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, with burial at Hills of Rest Cemetery. Visitation with family present from 4-6 p.m. was Sunday, Aug. 28, at the church.
LaVonne Rhonda Dahl, daughter of Robert and Edith (Kjolstad) Dahl, was born Aug. 14, 1950, in New Ulm, Minn. She graduated from Madelia High School in 1968. LaVonne would later earn a bachelor’s degree from Bethel College in Mankato and then began her banking career with U.S. Bank in Mankato.
LaVonne married Terry Grassel on April 24, 1982, in Mankato. They moved to Sioux Falls in 1994, where she worked for Home Federal Bank and Dakotah Bank, until her retirement in March of 2016.
She enjoyed yearly trips to Door County, Wis., and Nisswa, Minn., and took great joy in flower gardening and hosting holiday gatherings for her large Grassel family. LaVonne was an active member of Hope Lutheran Church and was a member of Sioux Falls Rotary West and SME.
She is survived by her husband, Terry; her three Shelties; Terry’s siblings and their spouses, Tim (Jan) Grassel, Joan Helling, Rita (Doug) Trebil, Connie (Ken) Ruml, Ed (Laurie) Grassel, Pat Grassel, Ann Grassel, Lisa Licht, Barb (Gary) Nebelsick, Joe (Diane) Grassel, Marlys Sears, Todd (Maggie) Grassel, and Lori (Jace) McFarland; many nieces and nephews; and a host of relatives and friends.
LaVonne was preceded in death by her parents; her uncle, Paul Kjolstad; her aunt, Eliza Haugan; her mother and father-in-law, Loretta and Francis Grassel; and a brother-in-law, David Grassel.

    Albert Wenz, 92, of Huron, and formerly of Alpena, died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, at SunQuest Heathcare Center, Huron.
His funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1 at First United Methodist Church in Huron, with burial and military honors by the Huron Veteran’s Council at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation with family present was Wednesday, Aug. 31, from 5-7 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at the Welter Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Al was born on Oct. 31, 1923, in Miller to Martin and Caroline (Losing) Wenz. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Philippines during WWII, and after his honorable discharge, returned to South Dakota.
Al married Fern Lehr on Sept. 25, 1949, in Wessington Springs. The couple made their home and started their family on a couple of farms in Beadle County until 1964, when they purchased the grocery store in Wessington and operated Wenz Grocery. In the 1970s, they owned and operated Wenz Grocery in Woonsocket, and also owned and operated Wenz Implement in Alpena.
Al loved horses, gardening, fishing, dancing, playing cards, mechanics and attending auctions. He was a member of the United Church of Christ in Alpena, now the United Parish of Alpena.
He is survived by his three sons, Steve (Debbie) Wenz of Huron, Ryan (Barb) Wenz of Huron, and Donavin (Donna) Wenz of Red Bluff, Calif.; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one sister, Eva Vilhauer of Huron; and many nieces and nephews.
Al was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Fern of 66 years in 2015; one great-grandchild, Brooke Groenewold; five brothers; and two sisters.

Wendell “Jack” Duxbury, 78, of Huron, died Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, at Prairie View Healthcare  Community in Woonsocket.
Graveside Services were at 9 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 31, at the Wessington Cemetery. Memorial Services followed those services at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Huron. Visitation was 5-7 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 30 at Welter Funeral Home in Huron.
Jack was born to Joy and Lois (McNeil) Duxbury near Wessington on Feb. 11, 1938. Named Wendell at birth, his older brother, Bob, declared to their parents that he was going to call the baby Jack, and he was Jack from that moment on. He grew up on the family farm near Wessington with his siblings, and enjoyed many 4-H activities.
Jack graduated from Wessington High School in 1956 and continued his schooling at South Dakota State College, where he earned a degree in Animal Science. His first job was a Field Man for the SD Hereford Association, and he judged livestock competitions across the state for many years.
Jack married Shirley Orr on June 15, 1958, and they returned to the farm near Wessington and worked with his father and brother.
He was active in church, township boards and Masons. Jack also served on the Wessington School Board for many years, and Jack and Shirley supported all the school activities throughout their children’s school years.
In 1985, they moved to Tripp, where Jack became the Hutchinson County Agriculture Extension Agent. After two years, they moved to Madison to serve Lake County in the same capacity. When Jack became the supervisor for the Southeast District, they moved to Mitchell, where he finished his career and retired in 2002. The couple moved to Huron in 2003.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley; sons, Paul (Chris) of Wessington, and Doug of Huron; daughter, Barb (Royce) Meritt of Harrisburg; seven grandchildren; one great-grandson; two sisters, Joyce (Gene) Rowen of Waconia, Minn., and Jean (John) Lakner of Rockwell, Texas; sister-in-law, Rose Ann Duxbury of Wessington; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Robert “Bob,” in June 2016.