Edward R. Bechen, 85, of Mitchell, formerly of Artesian, died Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell.
Funeral services were Monday, Dec. 19, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mitchell. Burial was at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Artesian. Visitation with a 7 p.m. prayer service was Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell.
Edward Reuben Bechen was born April 10, 1931, in Belvidere, to Reuben and Elizabeth (Mader) Bechen. They lived near Kadoka until the family settled on a farm near Artesian. Ed boarded in Mitchell and attended Notre Dame Academy his freshman year of high school. He then attended and graduated from Artesian High School in 1948.
Ed married Joyce Lohse on Dec. 1, 1951, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, which took them to Denver, Colo., and San Antonio, Texas, where Richard was born. Ed specialized in training pilots with simulation equipment for the B52 bomber, which took him and his family to Limestone, Maine. After he was discharged from the USAF, they made their home on the Hollander farm north of Artesian. Soon after, the family welcomed Steven, Deb and Sharon.
Ed farmed the original Hollander homestead with his son, Richard, and grandson, Ryan, until his retirement and death. He raised exceptional Angus cattle and took pride in his bountiful crops.
He served several years on the Artesian School Board and the Cenex Board in Woonsocket. He was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, American Legion, Elks Lodge and Moose Lodge. Ed held several offices including Governor of Lodge 875, regional offices, and obtained the Legion and Fellowship Degrees. He was honored with the Pilgrim Degree on May 22, 2010, the highest degree honor awarded to few members across the organization.
Ed is survived by his children, Richard (Deanna) of Artesian, Steven (Kathryn) of San Diego, Calif., Deb (Tom) Wettlaufer of Winfred, and Sharon (Marc) Hoelscher of Pierre; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brothers, Donald of Sandusky, Mich., and Howard (Mary) of Mitchell; and several nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce in October of 2014; parents, Reuben and Elizabeth; brother, Russell; sister-in-law, Marjorie Bechen; niece, Christine Mary Bechen; and in-laws, Arthur and Hazel Hollander, and Otto Lohse.

    Leona F. Houlihan, 83, of Pierre and formerly of Huron, died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, at Avera Maryhouse Long Term Care in Pierre.
Her Mass of Christian Burial was Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Huron. Interment followed in St. Wilfrid Catholic Cemetery at Woonsocket. Visitation with a 7 p.m. scripture service was Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Welter Funeral Home in Huron, and one hour prior to the Mass at the church.
Leona F. Houlihan was born on July 23, 1933, near Cuthbert, to Ernest Rex and Margaret (Wingert) Sweeney. She graduated from Woonsocket High School in 1951. She was united in marriage to Maurice Houlihan on Sept. 1, 1952. They moved to the Huron area in 1957, and later purchased a place southwest of Huron where they raised their family.
She is survived by her children, Pete, Dave (Nancy), Larry (Val), Mary Houlihan, and Sara (Boyd) Wallace; brothers, Sonny (Kay) Sweeney, and Dean (Judy) Sweeney; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Eldon and Katherine Seivley; 17 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

    Ruth F. Mitchell, 85, of Mitchell, died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell.
Funeral services were Monday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m., at the Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell. Visitation was from 5-7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19, also at the Chapel. Burial will be at a later date in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Artesian.
Ruth Frances (Fiala) Mitchell was born in Burke on March 5, 1931. She grew up in Gregory County and attended Hornbeck School until the fourth grade. She moved with her family to a farm near Herrick and attended St. Charles Public School, graduating in 1947. She enrolled in Southern State Teacher’s College in Springfield, where she received her State Certificate degree. She taught in Colton, Kimball, Rawlins, Wyo., country schools in Sanborn and Miner counties, and spent the last 28 and one half years of her teaching career teaching seventh and eighth grades in Artesian. In 1969, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Dakota Wesleyan University.
On June 14, 1953, Ruth married Ralph C. Mitchell, and they resided on their farm south of Artesian until 1994, when they moved to Mitchell. After Ralph’s death in 2000, Ruth moved to Greenridge Apartments and then to Firesteel Healthcare Center in 2010.
Ruth’s pride and joy were her two daughters and grandchildren. She enjoyed visiting with friends, playing Scrabble, Bingo, working crossword puzzles, word games and reading.
She is survived by her two daughters, Dianne (Keane) Raether of St. Bonifacius, Minn., and Donna DeGeest of Dimock; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one sister-in-law, Shirley Fiala of Mount Vernon.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; four brothers; one sister; and two siblings in infancy.