Gary L. Lager, 64, of Sioux Falls, passed away at Avera McKennan Dougherty Hospice surrounded by family on Thursday, April 24, 2014 after a short but courageous battle with cancer.
Funeral services were Wednesday, April 30, at Celebrate Church in Sioux Falls with interment at Hills of Rest Memorial Park. Visitation with family present was Tuesday, April 29 at Miller Funeral Home in Sioux Falls.
Gary Lynn Lager, son of Charles and Ruth (Lambert) Lager was born on Feb. 28, 1950 at Mitchell. He grew up in Artesian where he graduated from high school in 1968. Gary continued his education by earning a Bachelor’s Degree in business and physical education from Dakota State College in Madison.
He was united in marriage with Donna Jans on Dec. 28, 1974 in Sioux Falls. They lived in Idaho for two years and then returned to Sioux Falls. Gary worked in insurance sales for Globe Life. The family made a short-term move to Fargo, N.D., then returned to Sioux Falls, where they made their permanent home. Gary continued to work with Globe Life, as well as working with Gary Cone’s Amoco and FM Acoustical Tile in Tea. He retired in 2012, but quickly returned to part-time employment at Gary Cone’s Amoco.
Gary was a life-long outdoorsman where he liked fishing, was an avid hunter and enjoyed his annual pheasant hunts and deer hunting trips to Wood, SD.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Donna Lager, Sioux Falls; two daughters, Jennifer Pravecek and husband, Dennie, and Melissa Tschetter and husband, Kyle, all of Sioux Falls; six grandchildren; two brothers, Robert and wife, Barb, Miller, and Donald and wife Shirley, Sioux Falls; a sister, Lila Jean Annis and husband, Dick, Mesa, Ariz.; his best friend and hunting companion, Bailey; and a host of aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents.

    Joyce Mills, 83, Mitchell, formerly of Artesian, died Thursday, April 24, 2014, at Firesteel Health Care Center in Mitchell.
Funeral services were Monday, April 28, 2014 at the First Lutheran Church in Artesian. Burial was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Artesian. Visitation was Sunday at the Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell with an afternoon prayer service.
Joyce Ileen Mills was born March 20, 1931 to Ingvald and Virginia (Bray) Olson at Mitchell. She grew up in Artesian, graduating from Artesian High School in 1949 and from Methodist State Hospital School of Nursing in 1952.  On June 26, 1955 she married Harry F. Mills at Artesian.
She was employed as a Registered Nurse at Methodist Hospital in Mitchell for one year and at Worthington Community Hospital in Worthington, Minn. for a year. She was employed at Weld County Hospital in Greeley, Colo., for 15 years. In 1968 she returned to South Dakota where she was at Methodist Hospital in Mitchell for 19 years before retiring in 1987.
She was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Artesian.
She is survived by one son, Gary (Pamela) Mills of Apple Valley, Minn.; one daughter, Virginia (Floyd) Murphy of Anchorage, Alaska; one sister, Dolores Kelsey of Mitchell; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry, in 2000 and her parents.