Eldeen Stekl, 90, of Mitchell, died peacefully Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls after a brief illness. 

Funeral services were Monday, April 14, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mitchell. Burial was in Butler Cemetery in rural Letcher. Visitation was Sunday, April 13, at Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Eldeen Faye Stekl was born in rural Storla on the family farm on March 29, 1935, to Leonard and Edna (Bibler) Anderson. She graduated from Letcher High School.

Eldeen married Duane Stekl on June 8, 1952, at Storla. After several years of working on the farm and raising children, Eldeen pursued a career in healthcare and worked as a registered nurse for many years at the hospital in Mitchell.

Eldeen loved spending time with her family, attending ballgames, golfing, enjoying an occasional glass of wine, playing cards and traveling with friends, going to the Moose, and just laughing and enjoying life to the fullest.

She is survived by her four children, Lynette (Hans) Reime of Hoquiam, Wash., Coly (Robert) Blake of Wessington, Wes (Sherri) Stekl of Letcher, and Allen “Tig” (Joan) Stekl of Lennox; sisters, Corrine Larson and Thelma Tastad, both of Mitchell; 10 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Duane Stekl; infant daughter, Connie; brother, Archie (Kathleen) Anderson; sister, Elaine (Lowell) Kane; and brothers-in-law, Lavern Larson and Ervin Tastad.

Gerald “Jerry” Uecker, 76, of Mitchell, formerly of Artesian, died Sunday, March 30, 2025, at Prairie View Healthcare Center in Woonsocket surrounded by his family. 

Funeral services were on Saturday, April 5, at the Assembly of God Church in Mitchell, with visitation one hour prior. Burial will be at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Artesian at a later date. Arrangements were by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Gerald Lee Uecker was born Jan. 23, 1949, in Sioux Falls to Dale and Vera (Ericksen) Uecker. Jerry attended school through 10th grade at Canistota and graduated from Tripp High School. After high school, he served in the US Navy from 1967 to 1971. He then completed the electronics program at Mitchell Technical Institute.

Jerry was united in marriage to Lilian Marquardt, together they welcomed their son Jason in 1976. In 1982, Jerry married the love of his life DaVonne “Davy” Larson, and to this union their son Jeremy was born in 1983. 

Jerry was a rural mail carrier for 34 years from 1978 until his retirement in 2012. He was the mayor of the City of Artesian in the 1990s, and drove school bus for the Artesian-Letcher School District for a number of years. He enjoyed playing the Hammond organ for “The Postmen,” and was inducted into the South Dakota Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame on April 16, 2016. He was a member of the Artesian American Legion.

In his free time, Jerry enjoyed fishing, golfing, playing cards and cribbage and collecting boats. He also enjoyed playing the organ and traveling to purchase organs. Jerry loved sports and was a big Twins fan as well as a Tom Brady fan. He enjoyed coaching youth basketball when his kids were younger, and he took great pride in attending his grandchildren’s sporting events.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Davy; sons, Jason of Watertown and Jeremy (Ashly) of Woonsocket; six grandchildren; mother-in-law, Karen Galvin; sisters-in-law, LaVonne Stevenson and JoAnne Oberg; brother-in-law, Jeff Larson; several nieces and nephews; and his dogs, Oscar and Archie.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Francis; grandma, Ann Puskas (Ericksen); brothers-in-law, Shane Oberg and Melvin Stevenson; mother-in-law, Phyllys Hargarten; and father-in-law, Dwaine Larson.

Viola Josephine White, 96, of Woonsocket, passed away peacefully on Jan. 3, 2025, at Prairie View Healthcare Center in Woonsocket. A celebration of life will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 19, at the Woonsocket Community Center. Inurnment will be at the Eventide Cemetery with a meal and time of fellowship immediately following.