Denton Chance, 72, of Letcher, passed away at his home on Sunday, June 23, 2024.

Funeral services were Friday, June 28, at Will Funeral Chapel. Visitation was Thursday, June 27, at Will Funeral Chapel. Burial was in Butler Cemetery in Letcher.

Denton was born on Dec. 2, 1951, to William and Ida Mae (Fair) Chance in Sioux Falls. He grew up on the family farm with his five siblings, attended school in Carthage and pursued diesel mechanics at Mitchell VoTech. 

Denton married Cindy (Eining) Chance in 1972, and to this union, his daughters, Jenny and Josey, were born. He had a dairy farm, owned and operated Sanborn County Implement, and provided custom combining and farm work for local farmers in the area. He spent countless hours fixing, refurbishing and fabricating farm equipment in “The Shop.” 

Denton married Jennifer (Ehlers) Chance in 2006, and they resided in Letcher and enjoyed snow birding in Gold Canyon, Ariz. during the winter months. He went on many fishing and camping trips with family and loved to drive his side by side in the desert. Denton was a friend to everyone that he crossed paths with, and meeting new people and visiting with friends was a favorite pastime. Denton was a member of Letcher Community Church and enjoyed attending his children’s and grandchildren’s sports and activities. 

Denton is survived by his wife, Jennifer (Ehlers) Chance of Letcher; daughters, Jenny (JD) Easton of Letcher and Josey Jenkins of Cheyenne, Wyo.; five grandchildren; stepson, Tyler (Mel) Ehlers of Aberdeen, Md.; stepdaughter, Lynda (Ehlers) Stephenson of Mitchell; three step-grandchildren; his sisters, Carla Reed of Moses Lake, Wash., Lois Moe of Carthage, and Brenda (Jeff) Newman of Pittsburgh, Calif.; brothers, Dennis Chance (Denton’s twin) of Lake Preston, and Gary (Peg) Chance of Oakdale, Neb.; and nieces and nephews.

Denton is preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Ida Mae. 

Frances Peterson, 101, of Mitchell, passed away at her residence on Saturday, March 9, 2024. 

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, at Will Funeral Chapel with a prayer service and time of sharing at 12 p.m.

Frances Elaine Van Slyke was born in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 4, 1922, to Frederich Cleveland and Margaret Elizabeth (Frazier) Van Slyke. She graduated from Farmington High School in Michigan. Frances met Ross Peterson in Michigan; they married on May 8, 1943 in Detroit. They farmed in Michigan and had three boys while living there. They moved to South Dakota in 1953 and lived and farmed in Letcher. Their daughter was born in 1958.

Frances went to work at White Drug in 1966 and worked until she was 72. She retired and enjoyed her family, friends, and traveling. She moved to Wesley Acres in 2017, where she enjoyed playing cards and sharing with friends.

Frances is survived by her children, Curtis (Jan) Peterson, Dustin (Glenda) Peterson, Gary Peterson and Noreen (Roland) Young, and 25 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Noreen; brothers, Wirt and Fredrich; and many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces.

Helen Goergen, 71, of Inwood, Iowa, passed away Monday, June 24, 2024, at Fellowship Village of Inwood after a short battle with cancer. 

A graveside inurnment service will be held at Richland Cemetery of Inwood at a later date. Porter Funeral Home of Inwood is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Helen Theresa Goergen was born in Mitchell, S.D., on Oct. 9, 1952, to Aloysius and Joan (Hastreiter) Goergen. She grew up in Woonsocket and graduated from Woonsocket High School.

Helen attended Mitchell Area VoTech, graduating with an LPN degree in 1974. She spent her life caring for others in Olathe, Kan., Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Woonsocket, and Wessington Springs, and Inwood, Iowa. Most of these were in nursing homes.

She enjoyed reading, sewing, growing flowers, and spending time with her cherished “pups,” Cash, Sadie, and especially Bunny, her little shih tzu.

Helen is survived by her sister, Nancy Goergen of Canton, and brother, Bill Goergen of Woonsocket.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother.