Bonnie Peterson, 91, of Mitchell, passed away on July 25, 2024, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. She lived in her own home, until a recent fall.

As per Bonnie’s wishes, she was cremated, and the only service will be a private graveside service, at a later date, to be held at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Artesian, where she will be buried next to her husband, Clair. Cards may be sent to Gayla Piroutek, 20308 Milesville Rd, Milesville, SD 57553.

Bonnie Bethel (Boden) Peterson was born on her family’s farm west of Harrison, in Douglas County on Monday, June 5, 1933. She was the fourth child of Kathryn (Murphy) and Joe Boden. Bonnie was raised in the Dirty Thirties and became very thrifty and handy with tools, building shelves and toys out of peach boxes and scraps of lumber.

In 1938, the family moved to a farm three miles south of Beresford, where Bonnie’s mother, Kathryn, homeschooled Bonnie in the first grade. Bonnie went to second grade at Gothland rural school, then third through 12th in Beresford. After graduating from high school in 1951, Bonnie attended General Beadle Teachers’ College at Madison, earning a certificate that qualified her to teach in a rural school. She lived with her parents that next year and taught at Rainy Vale School three miles away.

On July 16, 1953, Bonnie married Clair Peterson. They farmed south of Fedora for 45 years. While living on the farm, Bonnie kept teaching, spending two years at Woodworth #3, five one-month sessions of kindergarten in Fedora, a three-month session of kindergarten at Farmer, 14 years as a tutor and teacher’s aide for Hanson School, and 14 years as a teacher’s aide at Artesian School. She also worked as a substitute teacher, on election boards and collecting for the ag census. Her part-time jobs included working at Wrap-It in Howard and at the Armour Egg Plant in Mitchell.

After moving to Mitchell in 1996, Bonnie worked in the bakery at County Fair Foods for seven years, Firesteel and Brady Nursing Homes for five years, and for eight years at Goodwill. She retired on Jan. 9, 2010, to enjoy time reading and sewing.

Bonnie is survived by her children, Gayla (Dan) Piroutek of Milesville, Glenda Davenport of Adair, Okla., Paul (Jeannie) Peterson of Blackwell, Okla., Lyle Peterson of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Pennie (Jon) Tesch of Sioux City, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings; all her in-laws; her husband, Clair; one son, Guy; and son-in-law, Steve Davenport.

Esther Weber, 92, passed away on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at Diamond Care Nursing Home in Bridgewater. 

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1, at Zion Lutheran Church. Visitation was 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, July 31, at Will Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in Eventide Cemetery in Woonsocket.

Esther was born on Jan. 18, 1932, to Raymond and Hilda (Schaffer) Schmiedt. She was the eldest of four children. Esther was united in marriage to James P. Weber on June 5, 1952, and they had eight children together. 

Esther is survived by her children, Randy Weber of North Dakota, Lynn Weber of Wyoming, Kathy Krog of South Dakota, Craig (Barb) Weber of Wyoming, Tim (Hydee) Weber of California, Bobby Weber of Georgia, and Brenda (Bart) of Mississippi; siblings, Gene (Patti) Schmiedt of South Dakota, Marilyn Beauli of South Dakota, and Darwin Schmiedt of Arizona; as well as approximately 65 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; son, Rick; and grandson, Nicholas Griffin.

Mark E. Meyer, 75, of Woonsocket, died Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell. 

Funeral services were on Tuesday, July 30, at St. Wilfrid Catholic Church in Woonsocket. Burial followed at St. Wilfrid Catholic Cemetery. Visitation was Monday, July 29, also at the church, with a prayer service.

Mark was born the only son to LeRoy and Marie (Dusek) Meyer in Mitchell on March 29, 1949. He joined four sisters at home and was followed by two more. He grew up in Woonsocket, where he graduated in 1967. Mark married Emogene Cross in 1968 and went on to serve in the U.S. Army, stationed in Okinawa from 1968-1974. During this time, he was part of the planning team to bring home the POWs from Vietnam in 1973. He attended Northwest College of Commerce in Huron and worked for Distribution Construction Company for many years while raising his family in Huron. He single-handedly remodeled and renovated every house he lived in. He was a lifelong Waylon Jennings fan, had an encyclopedic knowledge of country music, and knew every episode of Gunsmoke by heart. The lights of his life were his eight grandkids. Prior to retirement, he served Sanborn County as the Director of Equalization in the community he loved.  He was a long-time member of the American Legion and a meals-on-wheels volunteer.

Mark married Sandy Wosje in 1998, making their home in Woonsocket with their beloved dog, Millie.

Mark is survived by his wife, Sandy of Woonsocket; his three children, Russell (Tanya) Meyer of Boise, Idaho, Veronica (Troy) Schmidt of Vermillion, and Ryan (Holly) Meyer of Boise, Idaho; eight grandchildren; his sisters, Patricia (Don) Wenzel of Wessington Springs and Janice Eining of Huron; sisters-in-law, Marlys Pickard of Brookings, Margaret Westphal of Sioux Falls, Shirley Jones of Sioux Falls, and Bonnie Dilly of Rutland; brother-in-law, Rolly (Garnet) Wosje of Nunda; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Muriel (Albert) Schmidt, Jackie (Robert) Hinker, Vicki Harris, and Jeanne Sandness; and nieces and nephews.