Francis Knippling, 85, of Wessington Springs, passed away Friday, March 1, 2024, at Weskota Manor in Wessington Springs. 

A celebration of life was held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 6, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wessington Springs. Burial followed at St. Placidus Catholic Cemetery, rural Wessington Springs. Visitation with prayer service was Tuesday, March 5, also at the church. Arrangements are with Basham Funeral Services in Wessington Springs.

He was born Oct. 7, 1938, the fifth of nine children to Lambert and Alice (Kintigh) Knippling in Huron. He grew up in Buffalo County on his family ranch.

He attended Grey Hill grade school, on the family ranch. Due to his mother’s insistence, he sought to become a priest; he attended a Catholic school in Indiana. It only took two weeks for him to decide he wasn’t cut out for that profession, as he couldn’t wear his cowboy hat and boots. He graduated from Miller High School in 1956.

He married Karen Waring, on Nov. 16, 1957, at Stephan. They raised their family of six kids on their ranch. Horses were a huge part of his life. He started the foundation of his quarter horse remuda with his stud, Vanzi Bar. They promoted their horses through horse racing, quarter horse shows and rodeos.

When Francis turned 50, this opened a whole new chapter in his life, Old Men’s Breakaway roping. This started a new era of rodeoing for him with his horse, Doc. He won the first SD Rodeo Association’s (SDRA) Over 65 Sr. Men’s Breakaway Championship. One of his favorite organizations was the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota. While attending the SDRA finals, he would give horse rides to the Make-A-Wish kids on Doc.

Francis and Karen celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary prior to her passing in 2011. He was very fortunate to find that special love a second time in his lifetime, when he met Donna Larson, whom he married on Nov. 26, 2014. Donna passed away on May 23, 2016.

Francis was a member of the South Dakota Quarter Horse Association, having served as a board member and later President. Continuing his passion for rodeo, he was a long-time member of SDRA, where he served as Vice-President and Board Director, as well as a rodeo judge. He was also a member of Northwest Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Knights of Columbus. He received the Gold Buckle award from the Foothills Rodeo Club, and the legendary honoree award from the South Dakota High School Rodeo Association. He was also honored by the Casey Tibbs Foundation Match of Champions.

Francis is survived by his children, Brenda (David) Reis of Chamberlain, Rocky (Donna) Knippling of Chamberlain, Karla (Doug) Hofhenke of Huron, Roxanne Holm of Ashley, N.D., Barry (Sherri) Knippling of Chamberlain, Shannon (Scott) Dirk of Vale; 25 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and siblings, John (Cheryl) Knippling of Wessington Springs, Joe (LeAnn) Knippling of Flandreau and Carol (Larry) Marsh of Newberg, Ore.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Karen Knippling; second wife, Donna Larson Knippling; parents, Lambert and Alice Knippling; siblings, Robert (Ethel) Knippling, Helen (Wayne) Peterson, Katherine (Ross) Van Balen, Margaret (Frank) Schnell and Howard Knippling; and one son-in-law, Barry Holm.

M. Joanne Flack, 89, of Mitchell, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at Firesteel Health Care in Mitchell. 

Funeral services were held Sunday, Feb. 25, at Will Funeral Chapel. Visitation was the same day.

Joanne was born June 29, 1934, to Albert and Elsie (Hoyt) Stephens in Galesburg, Ill., where she grew up and graduated at the Galesburg High School in 1952. She was married to Donald Starks from 1952-1967. They had seven children; two sons died in infancy. She was married to John Groome from 1968 until his death in 1979. Joanne later moved to Gillette, Wyo., and married Richard Flack in 1983.

She enjoyed baking, crafts, and attending many craft shows and flea markets. In January 1986, they moved to rural Forestburg, and she worked at East River Nursery just south of Huron. They moved to Mitchell in 2001. Living across from Dakota Wesleyan’s Science Hall gave them opportunity to enjoy many concerts and plays there. They joined Mitchell Wesleyan Church and the James Valley Senior Center. She worked part time at the Fabric Warehouse on 4th and Main for several years.

After Richard passed away, Joanne moved to Meadow Lawn Apartments, where she started a Project Linus Quilting Group, making and tying quilts so that every child in the hospital could have their own new quilt. Joanne also made hundreds of mittens for the Abbot House and the hospital. Later, she enjoyed teaching classes with “Better Choices Better Health.” In declining health, she moved to Firesteel Health Care on Jan. 23.

Joanne is survived by four children, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as numerous friends.

John Baysinger, 53, of Woonsocket, died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at his home under hospice care. 

Visitation was Friday, Feb. 23, at Bittner Funeral Chapel. A Celebration of Life will be held in Woonsocket around July 4. Burial will be at Silver Creek Cemetery in rural Forestburg at a later date.

John Paul Baysinger was born Dec. 15, 1970, to Verald and Patty (Hopkins) Baysinger in Huron. He attended Woonsocket High School and graduated in 1990. John then attended Mitchell Tech for ag business. John worked at Baysinger Honey Farm. He was proud to be a part of the third-generation family farm.

John was blessed with his son, Daylyn, in 1991, daughter, Alyx, in 1994, and son, Cooper, when he met the love of his life, Jenni Greenway, in 2010.

John was a Woonsocket City Council member and lived in Woonsocket his entire life. He was also a supporter of 4-H and a member of the Sioux Honey Association and South Dakota Beekeepers Association.

John enjoyed spending time with friends and having a cold one; he never met a stranger. John was a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He had an infectious smile and grin and was loved by all.

John is survived by his fiancé, Jenni Greenway; son, Daylyn (Andrea) Baysinger of Woonsocket; daughter, Alyx (Deandre) Baysinger of Prairieville, La.; son, Cooper Goldammer of Woonsocket; three grandchildren, Braylyn, Marlee, and Asher; parents, Verald and Patty; siblings, Chris Baysinger and Amber Baysinger, both of Woonsocket; sister-in-law, Heather Reimer; nieces and nephews, Sarah, Megan, Mason, Miles, and Lily; and his best buddy, Jayda.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Glen and Marjorie Hopkins; paternal grandparents, Clarence and Leona Baysinger; and uncles, Ronnie Baysinger, Philip Benson, and Jerry Elstran.