Donald Scott, 93, of Artesian, died Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, at Good Samaritan Society in Howard. Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell with a 5 p.m. Scripture Service. Burial will be at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Artesian.

Donald K. Scott was born March 14, 1925, and graduated from high school in Artesian. 

On Dec. 10, 1949, he married Madonna Donahue, daughter of Ben and Maggie Donahue. They were the last couple married in the old Catholic Church in Artesian. Their family were members of St. Charles Catholic Church for their entire lives. After farming for a few years, the family moved into Artesian for the remainder of their lives.

Donald spent many years as a painter and paperhanger. He then became a truck driver for Minnesota-Wisconsin truck lines until his retirement.

His life was filled with humor, which he generously shared with anyone he met. He enjoyed polka, played the harmonica by ear, had a passion for chocolate, loved to tackle home projects and watched basketball games around the area with his son, Tom.

In late October, he entered Good Samaritan Home in Howard for rehabilitation, hopefully to gain strength enough to return to his home in Artesian. Instead, he became weaker and passed away quietly in his sleep on Nov. 7.

He is survived by his children, Vickie and Tom; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Donald was preceded in death by his wife, Madonna; sister, LaVonne McCart; parents, Maynard and Opal Scott; brothers-in-law, Wilmer Donahue, Ardell Donahue, Jerome Casey, Daryl Weable; and sister-in-law, LaVera Casey.

Ardis Grace, 88, of Blair, Neb., passed away Nov. 3, 2018, at the Crowell Memorial Home in Blair, Neb. 

A memorial service was held on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at First Lutheran Church in Blair, Neb. Visitation was held Tuesday, Nov. 6, at Campbell Aman Funeral Home.

Ardis was born Jan. 12, 1930, in Storla to Clifford and Nellie (Heggen) Jensen. After graduation from high school, she earned her teacher’s certificate and taught country school for two years.

She married Les Grace in 1951. The couple made their home in Blair in 1955.

Ardis served on the First Lutheran Council, The Good Shepherd Home Board and was active in the American Cancer Society. She received awards as the American Cancer Society Volunteer of the Year, Aksarben Good Neighbor, Extension Service, High School Alumni Board Honors, Beta Sigma Phi Lady of the Year and the Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award. Ardis was named the Woman of the Year by the American Medical Association Auxiliary in 1981 and served as the National President in 1985 and 1986.

She is survived by her children, Cindy (Larry) Sorenson, Don (Jackie) Grace, Tim (Colela) Grace and Jay Grace; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Marian (Martin) Anderson; brothers, Bob (Ruth) Jensen, Les (Mary Louise) Jensen; sister-in-law, Mavis Grace; and brother-in-law, Ernest (Ila) Grace.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Leslie Grace; infant son, Leslie Dean Grace; her parents; and brothers, John, Lloyd and Willis Jensen.

Gordon Lee Samelson, 72, of Virgil, passed away peacefully on Friday, Oct. 26, at Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center in Wessington Springs.

His funeral service will be at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, at Welter Funeral Home, followed by the burial at Maplewood Cemetery in Iroquois. Visitation with the family present will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2, at the Welter Funeral Home in Huron; or visitation one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Gordon Lee Samelson was born on Aug. 6, 1946, to Virgil and Mary (Writner) Samelson in Iroquois. Gordon attended school at Plainview Academy in Redfield, where he graduated in 1964.

After graduation, Gordy headed for the bright lights of Detroit City where he worked for the Ford Motor Company for a short time. He briefly drove truck in Iowa before traveling to California, and then onto Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, he was employed in the sheetrock trade for many years. There, he married his longtime high school friend, Bonnie Shepherd. In 1975, Gordy moved back to South Dakota where he returned to over-the-road trucking. After driving trucks for various companies, Gordy bought his own tractor/trailer and established “Charity Wagon Trucking.” Most recently, he resided at the Prairieview Healthcare Community in Woonsocket.

Gordon is survived by two sons, Jamie Samelson, of Pierre, and Troy Samelson, of Huron; one daughter, Michelle Cook-Profeta, of Aberdeen; two brothers, Linn (Sandy) Samelson and Virgene (Theresa) Samelson, all of Redfield; two nieces and one nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Mary; one brother, Lawrie; one sister, Pamela, and his grandparents, Grace and Clarence Samelson.