Philip Edward Schmidt, 81, of rural Plankinton, succumbed to a short battle with lung cancer, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, at Aurora-Brule Care and Rehabilitation Center in White Lake.

Mass of Christian Burial was held, Friday, Feb. 16, at St. John Catholic Church in Plankinton. Burial followed at the Union Cemetery, rural Storla. Visitation was Thursday, at the church, with a prayer service and rosary. Arrangements were by Basham Funeral Services in Wessington Springs.

Philip was born Oct. 9, 1942, to Henry and Catherine (McCall) Schmidt in Mitchell. In 1948, the family moved to the farmstead, where he would live the rest of his life. He attended Woodmansee School until the eighth grade. His father passed away unexpectedly when Philip was 12. At that point, he took over the work on the family farm. He milked cows by hand and pitched hay to the stock cows before going to school every morning. He was the man of the house and helped his mother raise his three siblings. He attended high school in Lane and graduated in 1960. He took over the family farm in 1962. In 1965, Philip started milking cows by machine and continued for 47 years. 

He married Dorene Speck, on Aug. 24, 1968. To this union were born six children.  Philip was a voracious reader. He enjoyed learning new things and spending time with his grandchildren. Philip loved the land and took joy in the changing of the seasons. He enjoyed fishing at his pond and feeding and watching birds. In the pasture, he could often be found with his dog, Daisy, as one of his favorite pastimes was fencing.

Philip is survived by his children, Michelle (Todd) Karst of Plankinton, Nicolle (Jeff) Jennings of Marshall, Minn., Matthew (Darcie) Schmidt of Kimball, Jonathon (Casey) Schmidt of Plankinton, Catherine Schmidt of Wessington Springs, and Elizabeth (Justin) Morrison of Mitchell; eighteen grandchildren; one great-grandson; sisters, Mary Potter of Rapid City and Margaret Koenig of Fairfax; sisters-in-law, Cheryl Schmidt of Plymouth, Minn., and Linda (Alan Baysinger) Clark of Huron; brother-in-law, Larry (Sheila) Speck of Billings, Mont.; many nieces and nephews; and his good friend, Dina “Pudge” Shefner.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Dorene Schmidt; parents, Henry and Catherine Schmidt; father-in-law, Raymond Speck; mother-in-law, Edna Speck; brother, Thomas Schmidt; brothers-in-law, Lloyd Potter, Leo Koenig, and Jim Clark.

Nerissa H. Parce, 66, of Letcher, died Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at her home in Letcher. 

There was a visitation on Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Will Funeral Chapel.

Nerissa H. Parce, daughter of Antonio Uy Cho Ling and Susan (Pineda) Uy Cho Ling, was born Feb. 3, 1958, in Bacolod City, Philippines. Nerissa met her future husband, Eugene Parce, in 1986 in Anaheim, Calif. The couple was united in marriage on Feb. 17, 1986, in Santa Anna, Calif. The couple lived in California for a time before moving to Letcher in 1994. While in Letcher, Nerissa was employed at Walmart in Mitchell for 21 years, retiring in 2023.

Nerissa is survived by her husband, Eugene Parce of Letcher; two daughters, Jennifer (Adam) Carpenter of Hartford and Jasmine (Evan) Steemken of Brandon; three grandsons; and a sister, Betty Hinayan of Bacolod City, Philippines.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother and a sister.

Theola Ann “Teddy” Cecil, 74, of Madison, passed away Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, surrounded by family, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. 

Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 10, at St. Wilfrid Catholic Church in Woonsocket. Inurnment followed at the church cemetery. Visitation was one hour prior to services.

Theola Ann Vetter was born in Mitchell, on June 5, 1949, the daughter of Leo and Mary Jo (Grassel) Vetter. She grew up on a farm near Woonsocket with her brother, John, and sister, Margaret. After graduation, she attended General Beadle College in Madison. In 1970, she married David Cecil. Together they had one daughter, Amy. They divorced in 1976.

She began working for Northwestern Bell phone company in Madison around 1969 and continued to work for the phone company in Sioux Falls, California, and Colorado, where she retired in 2008.

She enjoyed reading, TV, movies, technology, theater, concerts, drives in the mountains, time with friends, and taking her family and friends to see, taste, and experience many of the wonderful things that Colorado had to offer.

In August of 2023, she moved to her daughter’s home in Madison, and they navigated the difficult path of terminal cancer, together with the help of her beloved son-in-law Tom and sister Margaret.

Teddy is survived by her daughter, Amy (Tom) Brown of Madison; three grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; her sister, Margaret Christensen of Woonsocket; sister-in-law, Gloria Vetter of Mitchell; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Mary Jo Vetter; brother, John Vetter; sister-in-law, Jenny Vetter; brother-in-law, Hans Christensen; and niece, Sara Christensen.

Arrangements were with Basham Funeral Services in Woonsocket.