Francis “Buzz” Henry Mason, 89, of Ideal, died Thursday, July 12, in Prairie View Healthcare Community in Woonsocket.

A memorial service was held July 14 at the Ideal Presbyterian Church. Arrangements were by Mason Funeral Home in Winner.

Francis “Buzz” Henry Mason was born September 29, 1928, in Tripp County. He was the son of William “Hank” Henry Mason and Ival (Lenker) Mason. He graduated from Colome High School.

In 1946, Buzz joined the U.S. Army. He served in the Panama Canal Zone until he separated from the Army in 1949. Buzz was immensely proud of his honorable military service.

Buzz married Janice McMacken in Tripp County in 1952. Over the years Buzz worked as a farmer, mechanic, feed salesman, master plumber and manager of the Davison County Rural Water System. While living in Ideal, he was active in the Ideal Presbyterian Church and Ideal School. Buzz was also involved in the VFW, American Legion and the Shriners.

He is survived by his current wife, Ellen Ann; sons, Danny and Francis A. Mason; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Buzz was preceded in death by his parents, Hank and Ival Mason; brothers, Bill and Ted; sisters, Wanda and Clarice; first wife, Janice; and second wife, Phyllis.

June C. Pearson, 79, of Forestburg, passed away on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, at the Prairie View Healthcare Community in Woonsocket.

Her funeral service was held Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at the Welter Funeral Home in Huron with burial following at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation with the family present was held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

June Clara Fenske, was born on March 24, 1939, to Carl and Marie (Drussell) Fenske on the family farm near Alpena in Sanborn County. She attended the Hegg Country School in Sanborn County.

June married Vernon Pearson in 1959 in Huron. She and Vernon lived on the farm near Forestburg. June worked at Van Dyke’s, Dakota Pork for 13 years, and ShopKo in Mitchell for nine years. She was a hardworking farmwife, working many hours alongside her husband in the field.

June enjoyed cleaning her house. She loved to decorate and switch pictures around. She also liked to shop for new shoes and purses. June loved to cook for family, especially baked goods. Children and grandchildren never went away hungry! Her candy dish was always full. She was affectionately known as “June-Bug” by the staff at Prairie View Healthcare Community. June married Harold Joerger on Jan. 7, 2005, in Huron. She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish.

June is survived by her husband Harold of Aitkin, Minn.; two children, Brian (Lori) Pearson and Jeanette (Greg) Cornelius, all of Forestburg; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; her sister, LaVerne Hein of Huron; and many nieces and nephews.

June was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Vernon, in 2002.   

Rodney VanLaecken, 65, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Letcher, died, Wednesday, June 27, 2018.

Funeral services were held Monday, July 9, at the Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell. Visitation was Sunday, July 8 also at the Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Rodney Lawrence VanLaecken was born September 9, 1952, in Sioux Falls to Lawrence and Irene (Christian) VanLaecken. He graduated from Letcher High School in 1970, attended Dakota State College and graduated from Mitchell Technical Institute with a Culinary Arts degree.

He was employed as a chef for 25 plus years and, most recently, was employed at Wells Fargo Bank. 

Rodney is survived by his sister, Karen (Rick) VanLaecken-Brinker of Mitchell; an aunt, Nadine VanLaecken; two nephews; one niece; many great nieces and nephews, and special friends, the Asmus Family of Brookings.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and step-mother, Mayme (Hoffman) VanLaecken.