Robert Allen Conroy, 78, of Mitchell, died Thursday, March 1, 2018, at Firesteel Healthcare Community surrounded by his family.

Mass of Christian Burial was Monday, March 5, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with burial and military rites at Servicemen’s Memorial Cemetery. Visitation was Sunday, March 4, at the Will Funeral Chapel with a prayer service beginning at 6 p.m.

Robert A. Conroy, son of John and Esther (Paulson) Conroy, was born in rural Artesian, where he grew up and attended school until the 8th grade. Bob then moved with his family to Mitchell, where he attended school.

Bob was united in marriage with Jane Usher on Aug. 10, 1959, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. He entered the U.S. Army, was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, and also served in Greenland. He was honorably discharged on Jan. 29, 1964, and returned to Mitchell, where he continued serving his country with the South Dakota National Guard until 1967.

In Mitchell, Bob was employed at Rozum’s Motors and United Auto Parts for a short time. In 1968, he began his career with Campbell Supply and retired in 2014 after 46 years of service. After his retirement, the couple continued to live in Mitchell.

During the late stages of Bob’s Lewy Body Dementia, the couple lived in Sioux Falls for a short time and then returned to Mitchell, where Bob lived at Edgewood Memory Care. He entered Firesteel Healthcare Community in November of 2017.

Bob was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church and the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jane Conroy of Mitchell; five children: Beth (Carrie Tesch) Conroy of Mitchell, Cathy (Craig) Fogel of Sioux Falls, Mike (Holly) Conroy of Sioux Falls, Sharon (Sterling) Woods of Phoenix, Ariz., and Susan (Brian) Daughters of Mitchell; eight grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; a brother, George (Jean) Conroy of Mitchell; a sister-in-law, Mary Usher of Chandler, Ariz.; and one nephew.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Conroy, during infancy, and his parents.

A. Eugene (Gene) Kroell, 78, passed away March 3, 2018.

Funeral services will be held Friday, March 9, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Wilfrid Catholic Church in Woonsocket with Tom Baruth officiating. Burial will be in Eventide Cemetery, Woonsocket. Visitation will be Thursday, March 8, from 6-8 p.m. at the church, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Gene was born Sept. 2, 1939, in Grand Forks, N.D., to Alvin and Helen Kroell. He spent most of his childhood in Aberdeen and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1957. He immediately began his life-long career in the telephone industry, working for Northwestern Bell, Sully Buttes Telephone Company, and Santel Communications.

Gene married Janice Knittel in Aberdeen in March of 1959, and five children were born to their union. The family lived in Highmore and Woonsocket, until Gene and Janice moved to Pierre in 2013.

Gene was involved with the development of Mitchell Telecom and served on the board with SDN. He retired from the telephone and communications business in 2005. In 2014, Gene was inducted into the South Dakota Cooperatives Hall of Fame.

Gene was active in his community, serving as mayor of Woonsocket for 16 years and volunteer fireman for 25 years in Woonsocket and Highmore. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and being a do-it-yourselfer. Gene’s talents ranged from home and camper remodels, to car restoration, to catching angler fish.

Gene is survived by his wife, Janice of Pierre; three daughters: Sheri (Jim) Anderson of Mitchell, Laurie Reed of Sioux Falls, and Kandi (Tom) Millivan of Pierre; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Bob (Shirley) Kroell of Aberdeen; a brother-in-law, Gordon (Verdell) Knittel of Alpena; and a niece and two nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two infant children; and his best friend, Stuart Scott.

Wayne H. Bracha, 61, passed away on Feb. 21, 2018 at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls.

A Remembrance of Life gathering will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, at Eagles Club in Aberdeen.

Wayne was born Aug. 31, 1956 in Mitchell to Walter, Sr. and Lylas (Whitlow) Bracha. He was raised in Forestburg and lived in Huron, Mitchell, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen, where he put down roots and spent his last days.

Wayne served in the South Dakota National Guard and the last 23 years he was the warehouse manager for Dakota Supply Group in Aberdeen. There was never a dull moment with Wayne and he always lived life to the fullest. He took chances, enjoyed story-telling and was a jokester. His family was the most important thing to him.

He is survived by his girlfriend, Debbie Banik of Aberdeen; son Kelly Banik of Aberdeen; daughter, Jessica Banik of Sioux Falls; stepson, Jason (Jodi) Banik of Sioux Falls; two grandchildren; his father, Walter Bracha, Sr. of Forestburg; brother, Walter Jr. (Donna) Bracha of Forestburg; sisters, Lillian (Maynard) Puetz and Leonda (Ivan) Doering both of Mitchell; and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lylas; an infant nephew, Jesse Puetz; aunts, uncles and grandparents.