Brean Olson, 37, of Woonsocket, passed away Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, at Medical City Lewisville in Lewisville, Texas, due to complications with pneumonia. 

Funeral services were on Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Forestburg 4-H Building in Forestburg. Burial was in Silver Creek Cemetery in rural Forestburg. Visitation was Friday with a prayer service at Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Brean Christa Olson was born on Feb. 15, 1986, to Gary and Karla (Pontow) Olson in Mitchell. Brean attended Mitchell High School, graduating in 2004. Brean loved sports and participated in varsity athletics for the Mitchell Kernels. She received a golf scholarship from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. She was a gifted golfer, and she enjoyed playing the game and loved teaching the game to others. Brean would later graduate from Southeast Technical Institute and Southern New Hampshire University. 

Brean was always so loving, kind, and filled with positivity. She had a genuine kindness to her, and all admired her for being herself, accepting of everyone, and living her life to the fullest. Brean was a beautiful soul with an infectious spirit and radiating smile, and always gave the best hugs. She always gave more than she received and always found the good in people, regardless of their situation. Brean also loved being an aunt to her nephew, Duncan.

Brean is survived by her parents, Gary and Karla Olson; sister, Jenna (Jason) McDonald; brother, Chase Olson; one nephew; and several other aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Art and Eunice Olson, Ralph Pontow, Gordon and Elda Keeton; and uncle, James Grassel.

Gary Lee Goudy, 78, of Artesian, passed away at Avera Heart Hospital on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, surrounded by family. 

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 10:30 a.m., at Bittner Funeral Chapel. Visitation was Tuesday at Bittner Funeral Chapel. Honorary pallbearers were Gary’s five sons, Bub, CK, Clay, Ryan and Tyson; stepson, Matthew; and son-in-law, Jim. Condolences may be sent to 312 S. Main St., Artesian, SD 57314.

Gary shared the last 21 years of his life with his wife, Patti, in their home in Artesian and, before that, Mitchell. He drove school bus for Sanborn Central School District and was also transportation supervisor. Prior to that, he drove the transit bus for the City of Mitchell.

Gary was born to Ed and Gertrude (Watznauer) Goudy on July 23, 1945. He attended school in Artesian and graduated in 1963. He then went to Sioux City and went to barber school. Gary and his first wife had five children, all boys, who were the light of Gary’s life. He added two more bonus kids when he married Patti in 2002. Gary held various jobs throughout the years, including driving truck for Coca-Cola, but he enjoyed driving school bus and even did so in his retirement.

Gary’s hobbies varied from watching youth sports, monitoring the weather, feeding the various critters in his yard, fishing and hunting, playing pinochle with the boys, watching the Dallas Cowboys, and enjoying a good nap in his favorite chair.

Gary is survived by his wife, Patti; six sons, Grant “Bubba” Goudy (Natalie), Caleb “CK” Goudy (Allissa), Clay Goudy (Darcy), Ryan Goudy, Tyson Goudy (Anna), and Matthew Hubbard (Julie); one daughter, Amanda Anderson (Craig); 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, friends and acquaintances.

He was preceded in death by his parents; baby brother in infancy; sister, Donna; sister, Bette; brother-in-law, Arvin; and brother-in-law, John.

Karen Bunker, 79, of Mitchell, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell. 

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at Will Funeral Chapel; visitation will begin one-hour prior.

Karen was born Feb. 9, 1944, to Lloyd and Marie (Peterson) Jones. She graduated from Fedora High School in 1958. Karen married James Bunker on Nov. 12, 1966, in Battlecreek, Mich. The couple had three sons. She moved back to Mitchell in 1982, where she worked at the Holiday Inn for over 20 years; she then worked at K-Mart for another 20 plus years.

She loved her family. She worked hard to provide for her three sons. Karen loved her grandchildren and enjoyed family holidays with them.

Karen is survived by her sons, Jim Bunker, John Bunker, and Joey (Sierra) Bunker, 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, Jessie Garness; brother, Larry Jones; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers, Paul, Lloyd, Jack, Don, and Kenneth (in infancy); and sisters, Rita and Marjorie.