Elda Keeton, 101, of Mitchell, died Monday, July 24, 2023, at her home in Mitchell.

Funeral Mass was held Saturday, July 29, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mitchell. Burial was at Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation was Friday, July 28, at Bittner Funeral Chapel with a prayer service.

Elda Anna Keeton was born to Benjamin and Margaret E. (Mienen) Hatting on March 1, 1922. She attended St. Joseph School in Ashton, Iowa. Elda married Ralph Pontow on Nov. 27, 1942. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and the Holy Spirit Altar Society. Following the death of Ralph in 1959, Elda married Gordon Keeton on Jan. 21, 1975.

Elda is survived by her three children, Janet (Ed) Weber of Mitchell, Bruce (Roxanne) Pontow of Columbus, Neb., and Karla (Gary) Olson of Woonsocket; two stepchildren, Richard (Betty) Keeton of Ferguson Falls, Minn., and Nancy Muller of Topeka, Kan.; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Della Wesselink of Henderson, N.C., and Marjorie O’Toole of Sisley, Iowa; and sister-in-law, Bobbi Hatting of Bothel, Wash.

Elda was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gordon; five brothers, John Hatting, Leonard Hatting, Andrew Hatting, Clarence Hatting, and Eldon Hatting; sisters, Alma Hons and Elaine Wellendorf; four brothers-in-law, Dick Hons, Donald O’Toole, Duane Wellendorf, and Robert Wesselink; and four sisters-in-law, Ruth Hatting, MaryEllen Hatting, Donna Hatting, and Diane Hatting.

Patricia “Sam” Bridget Ruml, 70, of Rapid City, passed away on June 9, 2023, at Monument Health in Rapid City.

A Celebration of Life was held on Sunday, July 23, at the Eagles Club in Rapid City. A committal service was held at the National Cemetery in Sturgis on Monday, July 24, with Clint Semmer officiating. Her ashes were placed alongside her husband, Bill Ruml. Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Patricia was born on July 23, 1952, to Andrew and Kathryn Johnson of Platte. She graduated from Platte High School in 1970. In the summer of 1971, she was working as a flag girl on road construction near Platte when she met Bill Ruml of Letcher. He gave her the nickname “Sam,” and to everyone that knew her east river, she was “Sam.” They were married May 31, 1974. Three children were born to them.

Patti raised the family while Bill continued to work construction in Rapid City and Wyoming. She loved reading to her kids, teaching them their prayers and respect for others and playing games with them. She gardened and loved flowers. She worked in the Belevista Nursing Home and then at the local YMCA. Patricia loved the Black Hills and hiking with her family. She loved her dog, Blue, and all the pets she always had. She was a kind soul.

Patricia is survived by her children, Heath, Angel (Nick) and Shane; seven grandchildren; brothers, Frances (Ilene) Johnson of Rapid City and Denny (Lisa) Johnson of Iowa; and sister, Rosemary (Pat) St. Pierre of Rapid City.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill in 2016; sister, Kay Johnson in 1996; her parents; in-laws, Dick and Tillie Ruml; and brothers-in-law, Dick Ruml, Darwin Knutson and Gordon Severson.

Richard L. Linke, 70, of Woonsocket, passed away on Thursday, July 27, 2023, after a long illness, surrounded by his family at home on hospice care.

A private memorial service with immediate family only will be held at a later date. Any memorial gifts in Richard’s memory are to be directed to the building fund of Spirit of Faith, PO Box 535, Woonsocket, SD 57385.

Richard “Rich” Linke was born Nov. 23, 1952, at the Methodist Hospital in Mitchell to Helen (Smith) and A. Lloyd Linke. He grew up on the family farm. He attended Cuthbert Grade School through fifth grade and then went to Woonsocket, where he graduated in 1971. Rich attended college one year at Dakota State and then returned to his home roots to farm.

Rich and Vicki Berg were married on Nov. 25, 1972, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Woonsocket and celebrated their 50th anniversary last year. They were blessed with three children.

Rich lived an active and full life. While in high school, he was Homecoming Chief, named to the First Team All-State nine-man football team, started on the 1971 State B Basketball Tournament Team, and qualified for the State Track meet.

Trapshooting was another sport that Rich excelled at. He won numerous state titles as sub-junior, junior and men’s in singles, doubles and handicap. Rich competed at the Grand National in Ohio many times. His best finish was tying for first in the Men’s Handicap. Also, Rich enjoyed hunting pheasants, ducks and geese.

Rich’s favorite sport was baseball, and his favorite team was the New York Yankees. He started in Little League and went on to play amateur baseball until the age of 46. Rich also coached his son, Jay, in Legion baseball and his daughter, Jenna, on the traveling girls’ softball team, Woony.

A big part of Rich’s farming was spent in the melon business. It was a family business started by his mother’s Smith grandparents in 1912. The family celebrated 100 years raising melons in 2012.

Rich and Vicki started the tradition of family trips to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Rich was baptized and confirmed at Cuthbert United Methodist Church. He was a member of Spirit of Faith Lutheran-Methodist Church in Woonsocket.

Rich is survived by his wife, Vicki L. (Berg); his children, Jay (Wendy) Linke of Mitchell, Lisa (Dustin) Budde of Sioux Falls, and Jenna (Patrick) Marler of Mitchell; six grandchildren; brother, Jim Linke of Woonsocket; sister, Barb (Mark) Clayton of Yankton; niece, Bobbi Clayton of Sioux Falls; sister-in-law, Joyce Brown of Rapid City; sister- and brother-in-law, Janis and Tom Weatherford of LaDora, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and A. Lloyd Linke; sister, Susan Linke; aunt, Rose Linke; niece, Natty Clayton; parents-in-law, Ruth and Vernon Berg; and brother-in-law, Mark Berg.