Lawrence “Larry” Vetter, 83, of Mitchell, died Thursday, June 29, 2023, at Firesteel Health Care Center in Mitchell. 

Funeral services are pending under the direction of the Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Larry Vetter was born Jan. 20, 1940, in Woonsocket. He was the first of seven children born to Joe and Helen (Larson) Vetter. The family moved to Salem in 1945, where Larry attended St. Mary’s Catholic school from first grade until graduation in 1958.

He attended Creighton University for two years. Larry then became a teacher and basketball coach for the schools in Stephan and later Lane. His basketball team at Lane won the school’s only district championship and was named AP Sports story of 1969.

Larry married Deanna Taft of Mitchell on Aug. 5, 1967; to this union, three children were born. They enjoyed many family trips home to South Dakota from Nebraska and Iowa. Larry worked as a salesman for the Jordan Millwork company from 1969-1981, and worked in Omaha, Neb., from 1975-1983; other sales jobs followed covering southwest Iowa and northwest Iowa. Larry enjoyed driving throughout the Midwest making sales calls as part of his jobs.

He moved to Pierre in 1989, where he would remain for 25 years. He married Brenda Mancarti in April 1998 and enjoyed helping raise her two grandsons and feeding their two cats. Larry attended many high school sports events in Pierre. He also enjoyed telling jokes and hearing jokes everywhere he went in life.

In 2014, Larry moved to Firesteel Health Care Center in Mitchell, where he would remain the last nine years of his life.

Larry is survived by his sons, Rob and Nate; four grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; siblings, Ramona Bihlmeyer of Slidel, La., Kathleen (Larry) Hintgen of Yankton, Mike Vetter of Sioux Falls, Terri (George) Kief of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mary (Ken) Cotton of Wagner; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Paul; his parents; sister, Rita Linn; brothers-in-law, John Linn and Earl Bihlmeyer; sister-in-law, Nancy Vetter; and nephew, Tony Hintgen.

Shelley Kay Wheeler, 70, passed peacefully at her home surrounded by family and friends on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

Shelley’s funeral services were held at Spirit of Faith Church in Woonsocket on Saturday, June 24. Her visitation with prayer service was held on Friday, June 23, at Spirit of Faith Church.

Shelley Kay was born on Jan. 7, 1953, to parents Frieda and John Kotas. She joined her sister, Sandra, and brother, Kim, growing up on the family farm north of Huron. She graduated from Huron High School in 1971. Shelley married Kim Wheeler on June 12, 1971. They were blessed with two children.

Shelley and Kim moved to Woonsocket and farmed for many years. They owned the L-K Steakhouse and Lounge (Home of the Bull) for many years. Shelley wasn’t scared of hard work or a little adventure, as she later moved to Frisco, Texas, and Lakeville, Minn., before moving back to South Dakota and purchasing Fowl Play with her special friend, Dale Bryan, at Lake Byron. She enjoyed many years on the lake before retiring in Woonsocket.

During her childhood, she loved riding horses. She rode in the Centennial Wagon Train from Pierre to Huron. Shelley could often be found at the Plains, rolling spares and strikes with her closest friends. She enjoyed reading, playing cards, golfing, camping, fishing, spending time with friends and family, and the occasional dirty martini. Becoming a grandma was Shelley’s proudest accomplishment.

Shelley is survived by her children, Casey (Bud) Miller and Justin (Becky) Wheeler, six grandchildren; sister, Sandra (Rick) Benson; brother, Kim Kotas; brother-in-law, Steve Wheeler; nieces and nephews; and her forever sister, Jane Raschke.

She was preceded in death by her parents; former husband, Kim Wheeler; mother-in-law, Lois; brother-in-law, Tom Wheeler; and special friend, Dale Bryan.

Reverend Donald Lester Reynen, 88, of Milbank, passed away on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at St. Williams Care Center in Milbank. 

The celebration of Don’s life was on Monday, June 26, at First Presbyterian Church in Mitchell. Burial was at Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation was Sunday, June 25, at Bittner Funeral Chapel with a prayer service.

Reverend Donald Lester Reynen was born Jan. 27, 1935, to Gladys M. Darling Reynen and Arthur P. Reynen in Sioux City, Iowa. Don moved to Milbank with his parents at a young age, and he attended all twelve years of school in Milbank, graduating in 1953. He held numerous jobs in high school, participated in American Legion Baseball, and participated in varsity football and track in high school.

Don was united in marriage to Evelyn McFarlane, his high school sweetheart, on June 24, 1956, in Wilmot.

Don attended Huron College in Huron and graduated with a B.A. in 1958.  While in college, he served the Forestburg Presbyterian Church and worked at Dakota Wheel Alignment Shop. He attended Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, and graduated in 1962. While in seminary, he served St. John’s Evangelical United Brethren Church in Garber, Iowa, and coached cross country track at Dubuque University.

Don was baptized and confirmed in the United Methodist Church in Milbank.  He joined the First Presbyterian Church in Wilmot in 1953 and was ordained into ministry in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1962.  He accepted a call to serve the Presbyterian Church in Stephen, Minn., and the Community Presbyterian Church in Argyle, Minn., and served there seven years. While there, he began annual youth canoe camping trips to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota. He also assumed leadership roles in Red River Presbytery and the Synod of Minnesota and officiated high school football games.

In 1968, Don accepted a call to serve the First Presbyterian Church in Mitchell.  Through the years, he counseled at youth church camps, conducted canoe camping trips to the Boundary Waters, served on Presbytery of South Dakota’s Committee on Ministry, Camping Committee, Christian Education Committee, Church Development Committee, and as Moderator of the Presbytery of South Dakota. He was a Commissioner to the General Assembly of the PC (U.S.A.) three times throughout his ministry.  Don served as a member of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies Council and as the Synod Moderator and served on the National Committee on Governing Body Relations. He served as a Huron College Trustee.  Throughout his ministry, Don continued to officiate high school football and basketball games and Little League Football. He was a member of the Ministerial Association, Youth Protection Team, Cancer Walk Committee, President of Longfellow PTA, Cub Scout Leader, Dakota Wesleyan basketball scorekeeper, and Mitchell Concert Board member.

Don moderated and supplied the pulpits of many Presbyterian Churches in the area when the congregations were without pastoral leadership.

In 1991, after serving the First Presbyterian Church for twenty-three years, Don resigned his position as pastor of the church and accepted the position as a Chaplain for Queen of Peace Hospital.  He served as a chaplain for seventeen years and retired in 2009. While serving as a chaplain, he also served as pastor of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Emery and First Presbyterian Church in Bridgewater.

Don had numerous interests – fishing, all sports, canoeing, camping, hunting, gardening, construction, and repairing cars.

Don is survived by his wife, Evelyn; children, Dr. Paul (Carol) of Sioux Falls, Dr. Peter (Camille) of Milbank, Dr. Matthew (Diana) of Aberdeen, and Sarah Lepke (Scott) of Watertown; daughter-in-law, Gina of Mitchell; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; sister, Betty Folk; sister-in-law, Doris Christianson; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his son, Dr. Mark Reynen; parents, Arthur and Gladys Reynen; parents-in-law, Ellis and Ruth McFarlane; sisters, Donna Thyne, Joyce Folk, Barbara Bohn; sisters-in-law, Muriel and Dorie McFarlane; brother, Marlin Reynen; and brothers-in-law, Robert Thyne, Charles and Leo Folk and Arnold and Maurice McFarlane.