Betty A. Maxwell, 77, of Huron, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at Avera Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. 

Her funeral service was held  on Monday, June 5, at Welter Funeral Home, with burial that followed at Crow Lake-Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Wessington Springs. Visitation was on Sunday, June 4, at Welter Funeral Home, with a prayer service.

Betty was born on Oct. 11, 1945, to Charles Allen and Sylvia (Kolousek) Maxwell in Wessington Springs at the Ester de Youngs Hospital. She grew up in Wessington Springs and graduated in 1964. Betty met Wayne Walker when she was in the ninth grade. They later married on Nov. 15, 1964. To this union, twin daughters Karen and Kathleen were born. Betty worked at St. John’s Hospital in Huron for several years as a nurses’ aide. Wayne and Betty later divorced in 1974. Betty lived in Huron and worked at the Hickory House. In 1980, Betty moved to Washington state and worked as a restorative aide in the physical therapy department of a nursing home in Auburn, Wash.While living in Washington, Betty went to school at Bates Tech College and became an LPN. She then worked home health care.

Betty moved to Oxnard, Calif., with her brother, Jake, and eventually moved back to South Dakota. She worked as a foster grandma at M & M Daycare for several years. She was known as Grandma Betty and enjoyed rocking the babies to sleep. She also enjoyed spending time with her daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She liked to play cards, go to coffee with friends, and embroidery.

Grateful for having shared in her life are her twin daughters, Karen (Dean) Hougland of Mitchell and Kathleen (Foster) Knudson of Huron; her five grandchildren, including Jordan Von Eye of Woonsocket; three step-grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, six step-great-grandchildren; three “adopted” great-grandchildren; her siblings, Bernie (Cherie) Maxwell of Wessington Springs, Ronnie Maxwell of Pierre, Marilyn Maxwell of Washington, Wayne (Lynda) Salathe of Hampton, Va., Jake (Jane) Salathe of Huron, and Cindy Jarvis of Spearfish; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Allen Maxwell and Sylvia and Kenneth Salathe; and sister-in-law, Judy Maxwell.

Ellen Jean Anderson, 99, died Thursday, May 11, 2023, in Sioux Falls.

Services will be held on Saturday, June 10, at 1 p.m. at the 4-H Building in Forestburg. Internment will occur after the services, with a fellowship luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree in her memory or make a donation to the Sanborn Central School Library. 

Ellen Jean was born in Mitchell to Agnes I. and Flores Hinde. She was the first of their children, followed by Mary, Margaret, and Richard Hinde.

Ellen Jean attended school in Forestburg and graduated from Forestburg High School in 1941. An excellent student, she then attended South Dakota State College and studied nursing. She completed her nursing degree in 1946. Ellen Jean lived in Seattle in 1946/47 and nursed there. Then, she returned to South Dakota to work at the Methodist Hospital in Mitchell, where she spent the rest of her working life.

On Dec. 18, 1948, she married Dee N. Talley in Mitchell. Following a trip to Memphis, Tenn., they returned to rural Forestburg. Dee and Ellen Jean had four children, Kevin, James, Linda and Bruce. 

In 1981, Dee died of a heart attack. Ellen Jean continued to work until age 67. In 1996, she married Gene Anderson. For the next several years, Ellen Jean and Gene split time between his home in Oklahoma and hers in Forestburg. Gene died in 2002 and Ellen Jean lived the rest of her life in South Dakota. 

Ellen Jean had a lively sense of humor. Her interests were wide, and she always seemed to have a book at her side. With a keen eye for quality writing, she could be depended upon to give great reads to people as gifts. She also was a churchgoer and believer in Jesus Christ. Ellen Jean loved to travel. In addition, Ellen Jean loved the natural world; she hunted the pasque flower, watched birds, and gardened for most of her life. She was a great conversationalist with broad interests. She was also a proud and lifelong Democrat and liberal. Ellen Jean read to children in Mitchell Schools while she lived at Wesley Acres in Mitchell, volunteered at the Prehistoric Indian Village nearby and helped with bingo at the nursing home into her 90s. She was conscientious about diet and exercise and walked daily up to and including May 3, 2023, when she suffered a stroke.

Ellen Jean is survived by sister, Margaret Lawler; son, Bruce (Elena) Talley; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and her friend, Janet Nelson.

Ellen Jean was predeceased by her parents, Agnes and Flores Hinde; her husband, Dee Talley; her children, Kevin, Linda, and James Talley; siblings, Mary (Ole) Harder and Richard (Shirley) Hinde; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Curtis and Mary Jo Talley, Milton and Shirley Talley Cameron, and Bob Lawler; and dear friends, Marion Judy, Genevieve Dent, and Rolland “Ike” Petesch.

Norma Jean Parce, 94, of Woonsocket, passed away Sunday, May 21, 2023, at Prairie View Healthcare Center in Woonsocket. 

Funeral services were held Thursday, May 25, at Letcher Community Church; visitation was an hour prior. Burial was in Sunset Memorial Park in Mitchell.

Norma was born on April 28, 1929, to Harry and Anna (Meier) Stekl at the Stekl farm in Sanborn County. Norma attended grade school at Stekl School, a school that was started by her great-grandfather, Bartholomew Stekl, in 1882. She graduated from Letcher High School in 1947. Norma managed the Corner Station in Letcher.

Norma and Homer Parce began a courtship at a dance in Mitchell where Homer was playing a trumpet in the dance band. Norma was interested in Homer and boldly asked for a ride home. The attraction proved mutual, and the couple married on Feb. 27, 1954, at the Stekl Farm. 

The couple made their home on a farm a few miles south of Letcher. They raised five children. Norma loved holidays and went all out decorating for Christmas and Easter. Being an excellent cook, she hosted the holiday meals, taking great pride in making the complete meal including her memorable stuffing. Norma created a special Easter tradition of hunting for the eggs and basket of treats. She enjoyed spending time with family fishing at the Jim River and attending picnics at Hitchcock Park and other various sporting events, Corn Palace Week and the circus.

She was employed as a cook at the Letcher school along with her duties at the farm. At home, she enjoyed the outdoors, tending to a large garden along with many flowers.

Norma’s hobbies included bowling, playing pinocle, reading books and watching golf and Vikings football. She enjoyed drinking her favorite beverage, Coke, while playing solitaire. Both she and Homer were active in the Letcher community. The family attended the United Church of Christ, where Norma was part of the Women’s Fellowship and taught youth classes. She also belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary Post #93.

In 1987, Homer and Norma moved into Letcher from the farm. Norma continued cooking at the school, until her retirement. In 2014 she became a resident of Prairie View Healthcare, where Homer was already residing. The couple appreciated their time together until Homer’s passing in October 2014.

Norma is survived by her children, Larry Parce, Gene (Nerissa) Parce, Curtis (Liz) Parce, Teri (Jim) Edwards, all of Letcher, and Ann Stange of Woonsocket; 14 grandchildren; and 39 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Homer; her parents; three brothers, Duane, Monte, and Roland; and son in-law, John Stange.