Mark Waddington, 69, of Miles City, Mont., passed away at Holy Rosary Hospital on March 1, 2023.

A funeral service was held on Friday, March 10, at the First United Methodist Church, Miles City, Mont. A graveside service with full military honors followed at the Custer County Cemetery, Miles City, Mont. Visitation was on Thursday, March 9, at the Stevenson and Sons Funeral Homes, Miles City, Mont.

Mark was born in Huron on June 8, 1953. He attended school in Woonsocket and graduated from high school in 1971. Mark attended Huron College for a little over a year, then decided to go on tour with his trumpet. Although Mark was a gifted trumpeter, it was tough to make a living. He joined the 76th Army Band, stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and was there for two and a half years. When he came home, he decided to take a job in radio, which lasted him 30 years. He and Annie Tillery were married in August of 1985, then they moved to Miles City, Mont.

Mark began work at KATL in Miles City at the end of August during the Fair. After KATL, he and his family moved to Powell, Wyo., following the radio waves. Later, his career led them all to Kansas City, Kan.; Lawrence, Kan.; Kemmerer, Wyo.; Cheyenne, Wyo.; and Laramie, Wyo. Annie and Mark divorced, and Mark moved back to Miles City to work, again, for KATL.

Mark met Vicki Bergerson, divorced with three kids. They spent time playing computer games, listening to music, fishing, hunting, camping, playing guitar, and talking endlessly about life and love. They were married on March 12, 1994.

Mark is survived by his brother, Craig Waddington, of Rapid City; wife, Vicki; his stepson, Rob Bergerson (Nanette); stepdaughter, Randi Hunter (Brian); daughters, Libby and Becca (Megan Cole); and three grandchildren.

Mark was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents; his mother, Aileen; his father, Jack; his sister, Marcia; and his stepson, Todd Bergerson.

Rory Couch, 66, of Old Hickory, Tenn., passed away on Feb. 20, 2023, at home.

Rory was born on July 22, 1956, to Darold and Lela Couch in Mitchell. His family lived on a farm two miles north of Woonsocket.

Rory attended country school in the Woonsocket, Kimball, and the Wessington Springs areas. He graduated from Wessington Springs High School in 1974.

Rory married Judy Smith January of 1975 in the Twin Cities. To this marriage, three daughters were born, Jessica, Rori, and Penny.

Rory married Cheryl Hedgecoke on Sept. 12, 1980, in Las Animas, Colo. To this marriage, two sons were born, Austin and Eric.

Rory was blessed with 12 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Rory and Cheryl moved their family to Mesa, Ariz., in 1983. Rory worked construction as a finish carpenter for Farnsworth Construction for several years. After that, he and Cheryl operated a cafe in Fountain of the Sun, Mesa, Ariz. Due to poor health, Rory retired early, and in 2019, he and Cheryl relocated to Old Hickory, Tenn., to be closer to family.

Rory was a unique athlete and played basketball, baseball, and ran cross country in high school. Rory coached youth baseball and played softball for many years as an adult.

Being raised as a farm boy, Rory’s love for the outdoors was evident. He loved wildlife, the mountains, gardening, and hunting.

Rory is survived by his wife, Cheryl; his father, Darold Couch; three daughters; two sons; his sister, Leta; brothers, D.D., Rick, and Rolland; sister-in-law, Elaine; and brother-in-law, Jay.

Rory was preceded in death by his mother, Lela; father-in-law, Butch; and mother-in-law, Joyce.

Margaret Pierson, 88, of Mitchell, died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, at Edgewood Assisted Living under hospice care in Mitchell after being diagnosed with leukemia in 2021. 

Funeral Mass was Saturday, Feb. 25, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. Burial was at Hillcrest Cemetery in Ethan. Visitation was Friday at Holy Family with a prayer service. Arrangements were by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Margaret Johanna (Sibson) Pierson was born Nov. 7, 1934, to Limbert and Johanna (Rankin) Sibson, on the family farm near Artesian. Margaret attended grade school in Artesian and graduated from Notre Dame High School, Mitchell, in 1952 before attending Nettleton Business School in Sioux Falls.

On Nov. 24, 1952, she married William “Bill” Pierson at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. Margaret worked as a secretary for an architect until March 1953, when she and Bill committed their lives to his family farm east of Ethan. While Bill tended the farm, Margaret kept the home.

Margaret was an active member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and its Altar Society in Ethan. She sang in the church choir and taught CCD.

Margaret enjoyed traveling. As a member of both a card club and a hobby club, Margaret loved to play host to family and friends, and she was known to be the “activities director,” keeping friends, neighbors and anyone who stopped by entertained with games.

Margaret is survived by seven children, Rich Pierson of Washington, Iowa, Deb Jennings of Lead, Dan (Mary) Pierson of Merrill, Iowa, Dean (Nancy) Pierson of Brandon, Denise (Mike) Royston of Mitchell, Rod (Lisa) Pierson of Madison, and Ray (Ann) Pierson of Sioux Falls; 23 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; brother, David (Joyce) Sibson of Mitchell; and sister-in-law, Delores Sibson of Mitchell.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Bill; her parents; son-in-law, Al Jennings; daughter-in-law, Kris Pierson; brothers, Leo Sibson and Herb Sibson; sisters, Elsie Hemmer and Jean Danielson; and several in-laws.