Violet “Janice” Phillips, 88, of Mitchell, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell. 

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at First United Methodist Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at American Legion Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation will be Tuesday, Jan. 3, from 5-7 p.m. at Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Janice (Stumm) Phillips was born May 22, 1934, to Charles and Mary (Schramm) Stumm in Fedora. She spent a few years of her childhood in Fedora and later moved to Mitchell graduating from Mitchell High School in 1952.

She married Lloyd Phillips on June 2, 1953, in Mitchell. Janice enjoyed being outside caring for her flowers, reading in the sun on the patio and crocheting. She worked at McDonald’s once her youngest child was in school and then was employed with the Mitchell School District for over 25 years until her retirement. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Mitchell. She was also a member of the Red Hats in Mitchell.

Janice is survived by her children, Scott (Barb) Phillips of Mitchell, Father Randy Phillips of Faulkton, Mark Phillips of Sioux Falls, and Lynda (Greg) Kludt of Montrose; five grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and one brother, Fay Stumm.

Dawn Grosz, 63, of Mitchell, passed away Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell under hospice care. 

Visitation will be Saturday, Dec. 31, from 10-11:30 a.m. at Bittner Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at West Lawn Cemetery in Letcher. Arrangements were by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Dawn Denise Edwards was born on March 15, 1959, in Mitchell to Lyle and Faye (Mack) Edwards.  She was the youngest of four children.

Dawn attended her school years at Letcher Public School in Letcher. She graduated from Letcher High School in 1977.

After high school, she worked at Terry Greene’s Propane Company in Letcher as a bookkeeper, and she worked at ABC Enterprises in Letcher as well. She also clerked auction sales for Tim Evers Auction Company out of Letcher, cleaned houses, and sold Avon.

She married Myron Grosz at the Congregational Church in Letcher on June 4, 1988. Myron and Dawn made their home on a farm outside of Mitchell, later moving to their home in Mitchell in 2008.

Dawn is survived by her husband, Myron; sister, Debbie (Ray) Lee of Mountainview, Wyo.; brother, Lanning (Jerri) Edwards of Mitchell; brothers-in-law, Morris Grosz and Paul (Terry) Grosz; and one sister-in-law, Janet (Bert) Manchester; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lyle and Faye; sister, Patty; mother- and father-in-law, Gilbert and Fern Grosz; and brother-in-law, Bruce Hildebrand.

All memorials will be sent to St. Jude’s Hospital.

Leona B. Hedge, 97, of Wessington, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller.

Her Mass of Christian Burial was on Thursday, Dec. 22, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Huron. Burial was in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery at Wessington. Visitation was held on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at the Kuhler Funeral Home. A Rosary and Wake Service was held Wednesday evening, at Kuhler Funeral Home.

Leona Bernice Runge was born March 2, 1925, to August and Bertha (Plasmier) Runge at Kimball. At an early age, the family moved to Minnesota. She attended school at Arco and Tyler, Minn., and graduated from Tyler High School.

She married Vernon Hedge on March 2, 1943, at St. Dionysius Church at Tyler, Minn. Shortly after they were married, they moved to Wessington, and lived on various farms.

She was a member of St. Joseph’s Church, St. Joseph’s Altar Society, Confraternity of Christian Mothers, and a former member of Jolly Quilters Club.

Leona is survived by her six children, Sharon (Ray) Ross of Wessington, Linda (Leonard) Hancock of Mt. Vernon, Dean (Mary Ann) Hedge of Wessington, Kent (Sharon) Hedge of Huron, Diane (Robert) Kokesh of Woonsocket and Randy (Karen) Hedge of Custer; one sister, Gloria Mundt of Shakopee, Minn.; nineteen grandchildren; innumerable great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Shirley Runge and Bonnie Runge; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 2002; her parents; three grandsons, Justin Hedge, Darwin and Bradley Hancock; four brothers, Donald, Norman, Lawrence and Richard Runge; four sisters, Violet Wells, Lorraine Mehling, Jean Langbehn and Betty Hansen; five brothers-in-law, Richard Mehling, Eugene Wells, Harold Langbehn, Dean Hansen and Jack Mundt; two sisters-in-law, Florence and Mary Runge; one great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.