Theresa Fuerst, 92, of Mitchell, died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at Avera Brady Health and Rehab in Mitchell. 

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Bittner Funeral Chapel. Burial was at American Legion Cemetery in Mitchell.

Theresa Mae Fuerst was born May 11, 1930, to Clifford and Theresa (Sturis) Saukerson in Chamberlain. The family moved to Mitchell when Theresa was two years old. She graduated from Mitchell High School and then attended Notre Dame Academy in Mitchell. She worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital from 1948-1953.

Theresa married Lyle Fuerst on March 16, 1949, in Mitchell. Together, they lived in Colorado and Deadwood for 20 years until Lyle retired and they moved back to Mitchell.

Theresa was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell and was a member of the altar society.

Theresa is survived by her son, Gary (Karen) Fuerst of Deadwood; daughters, Monica Evers of Mitchell, Tammy Fuerst of Letcher and Vickie (Neil) Hague of Deadwood; 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and sister, Delores Johnson of Mitchell.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle; daughter, Pam Munsen; and her parents.

Marion Dean Knutson, 91, died on Dec. 9, 2022, at Fountain Springs Healthcare in Rapid City.

Visitation was Wednesday, Dec. 14, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. The funeral was Thursday, Dec. 15, at the funeral home. Burial was at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with full military honors.  

Marion was born on Oct. 23, 1931, in Letcher to parents, Clarence and Josephine, the youngest of six children. Marion “Knute” grew up in Letcher. He helped his dad and brothers farm, truck and buy feeder cattle while growing up.

After graduating from Letcher High School in 1949, Knute attended South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, majoring in civil engineering and geology. During this period, he mapped a significant portion of the Wind Cave system.

In 1952, Knute joined the army to fight in Korea. He came back injured with three Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart in 1954.

Knute married Darlene Morrison in Mitchell on May 31, 1957. They started their family in Rapid City. In 1964, the family moved overseas, where he worked on some of the world’s largest earthen dams. The first position was in Mangla, Pakistan. The family experienced many other countries, including India, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand and the Fiji Islands. They bought a house in Rapid City on their return. He continued heavy construction projects until retirement.

Knute enjoyed fishing, hunting, spelunking, rock climbing and collecting. As a father, he attended 4-H horse shows, baseball, Boy Scouts, Special Olympics, softball, ATVs and other activities the children participated in. 

Knute and Darlene divorced but continued to do things together with their children and grandchildren. In 1994, he had a serious car accident, resulting in brain damage. He spent a year in rehabilitation at Sister Kenny Brain Institute in Minneapolis, Minn. After that, he went back to Rapid City, where he lived until his death.

Knute is survived by his children, Dr. Katherine Knutson (Dr. Steve Barghusen) of Bloomington, Minn., Rebecca Knutson of Black Hawk, Patrick Knutson (Kristin) of Spicewood, Texas, and Mathew Knutson of Rapid City; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, LeRoy, Darwin, and Delbert; sister, Kathleen; daughter, Vicky Knutson; and Darlene Knutson.

Donald O’Neill, 85, of Fulton, died Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. 

Visitation was Thursday, Dec. 1, at Bittner Funeral Chapel with a prayer service. A private family graveside service was at Graceland Cemetery in Fulton.

Donald William O’Neill was born in Fedora on July 11, 1937, to William and Blanche (Orsborn) O’Neill. After his mother passed away in 1944, Don moved to Fulton to live with his uncle, Arnum Blumenberg. Don graduated from Fulton High School and then attended DWU, majoring in history and coaching. After college, Don was offered a job teaching in Mt. Vernon, but decided his love was with farming.

On June 3, 1957, Don married Betty Klinger. In January of 1961, Don and Betty moved to the farm outside of Fulton, where Don lived out the rest of his life. Along with farming, Don drove a school bus early on and planted trees for the County Extension office. Don also served on numerous boards, including Fulton State Bank, Fulton Farmers Elevator, Hanson Rural Water, Hanson Farm Mutual Insurance, Graceland Association Cemetery, and Trinity Lutheran Church. Don was also a lifetime member of both the Elks and Moose clubs.

Don loved to be outdoors, dancing with Betty, riding motorcycle and, later in life, his Polaris or John Deere mowers, and going on trips with the family. Don was a collector of toy tractors. Don was also a HAM Radio enthusiast.

Don is survived by his wife, Betty; daughters, Peggy (Dick) Denison of Sioux Falls and Phyllis (Pat) Robinson of Fulton; sons, Douglas (Carmen) O’Neill of Alexandria and Dennis O’Neill of Sioux Falls; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, a sister, and two nephews.