Ronny L. Kopfmann, 69, of Alpena, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022.

His memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 10:30 a.m. at the Alpena Community Center in Alpena. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Saturday morning at the community center. Visit www.welterfuneralhome.com.

Ronny Lee Kopfmann was born on Feb. 11, 1953, in Alpena to parents Ernest and Marie (Pedersen) Kopfmann. Ronny attended Alpena schools, graduating in 1971. He married Linda Longcor in Alpena on June 18, 1972. Ronny and Linda lived on the family farm, raising their family. 

Ronny was an outdoorsman and enjoyed camping, hunting and fishing. Watching his horses was also a favorite pastime of his. He also enjoyed racing for many years. He loved his trips to Deadwood with friends and family. He enjoyed landscaping around the farm and his coffee meetings with the guys at the Alpena Co-op. Ronny had served as a county commissioner for Jerauld County since 2003. Spending time with his grandkids and great-grandkid was very important to him.

Ronny is survived by his wife, Linda of Alpena; children, Chad (Crystal) Kopfmann of Wessington Springs, Jill (Scott) Larson of Woonsocket and Jennifer (Wes) Anderson of Woonsocket; five grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter; two step-grandchildren; four brothers, Lawrence (Karen) Kopfmann of Alpena, Ivan Kopfmann of Alpena, Darwin (Terri) Kopfmann of Custer, and Paul (Ina) Kopfmann of Alpena; four sisters, Eldora Hasz, Vera Salter, Kathryn Larsen, all of Wessington Springs, and Doris Jager of Mitchell; brother-in-law, Ken Madsen of Huron; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ordell; sister, Marwell (in infancy); sister, Esther Madsen; and his nephew, Stacey Kopfmann.

Bradley Lynn Bennett, 53, of Gilbert, Ariz., passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022.

A celebration of life reception will be held on Oct. 22 at 4 p.m. at the Woonsocket Community Center.

Brad was an avid motorcyclist and talented entrepreneur. His last motorcycle ride was with his Hamster buddies in Sturgis early in August. Sturgis was one of his favorite annual riding trips. He also flew his plane on that trip for the last time, his most recent beloved hobby. Ever since he was a kid, he always had the need for speed. Another passion of his was pheasant hunting. It was pure joy for him to be able to take his son with him every year for pheasant hunting on the family farm.

Brad had a tremendous circle of friends and business associates. Most of his business associates would tell you that they considered Brad a close friend. Friends were always seeking Brad’s advice on various personal and business endeavors. Brad did very well for himself. He was a simple man that earned all of his success. He was a jack of all trades, skillful in architecture, real estate, property management, and business in general. He was a great father, always teaching his four kids about working hard and to earn their keep. He loved swimming with his kids and bonding during spaghetti and taco dinners. Brad was best known for his sarcastic wit, fierce determination, and remarkable business sense. 

He is survived by his life partner, Kristina, and his four children, Alexa, Cade, Farrah and Jaden of Gilbert, Ariz.; his sister, Kim of Sioux Falls; his brother, Dave of Gilbert, Ariz.; and his parents, Jean and Lynn of Sioux Falls.

Dolores “Lori” Kelsey, 94, of Mitchell, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, at her residence.  

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at First Lutheran Church in Mitchell; visitation was one hour prior.  Burial was at 1:30 p.m. in Servicemen’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to: First Lutheran Church, LifeQuest or the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village.

Lori was born on July 3, 1928, in Wentworth, to Virginia and Ingvald Olson and was raised on the family farm north of Artesian. She graduated from Artesian High School, where she was selected as Homecoming Queen. After graduation, Lori moved to Sioux Falls to work.

Lori married Blair Kelsey, on Dec. 19, 1948. Blair was from Fedora and was a decorated (Purple Heart) WWII veteran. They were married almost 50 years until Blair passed in July 1998. They lived in Brookings while Blair attended South Dakota State University. They then lived in Artesian and started a family before moving to Mitchell in 1958. Dolores devoted her life to her husband, family and friends. She worked at JCPenney and Geyermans in Mitchell. Lori was an avid gardener and volunteer. She was a charter member of the Lioness Club, served in First Lutheran Church activities, participated in the Mitchell Garden Club and volunteered at the Firesteel Health Care Center. She loved to cook and bake. She was a long-time member of the Mitchell Rec Center. She was a fixture at the Corn Palace for MHS and DWU basketball.

She and Blair loved to travel and dance, and Lori continued to travel after Blair’s passing.

She is survived by her children, Kim Kelsey (Mary Wacey) of Houston, Texas, Sandra (Mike) O’Brien of Fort Collins, Colo., Steve (Nancy) Kelsey of Aberdeen, and Sherri Dahl of Mitchell; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Blair Kelsey; parents, Virginia and Ingvald Olson; and her sister, Joyce Mills.