Lucille Geisler, 92, of Mitchell, passed away Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, at Good Samaritan Society in De Smet. 

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. Burial was in Butler Cemetery in rural Letcher. Visitation was Tuesday, Aug. 23, at Bittner Funeral Chapel with a Scripture Service and Rosary.

Lucille Marie Geisler was born Sept. 23, 1929, to Charles and Alina (Vande Voorde) Stunes on the family farm in rural Davison County. She attended Goodwin School.

Lucille was united in marriage to Fred Geisler on Jan. 10, 1950, in Letcher. They lived on a farm south of Artesian. In later years, they lived on an acreage near Mitchell, retired to an apartment in Mitchell, moved to Avera Brady Assisted Living, and recently, she became a resident in De Smet.

Lucille loved caring for children. She served 15 years as an infant foster home for Social Services, and later served another 15 years in “Your Home” daycare service. She also worked at Syncom for five years.

Lucille enjoyed sewing, quilting, and gardening. Lucille enjoyed genealogy and spent much of her time researching family records.

Lucille is survived by her daughters, Teresa (John) Sullivan of Mitchell, Elaine (Charles) Fuerniss of Paris, Ky., Betty (Skip) Guindon of Lead, Cynthia (Darold) Rounds of Wessington Springs, and Mary (Roger) Lee of De Smet; son, Thomas Geisler of Mankato, Minn.; 23 grandchildren, 58 great-grandchildren, one great-grandchild on the way, and one great-great-grandchild on the way.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred; her parents; granddaughter, Michelle Fuerniss; great-grandson, Jacob Kolousek; brothers, Francis, Albert, Joseph, Charles, Richard, Millard, and Edward Stunes; and sisters, Eunice Beckers and Gertrude Loneman.

Verlyn C. Rentschler, 86, of Egan, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, at his home under hospice care. 

Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 22, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Flandreau, with burial in Hillside Cemetery at Egan. Visitation was Sunday, Aug. 21, with a prayer service at Skroch Funeral Chapel in Flandreau.

Verlyn was born Feb. 4, 1936, to Charles and Ruby (Stevens) Rentschler in Flandreau. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church. Verlyn graduated from Colton High School in 1954. He married Anna DeJong, on March 9, 1955; they were married 62 years. They raised six children. During that time, he enjoyed his farm life, which included raising and milking dairy cattle, pigs, chickens, goats, cats, and dogs. Before they settled in Egan, they rented farms in various locations and moved every four years until they bought the farm in Egan in 1971. It is the well-known Rentschler Clearview Farms. 

Verlyn enjoyed being on the Egan volunteer fire department, competing in slow pitch and bowling, as well as singing and dancing whenever the urge came upon him. He had a well-known whistle. Verlyn actively supported his six kids in every sport and activity they participated in, as well as the grandkids and great-grandkids. In his over 30 years of driving bus, he drove for Flandreau, Egan and Colman-Egan. In those years, he drove three generations of his own family, either to and from school or activities. Verlyn ended his career working for Loiseau Construction.

Verlyn is survived by five children, Cynthia Menning of Flandreau, Charles (Sharon) of Colman, Clayton (Vicki) of Flandreau, Crystal (Kevin) Page of Artesian, and Cathy Jo Loehr of Egan; 17 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; four siblings, Wayne (Orie) of Hartford, Terry (Anita) of Parker, Beverly (Mel) Maeschen of Farmington, N.M.; Ardys (Jim) Line of Clarkson, Ky.; sisters-in-law, LaVonne Rentschler, Joan DeJong, Gertrude DeJong; and brother-in-law, Dennis Schulz. 

Verlyn was preceded in death by his wife, Anna; son, Craig; son-in-law, Tim Menning; parents; and three siblings, Barbara, Curtis and LaVonne.

Naomi Joan Thompson, 81, of Omaha, Neb., died Aug. 14, 2022, at Life Care Center of Elkhorn after battling Dementia and Alzheimer’s for 12 years. 

Funeral services were held Saturday, Aug. 20, at Willoughby Funeral Home in Howard with Rev. Richard Poppen officiating. Visitation was one hour prior to services. Burial was at Morgan Cemetery near Fedora, following the services.

Naomi was born Nov. 2, 1940, in Mitchell, to Ernie and Velma (Stumn) Deming. She was a country girl at heart, loving the outside and all animals. Growing up, she went to a country school in Miner County, later she graduated from Fedora High School in 1959.

Naomi married Vernon Leroy Thompson on Oct. 29, 1960, at the Presbyterian Church in Fedora. She lived on the farm in Miner County and worked in Huron as a clerk at the clothing store. They then moved to Madison where she got a job at a truck stop. The family moved to Omaha in 1970. Naomi was a stay-at-home mom for several years. Her desire to help people led her to a job at Bergan Mercy Hospital. She worked as a nurse’s aide. Cutbacks at the hospital led to nurse’s aides being laid off, so she went back to focusing on family. She had odd jobs at different stores, but she started doing dog rescues, and for as long as she could, she took care of all the dogs others didn’t want.

Naomi is survived by her husband, Vernon of Omaha, Neb.; sons, Timmy (Kristine) and Todd (Michelle), both of Omaha, Neb.; two grandchildren; two brothers, Donald (Judy) Deming and Jerry (Bev) Deming; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Naomi was preceded in death by her parents, Velma (1986) and Ernie (1992) Deming.