Harry “Richard” Christopher, 83, of Mitchell, died Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at Avera Queen of Hospital in Mitchell. 

Funeral services were held Saturday, March 26, at First Lutheran Church in Mitchell. Burial was at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in rural Storla. Visitation was one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Arrangements were by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Harry Richard Christopher was born in Mitchell on Feb. 10, 1939, to Harry and Amanda (Roti) Christopher. He attended eight years of elementary school at Leet School in Elliott Township. He completed high school at Letcher High School. He lived all his life on the family farm halfway between Woonsocket and Mt. Vernon. Richard and his brother, Donald, worked on the family farm at an early age due to their father’s ongoing health problems.

Richard shared his musical skills for decades with the people of Trinity Lutheran Church for multiple weddings, funerals, and other events. He played the piano and organ. He was a historian, inspired by his uncle, Millard Christopher. He compiled information of families from the area into a book titled “Midway.” Midway was a small store that operated east of the Trinity Lutheran Church. Richard’s love of history was exemplified by the “Midway” book and his preservation of the Leet School, which he had moved onto the Christopher family farm. Ultimately, he donated it to the Norwegian Museum of Migration in Norway. Richard was able to attend the dedication ceremony in Norway.

Richard spent the last few months of his life enjoying companionship at Countryside Living.

Richard is survived by a brother, Donald (Mary) Christopher, and sister, Nancy (Myron) Sonne, both of rural Letcher; three nephews; two nieces; four great-nieces; and three great-nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; aunts; uncles; sister-in-law, Patricia Christopher; and nephew, Harry Jens.

Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery to continue Richard’s efforts of grave identification and unattended stone repair.

Gerald “Jerry” V. Higgins Sr., 92, of Wessington Springs, passed away Friday, March 25, 2022, at the Weskota Manor Nursing Home.   

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, April 1, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Visitation will be Thursday, March 31, from 5-7 p.m. at the church, with a scripture service at 7 p.m. Burial will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery.

Jerry was one of seven children born to Michael and Osta (Lovell) Higgins. He was born on July 22, 1929, on a small farm south of Alpena. The difficulties of farm life during the 1930s were exacerbated for Jerry’s family because of the death of his father in 1934. 

Jerry moved to Huron and graduated from Huron High School. He worked at O.P. Skaggs. Every day after work, Jerry would go to Spargos Drive Inn, where Betty Link was a waitress. On June 9, 1948, Jerry and Betty were married.

Jerry and Betty started their life together in Huron. After a few years, they moved their family to Wessington Springs, when Jerry and his older brother, Ray, opened a grocery store in June 1953. That first grocery store was the start of a 50-year presence on Main Street in Wessington Springs that included a furniture and carpet store, added hardware, transitioned back to a grocery store again, and ended with the Variety Store. Jerry was active in the business community of Wessington Springs and the Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club, which eventually became the Springs Area Community Club (SACC). He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. In June 2003, Jerry retired.

After retirement, Jerry and Betty spent time volunteering at the SACC Consignment Store, enjoying visits from their family and spending time together.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 73 years, Betty; six children, Jerry (Maggie) Higgins of Wessington Springs, Terri (Mike) Mebius of Wessington Springs, Jean (Randy) Shultz of Wessington Springs, Tim (Lotus) Higgins of Arlington, Steve (Toni) Higgins of Rapid City, and Patti (Ed) Fiegen of Brookings; sister-in-law, Marjorie Campbell of Aberdeen; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Jerry was preceded in death by his mother and father, all of his siblings and their spouses, all but one of Betty’s siblings and their spouses; his daughter, Kathleen; and one daughter-in-law, Tammy Higgins.  

In lieu of flowers, the family will use memorial funds for community improvement projects in Wessington Springs.

Janice M. Pauly, 56, of Glenwood, Minn., died unexpectedly at her home on Thursday, March 24, 2022. 

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, March 29, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood. Father Joe Vandeberg officiated. Visitation was on Monday, March 28, at Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood, with a prayer service and time of sharing that followed. Visitation continued Tuesday at the church, one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be in Arban Cemetery, rural Avon, at a later date. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.

Janice (Jan) Mae Young, the daughter of Jerome and Darlene (Zabinski) Young, was born on July 7, 1965, in St. Cloud, Minn. A strong Catholic family, Jan was the second of seven children. She grew up on their family farm near Arban, Minn. She attended school in Holdingford, Minn., where she graduated high school in 1983 and was a member of the color guard.  She married Steve Pauly, of Sauk Centre, Minn., April 19, 1986. They moved to Glenwood, Minn., in 1988, where they built their home and permanent residence on Lake Minnewaska. Jan and Steve were blessed with four children, which they raised together, before separating in 2013. Jan spent the later years of her life with her fiancé, Butch Kramber, also of Glenwood.

Jan began an in-home daycare (Jan’s Daycare) in 1990, becoming a licensed and accredited provider in 1992, a career she continued to pursue through the rest of her life. She volunteered throughout the community, as a member of the local Showstopper’s productions, various parent/teacher groups at the local school, and at her church. She was an accomplished seamstress and excellent cook, and she enjoyed frequent fellowship with friends and family that included card/board games, wine-tasting, gardening, and reading/book clubs.

Jan is survived by her four children, Brian (Kylie) Pauly of Woonsocket, Javen (Dan) Wunschel of Des Moines, Iowa, Shawn (Kendra) Pauly of Kalispell, Mont., and Austin Pauly of Kalispell, Mont.; seven grandchildren; her fiancé, Butch Kramber of Glenwood, Minn.; his three children, Brian (Kristi) Kramber of Lowry, Minn., Buddy (Samantha) Kramber of Howard Lake, Minn., and Brittany Kramber of Watertown; her parents, Jerome and Darlene (Zabinski) Young of Holdingford, Minn.; her six siblings, Theresa (Mark) Beutz of Albany, Minn., Kenny (Sandra) Young of St. Stephen, Minn., Kevin (Beth) Young of Holdingford, Minn., Joani (Pete) Neu of Becker, Minn., Marlene (Jeff) Panek of Hanover, Minn., and Judy (Joey) Opatz of Holdingford, Minn.; her former husband, Steve Pauly of Glenwood, Minn.; her four-legged best friend, Harley; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Norah Pauly.