2000-2009, SD, Compiled by James W. Blankenship jkblank1(at)sbcglobal.net

Davison

2004, Mitchell, Davison Co., SD, Obituary

Aberdeen American News (SD) - May 3, 2004

Phyllis Margaret Gebhart, age 76, of Mitchell, died April 30, 2004, at the Storla Sunset Nursing Home. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, 2004, at Holy Family Catholic Church with burial at Calvary Cemetery.

Phyllis Margaret Gebhart, daughter of Clarence E. Kewley Sr. and Edna Pearl Bennett, was born March 18, 1928, in rural Alexandria, S.D. She attended Pleasant #3 Country School. Phyllis was united in marriage with Ralph Gebhart on Nov. 23, 1948, in Mitchell, S.D. After two years of marriage the couple made their home in Miles City, Mont. She was employed at the Custer County Nursing Home and Holy Rosary Hospital. After making their home in Miles City for 21 years, they returned to Mitchell. Phyllis was employed at Twilight Manor and the Wilge Home until her retirement. In May of 2001 they made their home at the Storla Sunset Nursing Home. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and was active in the altar society. Phyllis enjoyed gardening and loved her grandchildren and animals of all kinds especially birds. She was very generous with her time and money.

Survivors include her husband, Ralph Gebhart, Mitchell, S.D.; two daughters, Elizabeth Vittitoe, Wagner, S.D., Kathy (Myron) Buchholz, Mitchell, S.D.; three sons, William Gebhart, Mitchell, S.D., Gerald Gebhart, Mitchell, S.D., John Gebhart, Aberdeen, S.D.; two granddaughters, Heather Vittitoe, Sioux Falls, S.D., Tiffany Buchholz, Mitchell, S.D.; two great-grandchildren, Dante and Alysha; seven sisters, Fauna (Randy) Kappenman, Mitchell, S.D., Fern Degen, Mitchell, S.D., Lavina Flanagan, Alexandria, S.D., Lillian Blankenship , Alexandria, S.D., Dorothy (Vern) Steilen, Alexandria, S.D., Bernita Tammen, Emery, S.D., Vida (Marvin) Champion, Evansville, Ind.; two brothers, Harold Kewley, Vallejo, Calif., and Clarence Kewley Jr., Alexandria, S.D.; numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters and three brothers.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

Hanson

Hanson Co., SSDI, http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi ,

Blankenship, Marvin J. 72, 15Mar1929 - 27Sep2001, Alexandria, Hanson, SD, IA-484-32-4354

Lawrence

2009, Spearfish, Lawrence Co., SD,

Kinkade Funeral Chapel, Sturgis, SD, Friday, December 4, 2009,

Peter John Verhulst, 84, of Spearfish, went peacefully from his home to be with the Lord on the morning of Nov. 29, 2009. A vigil will take place on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Spearfish. On Dec. 4, mass and Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, followed by burial at St. Aloycious Cemetery in Sturgis.

Peter John Verhulst was born Oct. 21, 1925 at their ranch home in Reva. Son of Emma “Susan” DeJager and Peter Verhulst, he was the youngest of two children joining his sister Larine. Peter attended Slim Buttes grade school through ninth grade followed by Sorum High School for two years and then graduated from Spearfish High School in 1943. As a child, he loved baseball. He played the sport until the age of 45. He loved animals and shared many stories of his pets on the ranch. He enjoyed hunting and bowling with family and friends until the age of 83. He also loved riding horses and pitching horseshoes. Peter became a man before his time at the age of 17, when he took over the family ranch following the death of his father. He was known for his storytelling and never denied an audience. “Papa Pete,” as he was known by family and friends, never met a stranger and always had a smile on his face.

Peter married Ilean Clark on Sep. 15, 1948 in Belle Fourche. Together they made their home on the family ranch in Reva. They were blessed with six children: LaVea, Paul, Peter “Clark”, Zane, Harley and Lance. They lived on the family ranch until 1979 when they moved to Casper, WY to join his sons Paul and Clark working for Verhulst Construction, leaving his son Zane to run the family ranch. Following the death of Ilean in August 1984, Peter returned to Harding County until the ranch was sold and his youngest son, Lance, graduated from high school.

Peter then moved to Spearfish in 1987, when he met Cora Kerwin at the Spearfish all school reunion. They were united in marriage on Dec. 18, 1988 in Spearfish. At that time, the Verhulst’s gained an extended family of Jeannette, Tony, Nick, Pat, May-lynn, Janet, Kellie and Kim. They made their home in Spearfish until the time of his death. During their time together, they owned Cora’s Creations in Spearfish where he enjoyed helping out and delivering flowers (especially to Deadwood).

Peter is survived by his wife Cora, his children LaVea, Paul (Laura), Peter “Clark” (Cindy), Zane (Janet), Harley (Ronda), and Lance (Daina). Cora’s children Jeanette, Nick (Patricia), Pat, May-lynn (Howard), Janet, Kellie and Kim (Mark). One sister, Larine (Ken) Clyde and nephew Shane (Maggie) Mott. His 24 grandchildren, Toni (Lenny) Cottril, Tona (Justin) Hand, Thad (Erin Wolf) Martin, Wendy (Brian) Blankenship, Brian Verhulst, Simone Verhulst, Michael (Kersten) Verhulst, Kalene (Brock) Anundson, Stene Verhulst, Serene Verhulst, Max (Kim) Flager, Angie (Mitch) Corwine, Tracy (Stacey) Flager, Meg (Tim) Spann, James Kerwin, Travis (Tiffany Kirkman) Kerwin, Janine (Tim) Dooley, Leigh Kerwin, Shilo Hall, Holly (Jason) Custer, Kay-Lynn Hall, Kealy (Jeremy) Branson, Kristopher (Jeanne) Kerwin, Payton Ginsbach, 26 great-grandchildren, as well as numerous extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by Ilean Verhulst, his parents Peter and Emma “Susan” Verhulst, his step-son Anthony Kerwin, granddaughter Vallami Jo Kerwin, daughter-in-law Isabelle Kerwin, son-in-law Max Flager and brother-in-law Harley Mott.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

Minnehaha

+2004, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., SD, Obituary,

http://www.millerfh.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=782929

Donna Clay 54, of Sioux Falls died suddenly on Saturday October 23, 2004 at her home. Donna Sue Adkins, daughter of Roby and Naomi (Blankenship) Adkins, was born on October 18, 1950 in Dayton, OH. At a young age she moved to Sioux Falls where she grew up and received her education. It was in Sioux Falls where she met her husband, Bruce.

Donna was united in marriage with Bruce Clay on July 14, 1967 in Rockford, IL. The couple moved to Rockford where they began to raise a family. They remained in Rockford where Donna worked for National Lock for seven years, and then continued to raise a loving family. The couple moved to Sioux Falls, SD in June of 2004 after Bruce retired.

Donna was a good loving housewife that loved sewing, movies and going shopping. She loved shoes, arts and crafts shows, and had a large collection of dolls. She was a fun, caring woman with a big heart that was full of love for her family.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband Bruce Clay, Sioux Falls, SD; a daughter, Carmen Eckhardt and her husband, Roger, Las Vegas, NV; 4 sons, Rick Clay, Sioux Falls, Jeff Clay, Rockford, IL; Tony Clay and his wife, Sheri, Sherman, SD, Bruce Clay Jr. and his wife, Angie, Rockford, IL; 16 grandchildren; 4 sisters, Rico Runge and her husband, Darell, Hartford, SD, Pat Spisak, Rockford, IL, Charlotte Gray and her husband, Mick, Hillsborough, OH; Pamela Adkins, Dallas, TX; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents.

A funeral service will be at 1pm Tuesday October 26, 2004 at the Valley View Chapel, 41st & Valley View.

2008, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., SD, Obituary,

The Joplin Globe, January 28, 2008

Dale Bolte, 72, died on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, at Sanford USD Medical Center following a short illness with cancer. Dale was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2002. Dale Allen Bolte, son of Harry and Opal (Blankenship) Bolte, was born on the family farm in Brookings County, S.D. Dale grew up and received his education in Bushnell Rural School. Dale was united in marriage with Gloria Mar on June 6, 1956, in Ivanhoe, Minn. He worked at various gas stations before moving to Sioux Falls in 1959. Dale worked as a welder at Dual Mfg. and then at Henry Carlson. He also delivered newspapers while working at Henry Carlson. In 1960, Dale started Bolte’s Sunrise Sanitary Service, starting in both commercial and residential services. Dale also built his own containers. He operated Bolte’s for 41 years. Dale was united in marriage to Pamela Ringsaker on Sept. 25, 1965. In 1975, he started the Roll Off service. He retired in 2001, due to health reasons, and sold the business in 2006. Bolte’s continues to be a family operated business, which was important to Dale. Dale enjoyed spending time at the lake and loved hunting, fishing and camping.

Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Cheryl (Brian) Abbas, Worthing, S.D., Allen (Karen) Bolte, Lennox, S.D., Laurie “Tina” (Gerald) Cressman, Hartford, S.D., Tim (Lisa) Bolte, Sioux Falls, Terry (Dani) Bolte, Sioux Falls, Michelle Bolte, Joplin, Mo., and Melissa (Doug) Nordman, Lennox, S.D.; two brothers, Glenn Bolte and Duane Bolte, both of Sioux Falls; grandchildren, Nicholas Abbas and Larrisa Abbas, Worthing, Scott Bolte, Amanda McKnelly, Paige Bolte, Tea and Lennox, S.D., Johnn, Gerri Ann, JoAnn and DiAnn Cressman, all of Hartford, S.D., Nicholas, Jonathan Jordan Bolte, all of Sioux Falls, Wyatt Briely, Joplin, and Mischelle Niehaus, Sioux Falls; great-grandchild, Ethan McKnelly, Tea, S.D.; and many other family members, nieces and nephews, special friends and caregivers. In addition to his parents; a brother, Lyle; and an infant brother preceded Dale in death.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at Peace Lutheran Church with interment at 2 p.m. at the Elkton City Cemetery.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

Pennington

2002, Keystone, Pennington Co., SD, Obituary

The Pratt Tribune, (KS) - November 27, 2002

John E. Grafing Sr., 81, died Oct. 29, 2002, at Rapid City Regional Hospital, Rapid City, S.D. He was a former resident of Medicine Lodge.

Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Christian Church, Medicine Lodge.

Survivors include: his wife, Betty Grafing; a daughter, Judy Blankenship , Keystone, S.D., formerly of Medicine Lodge; a son, John Grafing Jr., Tulsa, Okla.; six brothers; and two sisters.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

2006, Keystone, Pennington Co., SD, Obituary

The Pratt Tribune, (KS) - November 7, 2006,

Betty E. Grafing, 80, Keystone, S.D., and former Medicine Lodge resident, passed away at home on Oct. 27, 2006. She was born Sept. 29, 1926, in Langley, Kan.

Survivors include: a daughter, Judy Blankenship , Keystone, S.D.; a son, John Grafing, Sand Springs, Okla.; three grandsons; nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Shirley Conner, Medicine Lodge; and a brother, James, Desert Hot Springs, Calif.

Services will be held at a later date in Medicine Lodge.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com