KIRK FUNERAL HOME

Merlin M. Fauth, 86, passed away on January 19, 2022 in Rapid City. Merlin was born on November 24, 1935 in Leola, SD to Ed and Erna Fauth. He grew up on the family farm outside of Leola with his sister, Shirley, and his parents. Merlin attended National School of Business in Rapid City, SD, where he met is lifelong partner, Shirley Haberstroh. They married on October 28th, 1956. Once he completed his studies, he began his career in the automotive industry. He began working at Frontier Ford in 1955. He worked as the controller until 1969, when he decided to venture into a partnership at Courtesy Lincoln Mercury. In 1972 the dealership was decimated by the 1972 flood. After the...

(RAPID CITY) Marilyn Mae (Holmberg) Connell, age 89, went to be with Jesus on December 2, 2021. She was born to Carl "Edwin" and Clara (Paulson) Holmberg in Faulkton, SD on January 7, 1932. Visitation will be held from 4pm - 6pm on Wednesday, December 8 at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 9 at the funeral home. Burial to follow at Black Hills National Cemetery, near Sturgis.

Connie Lynn (Malz) Blasdell passed peacefully April 28, 2021 at her home in Rapid City, SD. Connie was a fierce advocate for people often marginalized by society. A 1992 graduate of Northern State University, she worked with abused spouses, incarcerated youth, and high-functioning adults with mental illness. In addition to her social work, she was a certified credit counselor, a grant writer, and an agency external fundraiser. Connie served on the Family Program Board of Directors for the SD National Guard. An Army wife, she was also a Navy and Army mom. She will be missed by the people whose lives she touched. Connie was a prayer warrior, proud grandma, and a gentle spirit with a...

Enid Hanson Rogers, 81, of Seneca, SD, died, Sunday, March 14, 2021 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. following an unrelenting, lifelong journey of kindness. Enid Arlene Hanson was born in Aberdeen, SD on April 28, 1939 to Ralph and Grace (Huetson) Hanson. She and her older and favorite brother, Craig grew up in rural Faulk county where they attended country schools and routinely rode horses to school. Enid graduated from Faulkton High School with the class of 1957. Following high school, she went to college at Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen. While at Northern, she met her future husband, soulmate and best friend, Verle Rogers. They were married on August 14, 1960...

Enid Hanson Rogers, 81, of Seneca, SD, died, Sunday, March 14, 2021 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Arrangements are with Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City, SD. www.kirkfuneralhome.com

Bethene Margaret Bohn of Rapid City, SD (formerly of Strandburg, SD) passed away peacefully at Serenity Place in Rapid City at the age of 89. Born February 9, 1931, in Madison MN, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Margaret (Street) Bandt. Bethene graduated from Revillo High School in 1949 before going on to receive her teacher's certificate from Northern State Teacher's College. Bethene always spoke fondly of her year teaching in a country school near where she grew up. Bethene valued education and throughout her life promoted that value to her children and grandchildren. Always an avid reader, she had a keen intellect. Bethene married Hollis Edwin Bohn on February 10, 1951. As a...

Neal Patrick Wetzler, 68, passed away on January 15, 2021 in Rapid City, South Dakota, surrounded by his family. Neal was born on a farm in Spink County on March 17, 1952. He was preceded in death by his father, Warren; mother, Phyllis (Barr); brother, Keith; and a niece, Crystal. He is survived by his four children, ten grandchildren, three siblings and his beloved dog, Jackson. Celebration of Life services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Boulder Canyon Convention Center, near exit 30 in Sturgis, SD and another one held on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Chelsea Town Hall in Chelsea, SD. In lieu of flowers, an education fund for his...

Virginia C. Schwall, 99, died Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at Fountain Springs Nursing Home in Rapid City. Visitation will be from 2:00pm-4:00pm, with a prayer service at 3:30pm, on January 10, 2021 at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City. Funeral service will be at 11:00am on January 1, 20201 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Black Hills National Cemetery, near Sturgis. Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City. www.kirkfuneralhome.com

Tom Uhrich, 83, was called to his eternal home on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, surrounded by his family. He was born on August 17, 1937 to Stanis and Clara Uhrich in Roscoe, SD. Tom married Jean Uhrich on July 6, 1959. Tom and Jean owned and operated Homecraft Bakery and later Uhrich Goldsmiths and The Clock Shop. They enjoyed many trips together, mainly in their motorhome. They were married until Jean's death in 2018. He was blessed to have a second love when he married Marie Holm. He treasured family immensely. He is survived by his wife, Marie; son, Steve (Yvonne) Uhrich; daughter, Kris (Chris) Johnson; grandchildren, Ashlie Parks, Trevor (Heather) Johnson, and Dillon and...

Judy "Lundin" Hanson, age 72 of Spearfish, SD passed away unexpectedly at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. Judy Lundin was born April 21, 1948 in Brookings, SD the daughter of Marvin and Nora (Arvidson) Lundin. She grew up and graduated from Arlington High School in 1966. She attended Watertown Business School where she met life-long friends Linda Cook and Judy Everson. She married Larry Hanson in October of 1990. They resided in Watertown, SD until moving to Spearfish in 2007. Larry passed away September 14, 2020. They had nearly 30 years of happiness that they enjoyed, and never missed watching a Green Bay Packers game, together. Judy worked for...

Larry Dean Gearman, 83, Watertown, SD passed away November 19, 2020. Larry served in the United States Navy and will be laid to rest in the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD. Survivors include his brother, Loren (Johnna) Gearman of Watertown, SD. Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City, SD is in charge of arrangements.

Rapid City- Daniel Vernon Brandt, 70, passed away on November 17, 2020. Daniel Vernon Brandt was born in 1950 to Vernon & Bardena Brandt. He grew up in Agar, SD on a farm, where he learned to work hard. He graduated from Agar High School in 1969. While in high school, he played basketball and used to brag that he never took home a book for homework or to study. After graduation he went to Presentation College in Aberdeen and graduated from the Radiologic Technology program. Following graduation, he joined the Army and spent three years of the Vietnam War in Nuremberg, Germany shooting X-rays on the wounded servicemen that came to Germany for treatment. He worked for a few years at Ft....

Reuben Lehr, 88, of Sioux Falls, SD and formerly of Rapid City, SD, died Thursday, October 22, 2020 at Sioux Falls VA Medical Center. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Rapid City. Burial with military honors will be in Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD. Arrangements are with Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City. www.kirkfuneralhome.com

Gary D. Williams died at his home in Rapid City on October 3, 2020, at the age of 74. Gary was born the third of three boys to William Charles (Billy) and Shirley Williams on November 18, 1945, in Watertown, South Dakota, the place where Gary spent most of his life. As a child, he worked and played at the family's entertainment complex, Stony Point, on the shores of Lake Kampeska. He learned to swim and roller skate by age 3, spending many days making laps in the Spider Web, a unique circular roller skating rink designed and built by his grandfather. In his teens, Gary worked at the Stony Point resort picking golf balls off the driving range, working the dance hall, picking up empty...

Joyce Irena Walker was born on October 23, 1944 to John Emery Walker and Mable (Milbrandt) Walker in Aberdeen, South Dakota. She was raised in the Westport and Columbia, South Dakota, areas with her sisters; Marlyne and Karen; and brothers John, Kenneth, Lyle and Wayne. She graduated from Barnard High School in 1962 and moved to Sioux Falls soon after. She made the move on her motorcycle with nothing more than she could take on her bike. She made her living in a variety of jobs, most notably as a photo processor for Harold's Photo. She made her mark however, coaching and managing women's softball. One of her teams even won the state championship! She was head of the South Dakota Women's...

Delores Kumpf, 86, passed away on March 30, 2020 in Rapid City, SD. Delores was born September 11, 1933 at home in Long Lake, SD to Adam and Katherine Kappes. She married Robert Hieb on July 19, 1953 in Long Lake, SD. They farmed east of Roscoe, SD for 25 years and raised four children. Robert passed away June 14, 1995. Delores moved to Aberdeen, SD and married Melvin (Bud) Kumpf. Bud passed away on January 13, 2002. Delores worked as a cook at Primrose Apartments in Aberdeen for many years. She loved to garden and spend time with her special friend, Marvin Bucholz. She also enjoyed visiting her friends in their retirement/nursing homes. Delores was a faithful member of the WELS...

Christopher Ike Casey, 1 year and 7 months, of Rapid City, SD, passed away surrounded by his family at Sanford Children's Hospital of Sioux Falls on February 25, 2020. Christopher was born on July 20, 2018 to Brett and Murphy (Lammon) Casey in Oceanside, CA. Although having lived a short life, before leaving California and moving to South Dakota he was able to: visit SeaWorld in San Diego, attend a Major League Baseball game in Los Angeles, swim in the Pacific Ocean and enjoy an outing at DisneyLand. When at home with his family he enjoyed being outside, snuggling with mom or dad, drawing, terrorizing the family dog (Wrigley), playing with his favorite toys (his slide &...

Kenneth LeRoy Holm was born at home on June 15, 1938 in Aberdeen, SD. He graduated from Ipswich High School in 1956 and was recruited and offered a full scholarship to play football at SDSU. He graduated with a degree in Wildlife Conservation in 1960. He married Kathy Staver of Arispe, Iowa on May 27, 1963. They were married for 35 years, and had 3 children: Dana, Kenna, and David. Ken joined the Marine Corps in 1961 and served for 21 years including 2 tours in Vietnam, flying 1171 combat missions. Ken was a Command Pilot with HMX1 Presidential Marine Helicopter Squadron, flying Presidents Nixon and Ford. He was inducted into the South Dakota Aviators Hall of Fame in 2001. ...

Robert "Bob" R. Johnson, 76, Rapid City, SD passed away December 28, 2019. He served in the United States Army. Celebration of Life Services will be Friday, January 10, 2020 at 10:00am at Kirk Funeral Home. Inurnment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery. Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City.

Kathleen R. Buffalo Salzl, 74, died on December 19, 2019. Services are pending. Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City, SD