Bittner Funeral Chapel

Roland Stekl, 95, of Mitchell, SD, died Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at Avera Brady Health and Rehab in Mitchell after a short illness. A private celebration of Roland's life will be held with family at a later date. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel. Roland Wesley Stekl was born to Harry and Anna (Meier) Stekl in Mitchell, South Dakota on June 7, 1927. The family farm was ten miles north of Mitchell. He attended rural school in Butler Township for his elementary school years and enrolled in Letcher High School in 1941. After his graduation from high school in 1945, he attended Dakota Wesleyan University until his enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1946. Most of his military experience...

Judith "Judy" Jira,81, of Plankinton, SD departed her loving family on October 20, 2022 at home in Plankinton. Funeral Services will be 10:30 AM Monday, October 24, 2022 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Plankinton, with burial to follow at Mizpah Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, October 23, from 5-7:00 PM at the St. Paul Lutheran Church with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Memorials are preferred to St. Paul Lutheran Church of Plankinton, SD. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel. Judy was born in Huron, SD on December 12, 1940 to Karle (Cy) and Mercedes Lyon. As a child she lived in Aberdeen and Mobridge as well as Sioux Falls and Mitchell. Judy graduated from Mitchell High School in...

Daun Whetsel, 90, died Tuesday, August 22, 2022, at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell. A memorial service honoring Daun's life will be held at Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell, on October 1, at 10:30 AM. Marnys (Daun) Rodee Whetsel beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, and sister passed from this life on August 22, 2022, in Mitchell, South Dakota. She was born March 28, 1932, in Mitchell, to Floyd and R. Grace (Smith) Rodee. Daun was the second of three children. Daun graduated from Garden City High School in 1950. Daun started at South Dakota State University in 1950 and graduated with a two-year degree in home economics and education in 1952. On July...

Barry Volk, 41, passed away Friday, June 17, 2022, peacefully in his home under hospice care. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Thursday, June 23, at St. Michael Catholic Church in Herreid, SD. Burial will be in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Strasburg, ND. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel. Barry Ray Volk was born January 12, 1981 in Linton, ND to Greg Volk and Jill Perman. He attended school in Herreid, SD and graduated from Ipswich High School in 1999. After high school, he took on various jobs that led him to his Agriculture Sales Career. Barry enjoyed rodeoing, ranching, taking out the pontoon, and his friends and family, especially time with his three daughters. Barry...

Duane Wald, 84, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Thursday, March 10, 2022, at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls. A memorial service will be 10:00 AM Saturday, March 19, at Bittner Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Friday, at Bittner Funeral Chapel. Duane is lovingly survived by his daughters and their families: Donnita (Dave) Folmer and daughter, Lauren Folmer, Bismarck, ND; Lynn (Darren) Paulson, Rapid City, SD; Kari (Steve) Gales and children, Davis and Brynn Gales, Watertown, SD. To view full obituary visit http://www.bittnerfuneralchapel.com/

Daniel Mastel, 54, of Mitchell, SD, died Sunday, December 26, 2021, in Mitchell. A visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Friday, January 7, 2022 at Bittner Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at a later date at Riverside Cemetery in Aberdeen, SD. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel. Daniel Mastel was born March 30, 1967, to Eugene and Karen (Knie) Mastel in Aberdeen, SD. Dan grew up in Aberdeen and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1985. After high school, he continued his education at Northern State University. He then served in the United States Air Force from 1986 to 1992, and was stationed in the Philippines and Saudi Arabia. Daniel worked for Gateway, the Sioux Falls Airport,...

Laurel "Lori" Wald, 84, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Saturday, October 30, 2021, surrounded by her family at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell. Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM Friday, November 5, at Bittner Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Thursday at Bittner Funeral Chapel with a 6:00 PM prayer service. She is lovingly remembered by her husband of 62 years, Duane Francis; daughters, Donnita (Dave) Folmer and their daughter Lauren Folmer, Bismarck, ND; Lynn (Darren) Paulson, Rapid City, SD; Kari (Steve) Gales and their children, Davis and Brynn Gales, Watertown, SD.

Bette Hirsch, 60, of Plankinton, SD, passed away Sunday, July 11, 2021 at Aurora-Brule Nursing Home in White Lake, SD. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Friday, July 16, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in White Lake. Visitation will be from 9:30-10:00 AM July 16, at the Church with a Rosary Service at 10:00 AM. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel. Bette Lynn (Carda) Hirsch was born on November 23, 1960 to John and Erma Carda in Aberdeen, SD. She grew up on the family farm near Chelsea, SD. She graduated from Northwestern High School in 1979. She attended Northern State College and graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration in 1983. After graduation, she moved to Sioux Falls and was...

Marcia Hieb, 91, of Mitchell, SD, died Friday, July 9, 2021 at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls surrounded by her loved ones. Funeral services were held Monday, July 12, at Grace Reformed Church in Mitchell. Burial was at Gracehill Cemetery in Tripp, SD. Funeral arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel. Marcia Priscilla Hieb was born December 31, 1929 in Claremont, SD to Homer T. Swanson and Edith C. (Miller) Swanson. Marcia was the 2nd oldest of 4 children, Mavis Johansen, Sharon Thompson, and Curtis Swanson. Marcia was raised on a farm near Claremont, SD and graduated from high school in 1947. She attended South Dakota State University for 1 semester, but returned to the farm to help...

Jerald "Jerry" Burke, 44, of Plankinton, SD, died Monday, February 1, 2021 in Plankinton. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Thursday, February 4, 2021 at St. John's Catholic Church in Plankinton. Graveside service will be 3:00 PM Thursday at Esterly Cemetery in rural Florence, SD. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Wednesday at the Church with a 6:30 PM Scripture Service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Athena Rush, 79, of Mitchell, SD, died Sunday, November 29, 2020, at Diamond Care Center in Bridgewater. Burial will be at a later date at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown, SD. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Ervin Kruse, 83, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Thursday, November 26, 2020 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab in Mitchell. A memorial service will be held at a later date in the spring. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel. Ervin (Ernie) Kruse was born April 28, 1937 and grew up on a farm near Columbia with 2 sisters and 3 brothers. He went to school and graduated from Columbia High School. He attended SDSU for 1 year then transferred to Northern College where he later graduated with an education degree. He taught at Claremont then finished his teaching career in Langford. He was a well-respected math teacher and coach. He coached track and basketball at times during his 40 year...

Ervin Kruse, 83, of Mitchell, SD, died Thursday, November 26, 2020 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab in Mitchell. Funeral arrangements are pending under the direction of Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Nicholas J. Weber, 89, passed away November 21, 2020 peacefully at home from natural causes surrounded by his family. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Friday, November 27 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Mitchell. A rosary will be at 10:00 AM before the Mass of Christian Burial. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel. Nicholas was born on July 20, 1931 to Nicholas and Leona (Thelen) Weber on the family farm near Parkston, SD. He attended grade school in Dimock and Parkston, then Parkston High School. Nick joined the Army on April 5, 1951, transferred to reserves on April 5, 1953 with honorable discharge on February 18, 1957. On...

David Walth, 68, Mitchell, died Thursday, Nov 19, 2020 at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Due to COVID restrictions a private family ceremony will be 9:00 AM Wednesday, November 25 at the Bittner Funeral Chapel. Masks are required. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel. David was born April 5, 1952 in Aberdeen, SD to Otto and Mildred (Werre) Walth. He lived and went to school at Roscoe, SD. He later resided in Ipswich and Aberdeen until his mother passed away on March 4, 2008. He then moved to Cathedral Squares in Mitchell. He loved having coffee, playing bingo, dining out and being with family and friends. A special thank you to Cathedral Squares and Lifequest for all of their...

Rudolph Bittner, 94, of Mitchell, SD, died Monday, October 26, 2020 at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Thursday, November 12, 2020 at Grace Reformed Church in Mitchell. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Wednesday, November 11 at Bittner Funeral Chapel with a 6:30 PM prayer service. The family requests masks are worn. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Paul Kemp, 79, took his place in Heaven on January 9, 2020. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel. Paul's formative years were spent on the Salt Creek Oil Field, Midwest, Wyoming, where he was introduced to all things mechanical. Paul joined the US Navy following high school and learned a life vocation as a machinist. After graduation from college and marriage, he was employed at Lake Area Vocational Technical School as a machine shop instructor. He was a founding partner of Dynamic Engineering, where he could combine his two loves, gray iron and selling. Nothing made his day more than making a sale and bringing in work for the shop. After retirement, he became an avid trap shooter...

Jason Robert Knigge, age 33, of Watertown, South Dakota, passed away Saturday, December 21, 2019 from a brain aneurysm. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Friday, December 27, 2019 at Downtown Mitchell First United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Thursday, December 26, at Downtown Mitchell First United Methodist Church. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel. Jason Robert Knigge was born in Sioux Falls, SD on May 12, 1986 to Robert and Jeannette (Lehman) Knigge. He graduated from Mt. Vernon Public School in 2004. Jason became a father on October 18, 2005, to a beautiful daughter named Shaylin Jo Knigge. He continued...

Ardella Wylie, 88, of Sioux Falls, SD, died Sunday, July 28, 2019, at Good Samaritan Society Luther Manor in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be 1:00 PM Monday, August 5, 2019, at Heritage Funeral Home in Sioux Falls. Entombment will be at Restlawn Memory Gardens in Huron. Arrangements are under the direction of Bittner Funeral Chapel.