Obituaries

David Fiaoni

Published by admin on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 11:26am

David Ralph Fiaoni was born Dec. 15, 1927, in Chicago, Ill.  He proudly served in the Merchant Marines and the 82nd Airborne during WW II.   David retired from the Chicago Fire Department after 33 years of service.
David, of Hill City, S.D., passed away June 19, 2024.   He was 96.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Tina of Hill City; daughters, Annette (Ed) Bishop of Illinois, Karen Smoczkiewicz of Texas and Sharon Reeve of Louisiana;  11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Dianna Mullen

Published by admin on Wed, 06/26/2024 - 11:29am

Dianna Carrol Mullen was born June 19, 1948, to the late Robert Bailey and Dorothy Lawson Bailey.
Dianna was born at her grandparents’ home in Illinois and delivered by her grandma, Lawson, and her aunt, Opal. She was raised by Carl Casner Junior, whom she lovingly called daddy, and her mother Dorothy Casner.
On June 17, 1967, Dianna married Joe Mullen and they had 57 years of love and adventures. They raised their children in Ambia, Ind.
In 1996, they moved to Custer, S.D., where they have spent the last 28 years enjoying the many facets of the Black Hills.

Carl Palmer

Published by admin on Wed, 06/26/2024 - 11:28am

Carl Palmer was born July 20, 1959 in Sioux Falls, S.D., and spent the majority of his childhood in Arlington, S.D. He attended Arlington High School, and in 1976 enlisted into the Navy.

David Fiaoni

Published by admin on Wed, 06/26/2024 - 8:47am
David Ralph Fiaoni was born Dec. 15, 1927, in Chicago, Ill.  He proudly served in the Merchant Marines and the 82nd Airborne during WW II.   David retired from the Chicago Fire Department after 33 years of service.
David, of Hill City, S.D., passed away June 19, 2024.   He was 96. 
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Tina of Hill City; daughters, Annette (Ed) Bishop of Illinois, Karen Smoczkiewicz of Texas and Sharon Reeve of Louisiana;  11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Linda Jackson

Published by admin on Tue, 06/18/2024 - 8:40am

Linda Mae (Hattervig) Jackson was born Aug. 24, 1948, at Sioux Valley Hospital (now Sanford Hospital) in Sioux Falls, S.D., to Erma Mae and Thomas Ray Hattervig.
Linda spent her early years on a farm just east of Viborg, S.D. At the age of 5, her family moved into the town of Viborg, where she attended first and second grade. In 1956, they moved to Hill City, S.D., where Linda attended third grade. The following year, her family relocated to Custer, S.D., where Linda continued her education from fourth through 11th grade.

Lewis Compton

Published by admin on Tue, 06/18/2024 - 8:38am

Lewis “Louie” James Compton was born April 21, 1958, in Douglas, Wyo., to Lewis and Charlotte Compton.  
Louie loved his family and his friends.  He loved being in the woods, either playing or working.   His profession was forest restoration, managing trees and the forest.  
Louie, of Custer, S.D., passed away June 11, 2024, at his home in Custer. He was 66.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his daughter, Alice Madonna Compton.

Mary Stutz

Published by admin on Wed, 06/05/2024 - 11:42am

Mary Stutz was born Sept. 17, 1955, to David and Winifred Stutz in Columbus, Ohio. Mary graduated from Capitol University in 1977 and went on to obtain her masters in outdoor education with an emphasis in therapeutic recreation in 1988.
Mary worked in outdoor education centers and Lutheran camps in six states for over 42 years, including 23 years as assistant director of Outlaw and Atlantic Mountain Ranches in Custer.

Barbara Edwards

Published by admin on Wed, 06/05/2024 - 11:40am

Barbara J. Edwards was born Oct. 25, 1956, in Dallas, Texas to John “Ries” and Helen Bambenek. She spent most of her early life in Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Barb was well traveled and visited every state in the country while working a job that few women were allowed to do, remodeling Kmarts across the country. She made Custer, S.D., her home and final resting place.

Denise Dean

Published by admin on Wed, 06/05/2024 - 11:39am

Denise Lea Dean was born Dec. 31, 1935, to Clyde and Grace (Paris) Graham in an old shack six miles north of Pringle, S.D.
At 18 years of age, she married the handsome Donald James Dean. They lived, worked and started a family in the area alongside many relatives from both sides.
Denise loved Jehovah God, her family and people.  She was a human workhorse having as many as three jobs a day for years.
Denise Lea was 88 years old when she took her last break May 22, 2024 surrounded by family.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald James Dean.

Christa Upton

Published by admin on Wed, 06/05/2024 - 11:38am

Christa (Ittzes) Upton was born Feb. 7, 1970, in Columbus, Ohio, to Nick and Judy Ittzes.
While still in grade school she and her family moved to Hillsboro, Mo., where she graduated high school from Christian Outreach Day School.