June 2010

Viola Werdebaugh
Viola Werdebaugh, 95, of Alcester, died June 7, 2010 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral services were held Saturday, June 12 at Nathanael Lutheran Church in Alcester.
Laura Viola Herbrandson was born at her family farm in Norway Township, Lincoln County, SD on November 23, 1914. Her parents were Henry and Anne (Asper) Herbrandson. She was the youngest of five siblings.
Viola attended Normanna Elementary School, Red Wing Seminary in Red Wing, MN and Alcester High School, graduating in 1933. She graduated from Swedish Hospital School of Nursing, Minneapolis, MN in 1936 and began her nursing career. Viola held a variety of positions which included hospital nursing, American Red Cross, YMCA Camp, assistant director at Mooseheart Hospital, Mooseheart, IL and head of the Medical Department at Bell & Howell Company, Lincolnwood, IL. She retired in 1974.
Viola met Fred Werdebaugh at Mooseheart and they were married April 30, 1955. Fred died in 1975. In 1984, Viola returned to Alcester where she has continued to live. She has been active in numerous community groups including her church quilting and circle groups, RLD study club, Union County Historical Society and Senior Citizens. Viola also researched extensive information about her immigrant Norwegian grandparents and their descendents for a family publication. She enjoyed travel and visited Norway, Alaska, Hawaii, the Maritime Provinces, Australia and New Zealand. Staying connected with her extended family and many friends was always a priority.
Viola is survived by her nephew, Roger Herbrandson (Patti) of Allen, TX; four nieces, Marjory Thorstenson (Verne) of Rapid City, Beverly Behrens (Ralph) of Forest Lake, IL, Sally Sabo of Sun City, AZ and Deborah Russell (Kirk) f Fort Dodge, IA; 15 grandnephews and nieces and 17 great-grandnephews and nieces. Her husband; parents; three brothers, Elmer, Lester and Clarence; sister, Iona Twedt; and niece, Norma Twedt Cornelius preceded her in death.

Eleanor Harvey
Eleanor Harvey, 91, of Akron, IA, passed away Thursday, June 10, 2010 at the Akron Care Center in Akron. Funeral services were held June 14 at Union Creek Lutheran Church, rural Akron, with Rev. Carla Nelson officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Eleanor Sylvenia Stene was born April 5, 1919 on the family farm in Union County, South Dakota, the daughter of Edward and Sophia (Buum) Stene. She attended country school in Union County, SD.
She was united in marriage to Donald Harvey on June 3, 1937 at Peace Lutheran Church near Alcester. They lived on several farms in Union County, South Dakota and Plymouth County, Iowa. Eleanor was a homemaker for her family. After retiring, they continued to live on the farm in Union County. In 1992, they moved to Akron. Don passed away October 17, 2002. Eleanor continued to live in their home until October 31, 2009, when she became a resident of the Akron Care Center.
Eleanor was a longtime member of Union Creek Lutheran Church having served in the ladies aide for many years. She was also a member of the Union County Extension Club for many years. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, gardening, and Artex painting. Eleanor also loved to cook for friends and family, especially the Norwegian foods, including lutefisk and flatbread. But most of all, she loved the times spent with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Survivors include her 6 children: Sharon McPherson (Fred) of Fort Dodge, IA, Duane Harvey (Alvina) of Baltic, Jim Harvey (Penny) of Akron, IA, Linda Rolfes (Stan) of Akron, IA, Nancy Sveeggen (Leroy) of Alcester, and Douglas Harvey (Tamara) of Casper, WY; 27 grandchildren; 42 great grandchildren; 2 sisters: Lois Winquist of Akron, IA, and Betty Hair of Akron, IA; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donald; and three sisters in infancy.

Heath David Steeneck
Heath David Steeneck was born June 10, 1981 in Akron, IA to parents David and Orinda (Swoyer) Steeneck. He died June 16, 2010 at the age of 29 years and 6 days.
Heath grew up in Beresford and graduated from Beresford High School in 2000. He worked at various jobs in this area including Dakota Millwork and most recently driving truck for Todd Larsen Trucking.
Heath was baptized at Roseni Lutheran Church and was confirmed at Emmanuel Lutheran Church where he was currently a member. He enjoyed cars and racing, 4-wheeling, playing darts, bowling, softball and fishing and was an avid Boston Celtics and New York Giants fan. Heath’s greatest joy in life was his family and friends. Whether they were hanging out telling stories or he was teasing them, he loved being with them and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, his paternal grandfather, and a brother in infancy.
His survivors include his parents David and Orinda Steeneck of Beresford; sister Shannon Steckelburg and husband Dave of Beresford; niece Alesha Steckelburg; fiancé Tina DeBoer of Rock Valley, IA; grandmother Delores Steeneck of Beresford; and many aunts, uncles, relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Saturday, June 19 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, rural Beresford, with burial following in the church cemetery.

Earl Joseph Farley
Earl Joseph Farley, 85, of Beresford, died Thursday, June 24, 2010, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls after a long, hard-fought battle. Funeral services were held June 29 at St. Teresa's Catholic Church followed by burial with military honors at the church cemetery.
Earl was born to Len and Gertie (Merrigan) Farley on July 18, 1924 on a farm south of Beresford.
Earl was a proud veteran having served as a Gunners Mate in the US Navy from 1944 to 1946 during WW II and as an Aircraft/Engineer Mechanic in the US Air Force from 1950 to 1954 during the Korean War. He married Lucy (Gemmill) Farley on November 30, 1954 at Mayfield. They had nine children, 23 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Earl worked for Lantaff Distributing in Beresford for 26 years. He then went to work at Sioux Steam Cleaners until retirement.
He is survived by his wife, Lucy Farley; children, Theresa (Marv) Kingma of Hawarden, IA, Shellie (Ralph) Delaney of Lennox, Gene (Kelly) Farley of Sioux Falls, Linda (Todd) Merrick and Mary (Neal) Barnes of Alcester, Andrea (Kory) Knight of Hartford, and Tim “Butch” (Amy) Farley and Joanne (Brian) Cotton of Beresford; grandchildren, Amy (Paul) Anema, Jeff (Kari) Kingma, Derek Farley, Melissa (Jesse) Voegeli, Miranda (Justin) Bunde, Caitlin (Nate) Stoltenburg, Fletcher and Flint Farley, Alex, Lance, and Levi Merrick, Jared and Emilee Barnes, Amanda (Shay) Kayser, Kylee and Landry Knight, Lucy, Annie and Bennett Farley, Tysen Holden and Hunter Cotton; great-grandchildren, Taylor, Samantha, and Jackson Anema; Ava and Michaela Kingma, Landon Voegeli, Phillip Delaney and Aiden and Owen Bunde. Also surviving is Earl’s sister, Phyllis (Dave) Sibbernsen of Bennington, NE; a special nephew, Denny (Judy) Dennis of Ankeny, IA; niece, Mary Pat Farley of Bothell, Washington, and special caregiver and friend of Earl and Lucy, Angie Lyle.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Delmar and Gene Farley, sister, Lenore Dennis, his son Patrick Farley, and a grandson Joseph Delaney.

Joyce Sommervold
Joyce Sommervold, 88, of Beresford, died Friday, June 25, 2010 at Bethesda Nursing Home in Beresford. Funeral services were held June 28 at Roseni Lutheran Church, rural Beresford, with burial at the church cemetery.
Joyce Sommervold was born August 30, 1921 in rural Beresford, to parents James and Anna (Johnson) Fedderson. She attended Brule rural school and graduated from Beresford High School.
She married Marvin Sommervold on August 31, 1940. The couple resided most of their married life on a farm south of Beresford where she stayed busy as a mother and homemaker. She also worked for the City of Beresford for 3 years. The couple moved into town four years ago. Joyce became a resident of Bethesda Nursing Home in December of 2009 and has lived there until the present time.
Joyce was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Rockfield Lutheran Church and later became a member of Roseni Lutheran where she was involved with the Ladies Aid, Bible study and the quilting group. Her hobbies and interests included gardening, sewing and being a wonderful cook.
She was preceded in death by her parents, grandson Brian, sister Alta Peterson, brother Kenneth Fedderson, a sister Delores in infancy, sisters-in-law DeVonna and Clarice Fedderson, brothers-in-law Robert Postin and Franklin Peterson, and grandson-in-law Matt Kleinhesselink.
Her survivors include her husband Marvin Sommervold of Beresford three sons, Merlyn Sommervold and wife Sherran of Chancellor, Arvid Sommervold and wife Debra of Brookings, and Steven Sommervold and wife Carol of Alcester; 8 grandchildren, Brent (Cheryl) Sommervold, Bonnie Kleinhesselink and fiance John, Barry (Tina) Sommervold, Angela (John) Maher, Susan (Adam) Forma, Mark Sommervold, Matt (Jessica) Sommervold, and Chad Sommervold and fiance Brianna; 11 great grandchildren, Mitchell, Britney, Wyatt, Justice, Jersey, Brayden, Lexi, Jordan, Max, Natalie and Jordan; a sister Ardis Postin, Cheyenne, WY and a brother Clayton Fedderson, Beresford; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Marilyn Jean Samp
Marilyn Jean Samp, 66, died Sunday, June 27, 2010. Funeral services were held June 30 at Christ Episcopal Church in Yankton, with Rev. Jim Pearson and Rev. Nate Hanson from Lands Lutheran officiating. A private family burial of cremated remains was held at the Yankton Cemetery.
Marilyn Jean Samp was born March 4, 1945, in Sioux City, IA, to Edward and Carolyn (Engen) Oberhelman, who were farmers north of Sioux City at the time.
She attended elementary school in Westfield, IA, and high school in Obert, NE, where she graduated as Valedictorian.
Marilyn then continued her education at Yankton College where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work in 1967. She married Donald W. Samp from Chicago on September 4, 1965 while at Yankton College and the couple moved to the Chicago area in June 1967.
Marilyn began her career in social work in Chicago, working for Cook County Public Assistance. In 1979 they moved to the Omaha area with Northern Natural Gas and to the Houston, TX area in 1986 with Enron, where Marilyn worked until 1996.
Don and Marilyn divorced in 2000 and she returned to the rural Yankton area.
Since July 2003 Marilyn has shared her life with her dear friend and love, John Gubbrud. They spent many summers at his lodge in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada and shared some wonderful fishing and travel experiences together.
Marilyn is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Green and husband Steve of Keller, TX, and their three children: Chase, Tyler and Judencie. She is also survived by son, Jeffrey Samp and his wife Leigh of Houston, TX. She is also survived by her dear friend and love, John D.Gubbrud of Alcester, her brother, Dennis Oberhelman of Randolph, NE, and many other extended family members, wonderful neighbors and great friends.
Memorials may be made to Avera McKennan Foundation, PO Box 5045, Sioux Falls, SD 57117: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210: or to the Yankton College Scholarship Fund, PO Box 133, Yankton, SD 57078.