Phyllis J. Skattum

HARRISBURG - Phyllis J. Skattum, 78, died Wednesday July 8, 2009, at Sanford Hospice Foundation Cottage in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 11, 2009, at Shalom Lutheran Church followed by interment at Pleasant View Cemetery, Harrisburg. Visitation begins at 3 p.m. today at George Boom Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, where the family will greet friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A prayer service will begin at 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Phyllis was born the daughter of Martin T. and Clara (Sherman) Welter on Feb. 5, 1931, at Sioux Falls, S.D. She graduated from Harrisburg (S.D.) High School in 1949.

Phyllis was united in marriage with Russell M. Skattum on Sept. 12, 1953, at Springdale Lutheran Church south of Sioux Falls. After their marriage, the couple farmed for a short time. Together they lived in Canton, Sioux Falls and Rapid City before returning to Sioux Falls in 1985.

Phyllis worked for Ellsworth A.F.B., the Social Security Administration, and the Veterans Administration prior to her retirement in 1993. She was a member of Shalom Lutheran Church in Harrisburg and was a former member of Hope Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls where she was a past president of the church women, was a member of the choir, taught Sunday school and participated in Bible study.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Nancy (Tim) Burns, Sioux Falls, Dale (Rhonda) Skattum, Colorado Springs, Colo., Craig (Leslie) Skattum, Rapid City; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Lydia (Robert) Poppens, Lennox, S.D.; one brother, Martin "Buzz" (Verona) Welter, Harrisburg; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Russell on May 29, 1999; a grandson, Adam Burns; one sister, Mildred Hoffman; and one brother, Earl "Bud" Welter.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Shalom Lutheran Church Building Fund in Phyllis's memory. An online registry is available at www.georgeboom.com

Marie Muller

RAPID CITY - Marie Muller, 70, Rapid City, died Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Survivors include two sons, Bobby and David Muller, both of Rapid City; one daughter, Rhonda Muller, Rapid City; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are pending with Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home.

Janell Quenzer

HILL CITY - Janell Quenzer, 51, Hill City, died Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at her home. Survivors include her husband, Steve, Hill City; three sons, Nathan Meyer and Andy Quenzer, both of Hill City, and Levi Fox, Loveland, Colo., one daughter, Tenaya Fox, Hill City; her mother, Ardis Meyer, Hill City; one brother, Dean Meyer, Hill City; three sisters, Carole Maxfield and Tami Zinda, both of Hill City, and Delores Hansen, Elko, Nev.; and four grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, July 13, at Edstrom & Rooks Funeral Services at Serenity Springs, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, at the Hill City High School Theatre, with the Rev. Pat Coy officiating. Burial will follow at Hill City Community Cemetery.

An online guestbook is available at www.serenityspringsfuneralchapel.com

Jacob T. Langager

RAPID CITY - Jacob T. Langager, 88, Rapid City, died Thursday, July 9, 2009, at his home.

Survivors include his wife, Marcella Langager, Rapid City; two sons, Gregory Langager, Gurnee, Ill., and Curtis Langager, Colorado Springs, Colo.; five grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Services are pending with Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

Carissa Lynn Vice

MINNEAPOLIS - Carissa Lynn Vice, 22, Rapid City, S.D., died Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at University of Minnesota Medical Center-Fairview.

Survivors include her parents, Charles and Glenda Vice, Rapid City; and one brother, Logan Vice, Minneapolis.

Services are pending with Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

John T. Ghost

MANDERSON - John T. Ghost, 63, Manderson, died Wednesday, July 8, 2009, in Pine Ridge.

Survivors include seven sons, Frank Ghost and Sean Ghost, both of Oglala, John Ghost, Manderson, Daren Ghost, Aberdeen, Tim Kills Small, Sioux Falls, Nicholas Black Elk, Bismarck, N.D., and Tim Ghost, Colorado Springs, Colo.; four daughters, Twila Ghost, Adrian Brewer and Clair Ghost, all of Manderson, and Misty Ghost, Pierre; and five sisters, Cindy Plenty Arrows, Wounded Knee, Wanda Thayer, Hermosa, and Joyce Little Dog, Janice Little Dog and Darla Swain, all of Manderson.

A one-night wake will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12, at St. Agnes Catholic Hall in Manderson.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, July 13, at the hall, with the Rev. Phil Cooke officiating. Burial will be St. Agnes Catholic Cemetery in Manderson.

Sioux Funeral Home in Pine Ridge is handling the arrangements.

Sandra Lynn Fromm

RAPID CITY - I was asked to write something I have never written before. I was asked to write something I was not prepared to write. I was asked to write something that at first seemed so depressing and morbid I did not even want to think about it. I was asked "if I would write our Mother's obituary." A million thoughts that had been racing through my mind just exploded exponentially. How do you write an obituary? How do you even begin to put in words the life of a person that was so extraordinary that no paper, pen or camera could capture? How does one person write about someone who always saw the good in so many people? How does one person write about someone who never thought of herself but instead would give her every penny, minute, word, breath, hug, and tear in caring about someone other than herself? How does one person write about someone who was loved by so many? This is not a typical obituary … yet neither is our mother … and I sat down by our ailing mother and asked God's help in writing her obituary. As I am literally sitting and listening to our mother take her last breaths in the middle of the night against the background of a peaceful summer breeze, the task that was posed all of a sudden took on new meaning. What an honor to write about someone who was so special in so many different ways; yet at the same time what a challenge to write about someone who was so loving and giving - never taking - that God himself could use her as an example of how one should strive to live their life. Where do you even begin with such an honor? It seems backwards in today's world that what makes headline news is usually a story of tragedy or a story of a winning season; yet where is the trophy or plaque or headline for living a life so full of goodness that it seems straight out of the Bible. Maybe that is where to begin - "faith" - and our mother's trophy lives on within all the people she has touched.

Wikipedia defines "faith" as the "confident belief or trust in the truth of or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing." If you added the word always - as in "always confident" - you would have the beginnings of a definition that would describe our mother because she always had faith (belief and trust) in so many different people, ideas, and things. Her faith in God and Church were always prevalent. She loved our God always - in times of happiness just as much as times of challenge. She always knew what to say in every situation and it usually ended with her example of her strong faith in the Church. Our father/her husband told us when God places his hands on someone it is time for us to take our hands off. It is comforting to know that God is taking care in placing his hands on Sandra Lynn Fromm who took her last breath at 73 years of age.

Sandra Grimmer was born Jan. 9, 1936, in Wausau, Wisc. She received her education in Appleton, Wisc., before attending the School of Nursing in Evanston, Ill., in association with Northwestern University. She went on to marry Harold E. Fromm on June 18, 1957.

Sandra died at home on Thursday, July 9, 2009, in peace surrounded by all of her family. She was preceded by her parents and is survived by her husband, her brother, five children with their spouses, and her grandchildren - which brings me back to the definition of faith. Our mother's faith in her family was always present, confident, believing, trusting, and never ending. Family is what always mattered most to our mother. Family always came first to Sandra - never herself - but her family - always. Her husband, Harold, was her rock and foundation. His life was truly one with hers. She was always with her husband, routinely by his side and always in her thoughts. Examples are far too many to write but her love for him always came before herself. Our parents stayed by each other's side in marriage for 52 years. Her faith was always with him, supporting him, and caring for him and thus she had faith he would always be there for her - and he was. In addition to her husband, Sandra is survived by her brother Boyd Grimmer with his wife, Carol, and their family who share the same wonderful values as our mother. Sandra's five children with their spouses: Deb (spouse Karl), Stuart (Joanna), Chris (Kimberly), Dave (Eli), and Ted (engaged to Linda) -along with her grandchildren (Nick, Jenn, Chase, Jake, Nick, Drew, Addie, Osten and Bode) - were her greatest joy throughout her life. Our mother loved her children and grandchildren more than anything in the whole world and she made this obvious. It is hard not to take her love for granted because it was always there day in and day out. We always knew our mother was there when we needed her. Her gentle care and kind words were just around the comer. Her trust, belief, and faith in us never faltered. She was so impressed by our accomplishments no matter what they were. It didn't matter what age we were or what we achieved - big or small - she was equally proud of all of us - every accomplishment every single day - and she would always tell us. We were in her thoughts no matter what she was doing and we knew it. All we had to do was to pick up the phone, send an email, or just stop by, because we knew she would always be glad to see us or hear from us; there was never a bad time. Even in the last days of her battle against cancer, we were always welcome in her life no matter what time of day or how much pain she was in; so much so that even her last words were about the joy of her family - the joy of seeing us, the joy of hearing us, and the joy of touching us. We always felt like kings and queens when around Sandra. Her smile, laugh, hugs, words, compassion … and faith … will never be forgotten. Sandra's trophy lives on within her family. It is truly an honor and privilege to be her husband, brother, daughter, son and grandchild. She was one of those rare people who could always take any kind of lemon and magically turn it into lemonade.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 11, 2009 at Osheim and Schmidt Funeral Home with the Rev. Jim Lindekugel officiating. Friends may sign the online guestbook and leave condolences at www.osheimschmidt.com