Elaine Ann Lundberg passed away on Thursday, Oct.15, 2026, after a remarkably strong and blessed life of 97 years. She leaves a legacy of family and friends, who were the center of her life. Elaine was a woman of great faith, which gave her daily strength. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Risen Savior Catholic Church, Brandon, at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, with Interment following at St. Michael Cemetery in Sioux Falls.
Obituaries
Jonathan “Jon” Gamber, 62 of Mitchell, died Friday, Oct. 8, 2026 at UNMC Hospital in Omaha, Neb. Memorial visitation will be from 6-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, at Will Funeral Chapel in Mitchell. Memorial services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, also at Will Funeral Chapel. Interment with military honors will follow the service at Serviceman’s Memorial Cemetery in Mitchell. A link to view the service and an online guestbook will be available at www.willfuneralchapel.com
Jonathan “Jon” Edward Gamber was born in Minneapolis, Minn., to Harold and Betty (Hendrickson) Gamber on Dec. 15, 1963. He was raised in Sioux City, Iowa, Artesian, S.D., and was a 1982 graduate of Mitchell High School.
Judith Vandersnick, 85, of Renner, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, at the Avera Prince of Peace Transitional Care Unit in Sioux Falls.
A memorial visitation was held Monday, Oct. 12, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home in Garretson. Burial took place prior to the visitation at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Sioux Falls.
Marilyn Mae Williamson, 75, of Garretson, passed away peacefully in her home on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. Funeral services were held Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, at Zion Lutheran Church, Garretson.
Robert “Bob” Backer, 75, of Pipestone, Minn., passed away Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Memorial services were held Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, at Peace Methodist Church, Pipestone.
Riley Vander Esch, 21, of Sioux Falls, passed away Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, surrounded by her family at her home after a 15-month battle with Diffuse Midline Glioma. Her funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at St. Mary’s University Chapel, 2500 Park Ave., in Winona, Minn. Visitation with the family present will take place from 12 to 2 p.m., also at the University. On Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, the family will be present for a visitation between 1-4 p.m. at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Sioux Falls. A private family burial will be held on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, at Polish Cemetery in Lesterville, S.D.
During National Newspaper Week, we should all ask what would happen if our local newspaper suddenly disappeared.
Our community would lose more than headlines.
Alvin “Sonny” Cletus Wieneke, 87, of Luverne, Minn., passed away Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage, surrounded by his family after a brief battle with lymphatic cancer.
Funeral Mass was held Monday, Oct. 5, 2026 at St. Catherine Catholic Church, Luverne. Burial with full military honors was in the St. Catherine Cemetery.
Charles Edward Madison, 87, of Brandon, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at Heartland Funeral Home in Brandon. Family and friends are invited to gather to remember Charles, share stories, and celebrate his life.
Dianne Loraine Gustafson, 75, Sioux Falls, SD, died Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at Good Samaritan Society in Howard.
A Celebration of Life is planned from 5-7p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, at Heartland Funeral Home in Brandon.
