Darlene Jean (Smith) Phelps, age 87, of Colman, passed away Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at the Bethany Home in Brandon. A private family funeral service will be 1:00 PM, Thursday, January 28, 2021, at the Ellsworth Funeral Home in Madison. Visitation open to the public will be from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, prior to the service. Darlene was born the first of five children to David and Alide (Carsrud) Smith on August 9, 1933, in Colman. She graduated from Rutland High School and and went...

David R. Meehan, age 43, of Madison, passed away suddenly Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at Madison Regional Health System. A Celebration of Life service will be 2:00 PM, Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at the Ellsworth Funeral Home in Madison. He was born to David R Meehan Sr and Letha A Meehan in Green Bay, WI, on October 25th, 1977. David grew up in Madison, SD and lived there his entire life.  He received his GED, and he married Jennifer Lynn Rezac on November 12th,...

Jerald "Jerry" Lee Heckenlaible, age 78, of Madison, died Thursday, January 7, 2021, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls. A memorial service will occur at a later date. Jerry was born May 15, 1942 in Pierre, SD to Ronald Reinhold “Rhiney” and Katherine (Rath) Heckenlaible. His mother said she heard the noon whistle blow just as he took his first breath.  He spent his entire childhood on his parent’s ranch 2 miles south of Highmore, SD....

Larry Lewis Schaffer, age 80, of Ramona, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on January 6, 2021. Per Larry’s request, no funeral service will be held. Visitation will be 5-7 PM, Monday, January 11, 2021, at the Ellsworth Funeral Home in Madison. Burial will be 1:00 PM, Tuesday, at the Ramona Cemetery. Larry was born on January 31, 1940 in Milbank, South Dakota to Lloyd and Della (DeVaal) Schaffer. He moved with his parents from Milbank to Ramona SD in 1947....

Donna Lidel, age 86, of Madison, died Friday, December 11, 2020, at Bethel Lutheran Home in Madison. Private funeral services for family only will be 2:00 PM, Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Madison. The service will be live streamed on the Our Savior Lutheran Church Facebook page. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery at Wentworth. Donna Mae Diepholz was born October 24, 1934, near Wentworth to Chris and Alma (Kotte) Diepholz. She was raised...

Julio Diaz, age 75, passed away on Friday, November 20, 2020, at Aventara Care Center in Arlington, SD. Memorial services will be held Friday, November 27, 2020, at 1:00 PM at Ellsworth Funeral Home in Madison, SD. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Masks will be required at all services. Julio was born February 5th, 1945 in Fowlerton, Texas to Santos and Julia Diaz. As a child who enjoyed hunting, Julio helped provide for his family and other families in need. He moved to...

Keith Edward Bahr, age 74, of Madison, passed away at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD on Thursday, November 19, 2020. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at Ellsworth Funeral Home in Madison SD, with burial following at Graceland Cemetery. There will be visitation one hour prior to the service. Keith Edward Bahr was born to Earl and Ellenor (Nelson) on May 13, 1946 in Madison, SD.  He served 4 years in the Navy on a ship in California, when...

Joyce Raastad, age 80, of Madison, died Monday, November 16, 2020, in Littleton, CO. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday. November 28, 2020, at the Ellsworth Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery. Joyce Elaine Mavis Raastad was born to John and Mae (Marsh) Christensen of Bryant, SD, on December 19, 1939. She attended school in Bryant, SD. After graduating, she married Arlie Raastad of Hazel, SD, in 1958. Together they had three daughters.  Joyce enjoyed...

Jessie Reed, age 92, of Madison, passed away on Saturday, October 17, 2020 at Bethel Lutheran Home in Madison. Private family services will be at Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery in Madison. Jessie was born on November 25, 1927 in Madison, SD to Rashed and Pheobe (Richards) Shaheen. She graduated from General Beadle high school and attended a Business School in Minneapolis. She married Leroy Reed on June 11, 1949, in Graceville, Minnesota. She raised 3...

Francis James “Jim" “Fitty" Fitzgerald, 78, of Madison, SD passed away Wednesday October 7, 2020, at the Madison Regional Health System with his wife and family by his side, after a short battle with lung cancer. A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday at 6:00 PM, with family present at 5:00, at the Ellsworth Funeral Home.  Jim was born October 16, 1941 in Montrose to Francis L and Helen L (Brand)...