Black Hills Bagels Blog

Sister Barb and i just returned from Winner.  My brother Casey Met us there for our Aunt Bonnie’s funeral.  She was 76. Casey tried to fly from Michigan to R.C. Friday and drive to Winner with us. But his plante couldn’t land because of the weather so He was diverted to Denver. Hopped on another flight to S.F. and rented a car and drove to Winner.  Anyway Winner is the hometown of my parents and many family members from both sides still live there. About 3600 residents. Times are tough even for small towns that are agriculture based.  Not so much the general economy as the fact that our farmers and ranchers cannot make it on the land unless they get really big with really big equipment.  Even my cousins, Dixie and Galen left the Dairy farm business several years ago.  They miss it not so much for the 5:30 a.m.  and 6 pm milkings 7 days a week but because its such a great way of life.  Funerals like my Aunts are still escorted to the cemetary with a police escort.  All Drivers pull over to the side of the road in respect as the Hearse and mourners pass by.When my brother and sister and I came home, we went viaMission and Parmalee and Belvidere.  Have you ever been on that hiway—rather road.  It goes from no shoulders pavement to loose gravel. We had to slow down for an  pony literally standing on the side of the road just watching people (not many of course) go by. There is never a good time for a funeral.  We all hate them and know it’s a part of life. But somehow for me as I was taking in the weekend – the murners, the cold wind, barren trees and snowy landscape, I couldn’t help but think what more appropropriate time for a funeral.  I always think of the words written on a tombstone for a wonderful man in Belle Fourche.  “With a wave of the hand and a cherry smile,she has wandered into an unknown place and left us wondering how very fair it must be since she lingers there.” 

Debra