On July 12, nine Philip athletes tested what their 338 cumulative miles of individual training so far this summer have done for them.

They also helped the Wall Community Cancer Cause by participating in the five kilometer run/walk fundraiser.

Philip's Christy Ferguson took first place in the women's 30-to-39 age bracket, and took 22nd place overall, with a time of 29:59.

Mass of Christian burial for Nonabelle Ellefson, age 85, of Philip, SD, formerly of Faith, SD, was celebrated Monday, July 21, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Faith. Father Marcin Garbacz and Father John Heying officiated with burial at the White Owl Cemetery.

Nonabelle Howie was born February 14, 1923, at Faith SD, to Earl Delano and Rose Isabel (Hellekson) Howie. She attended Barada Rural School, graduated from Faith High School, and attended a year of college at Black Hills State.

On December 26, 1940, she married Victor Julian Ellefson.

Raymond Keith Tyler, age 78 of Kerrville, Texas, died May 21, 2008, at the Alpine Terrace Nursing Home in Kerrville, Texas.

Memorial services will be held Friday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church (629 Kansas City St.) in Rapid City, with Pastor Lin Jennewein officiating.

Music will be provided by Diane Ketel, organist, and Maureen Tyler and Jil Jennewein, vocalists. Ushers are Andy Wilson and David Reid.

Ray was born on June 28, 1929 to Arthur Tyler and Mildred Perkins Tyler in Sioux Falls, SD.

Marilyn Prokop, age 64 of Kadoka, SD, died July 20, 2008, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 23, at the United Methodist Church, with Pastor Sonja Wilcox officiating.

Music was provided by Pastor Wilcox. The eulogy was given by Sheri Webster. Ushers were Charlie Carlson, Luke Vander May, Bob McCormick and Clee Brakke.

The rain came down, soon followed by mud going up.

The Midland mud bog races were originally planned for Saturday, July 19. The sponsors, the Volunteer Fire Department and Midland Emergency Medical Service, decided to postpone the event until the next day, Sunday, July 20. Nine-tenths of an inch of rain made access and the audience part of the field too muddy for use. The sponsors did not want to destroy the grass on the pastures.

The track area, about five miles west of Midland, was dry enough for Sunday's 200-plus audience.

The USA Women's Olympic Softball Team played against South Dakota's Black Hills Gold team in Rapid City at Pete Lien Memorial Field on July 15 at 7:00 p.m.

The Philip girls softball team was part of the sold-out audience. Philip's 25-member team is coached by Arthur McIllravy, Jeremy Noteboom and Edna Knutson. "We felt fortunate to take along 20 of our team members and 10 others to attend this once in a lifetime opportunity," said Knutson.

The final score was seven to zero at the end of nine innings, though seven innings are standard play.

"I can see where it wouldn't be a job for everyone," said 19-year-old Jonathan Rush about starting an internship toward a Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science.

"Some of the hours would be a little hard to handle. There is a lot of little stuff you don't think about that goes into a funeral. There is printing up of different items, writing the obituaries, working with the death certificate, arranging the memorial folders and the register book ...