Floyd and Berit Bendickson have been married for 56 years, and currently live in Philip.

The Bendickson's raised four children. Their oldest son, Floyd Jr., passed away two years ago from a heart attack, JoAnn and her husband, Doug West, live in Philip, Kent and his wife, Diane, live in Spearfish, and Kieth, and his wife, Pauline, live in Forest Grove, Oregon. Floyd and Berit have eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two step grandchildren and four step great-grandchildren.

Floyd was born in Henning, MN, and grew up with two brothers and two sisters.

Floyd and Berit Bendickson have been married for 56 years, and currently live in Philip.

The Bendickson's raised four children. Their oldest son, Floyd Jr., passed away two years ago from a heart attack, JoAnn and her husband, Doug West, live in Philip, Kent and his wife, Diane, live in Spearfish, and Kieth, and his wife, Pauline, live in Forest Grove, Oregon. Floyd and Berit have eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two step grandchildren and four step great-grandchildren.

Floyd was born in Henning, MN, and grew up with two brothers and two sisters.

Jean N. Anderson, 75, Spearfish, SD, died July 9, 2010, at Fort Meade VA Hospice.

Services were held Wednesday, July 14, at the Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel, 450 7th Street in Spearfish, with Pastor Kent Stillson officiating.

Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery with Military Honors by the Spearfish Honor Guard.

Jean was born December 6, 1934 and grew up on a ranch near Midland, SD, and graduated from high school in 1953. He then served in the U.S. Army Honor Guard in Washington, D.C. at Arlington National Cemetery.

Bethany Grace Schultz, stillborn baby daughter of Michael "Mike" and Katherine "Katie" (Hiatt) Schultz, went to be with the Lord and past relatives on Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre.

In addition to her parents, survivors include her sister, Jasmine Hiatt of Philip; paternal grandparents, Pastor Glenn and Connie Schultz of Corona, S.D.; her maternal grandparents, Mark and Deborah Hiatt of Pierre; her great-grandparents, Evelyn Magarin of Blue Hill, Neb., Thelma Hardt of Philip and Leonard Nieman of Ft.

The Haakon County Board of Commissioners met Friday, July 23, at 2:00 p.m. for a special auditing meeting.

Members present at the meeting were Rita O'Connell, Nick Konst, Gary Snook, Don Eymer and Neal Brunskill.

David Schlosser, Department of Legislative Audit, Pierre, met with the group to have an extensive discussion to review and audit the fiscal affairs of Haakon County. Every two years an auditor from Pierre comes to Philip to meet with the commissioners. Schlosser talked about planning and performing an audit of the financial statements of Haakon County.

Physicians Assistant / First Lieutenant Terry Henrie has volunteered to join the 730th Medical Support Company of the South Dakota National Guard on a mission to Haiti.

For two weeks in early August, Henrie and the selected, Vermillion-based company will provide medical care at a forward operating base in a village in Haiti. "As far as I've been told, we will set up a temporary clinic at an old schoolhouse," said Henrie.

Over 50 people attended the town hall meeting Tuesday, July 20, concerning the proposed tax opt out for the Philip Fire Protection District.

First, a presentation was given by Curt Arthur, the chairman of the Fire Protection District board. Using an overhead projector, he described the last few year's worth of the Philip Volunteer Fire Department's financial expenditures, income and foregone necessities for yearly operations. The cost of new equipment and trucks will not be included in the district's request for opt out taxes of $75,000 for each of the next three years.

Richard and Echo Rockafellow are helpful members of the Philip community, and reside four miles north of town.

The couple raised three children; Rhonda and her husband, Rick Coyle, Philip, Judy, Bozeman, MT, and Mark and his wife, Lisa, Tea. Richard and Echo have two granddaughters and four grandsons, and two great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter.

Richard was an only child born in Chamberlain. He went to grade school there until third grade, then moved to Quinn to live with his grandparents.

Eleanor Wilson, age 87, of Kadoka, S.D., died Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at the Pioneer Manor in Gillette, Wyo.

Eleanor J. Holmes was born February 16, 1923, in Kadoka, S.D., one of four children born to Robert "Bob" and Evelyn (Perault) Holmes. She graduated from high school in Kadoka, and was married to Kenneth "Ken" Wilson in 1943 in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, where Ken was stationed in the Army.

While living in Kadoka, Eleanor was active in the Legion Auxiliary and Eastern Star, when she wasn't working at the People's Market owned by her husband.

by Del Bartels

The town hall meeting Tuesday, July 20, concerning the proposed tax opt out for the Philip Fire Protection District was well attended and cordial, but concerned.

The audience was given details concerning the current situation of the Philip Volunteer Fire Department's financial situation and need for maintenance or replacement of safety equipment. Yearly donations are on a steady decline.