This Ole Cowboy's Life:

Gene (Bony) was born in Pierre, South Dakota on December 5, 1926, to Pearl and Merna Telford and was named after the world's heavyweight champ, Gene Tunney. Considered the runt of the family, and frequently sick as a boy, he spent much of his youth living up to his name and proving not to be underestimated. As a young man, he lived with his sister, Iris, in Seattle trying to get work with Boeing Airlines prior to being drafted into World War II on his 18th birthday.

Jackie Iseman passed away peacefully at her home with her family present in Bellevue, Wash., on March 13, 2011.

She was born in Pierre, S.D., on May 5, 1939 and was raised in Milesville, S.D. She attended Augustana Academy in Canton, South Dakota before going to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, where she met Jerry Iseman. They were married on June 22, 1958 in Sioux Falls. During the nine years they spent between Sioux Falls, Grand Forks, North Dakota and Aberdeen, South Dakota, her four sons were born: Jeff, Jay, Joel and Jon. In 1967, the family moved to the Pacific Northwest.

Rebecca Jo "Becky" Stahl-Fortune, 39, of Rockham, S.D., died Thursday, March 24, 2011, at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield.

Becky was cremated and her memorial service will be Saturday, April 2, at 11:00 a.m. and a prayer service Friday, April 1, at 7:00 p.m. both at Messiah Lutheran Church in Redfield. Reverend Peter M. Utecht will officiate.

Due to the size of church, the lunch will be at the National Guard Armory and all are invited to the lunch. Cremains burial will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund will be established in Becky's memory.

Sylvia Snook, age 100, of Midland, S.D., died Friday, March 25, 2011, at St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre.

Sylvia C. Peters was born June 2, 1910, in a log cabin on her parents' homestead six miles northeast of Midland. She grew up and received her education at Eureka rural school north of Midland, graduating in 1928. She then went on to Spearfish Normal, receiving a teacher's certificate in 1932. She taught in Newell for 10 years.

Sylvia was united in marriage to Clair Walker Snook on November 29, 1941, on her parents' homestead northwest of Midland.

Philip High School 2005 graduate Brittany Westerberg is a published author. Her first novel, "Into Fire," is being published by Silver Leaf Books.

"She started it while she was still in high school, and she pretty much finished before she went to college," said Brittany's father, Duke Westerberg. Brittany is currently working on her master's thesis, after graduating from the South Dakota State University with a journalism degree. "She loves to write, and to read, too.

Philip High School 2005 graduate Brittany Westerberg is a published author. Her first novel, "Into Fire," is being published by Silver Leaf Books.

"She started it while she was still in high school, and she pretty much finished before she went to college," said Brittany's father, Duke Westerberg. Brittany is currently working on her master's thesis, after graduating from the South Dakota State University with a journalism degree. "She loves to write, and to read, too.

Ralph D. "Shorty" Jones, Midland, was presented his 50-year pin during the monthly Masonic meeting in Philip, Wednesday, March 16.

Jones was initiated as an Entered Apprentice March 6, 1961, passed the degree of Fellowcraft April 3, 1961, and was raised to Master Mason May 8, 1961. Through the years, Jones performed the duties of junior warden in 1965, was senior warden in 1966 and in 1979, and was master of the lodge in 1967 and in 1980.

Philip lodge member Doug Thorson said, "Charity is simply making the world a better place because you have been in it.

Even though the Haakon County  Board of Commissioners knew the early months of 2011 were going to be financially tight, it was still hard to absorb when Haakon County Auditor Patricia Freeman presented them with a balance sheet showing they had just $142,943.42 to finance county operations for March and April.

Freeman noted that payroll is about $60,000 a month, with warrants varying, but last month's were about $97,000. "We have to be real conscience of our spending through April, when we will get an input of tax dollars," said Freeman.

Three candidates are running for two open seats on the Haakon School District Board of Education.

They are challengers Doug Thorson and Tim Quinn, and incumbents Vonda Hamill.

The school board seats are voted on at-large, rather than by separate districts. The three candidates are running for the two seats that had been filled for one year by appointment and have two years remaining on their three-year terms.

Vonda Hamill

Family: I am married to Jason Hamill, we have two sons.

The Philip City Council held a special meeting Monday, March 21, first convening as a board of equalization.

There were no filed objections to property valuation assessments received in 2011 for the city. The Haakon County Commission will meet as a board of equalization Tuesday, April 12, at 1:00 p.m.

Kevin Pfeifle, Haakon County director of equalization, presented an annual report and update. Total growth of new property valuations added to the city was $432,952. That translates into $390,090 taxable value.