Howard Saltzman, age 85 of Wall, S.D., died Wednesday, March 9, 2011, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Howard Leroy Saltzman was born March 4, 1926, in Fairbury, Neb., the son of Harvey and Sarrah Sophia (Meritt) Saltzman.

He attended high school in Nebraska when World War II started. His parents had to sign for him to join the Navy on his 17th birthday. In 1943, he took his basic training at Camp Peary, Va., his advanced training at Camp Endicott, R.I., and his jungle training at Camp Parks, Calif.

George Wheeler, age 97, Philip, S.D., died Sunday, March 13, 2011, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.

George A. Wheeler was born December 25, 1913, in Philip, S.D., the son of Arthur and Marie (Valet) Wheeler. He grew up on a ranch/farm southeast of Philip where he attended rural school for eight years prior to graduating from Philip High School in 1932. As a young man, he farmed and ranched with his parents.

George was united in marriage to Mary Williams on April 18, 1936, in Rapid City, S.D.

Mary Ellen Schofield, age 92 of Midland, S.D., died Sunday, March 13, 2011, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.

Mary Ellen Gillaspie was born September 7, 1918, at her grandparents' home northeast of Ottumwa, the daughter of James and Mary Margaret (Ball) Gillaspie.

She grew up in the Ottumwa area and attended several different rural schools in that area, before graduating from St. Cecilia Cathedral High School in Omaha, Neb. After graduation, she remained in Omaha where she worked for one year.

Audry Marcella Poppe, age 92 of Rapid City, formerly of Murdo, died Friday, March 11, 2011, at Fountain Springs Health Care Nursing Home in Rapid City.

Audry was born July 25, 1918, at home near Marion to Charles-and Marcella (Divine) Splonskowski. She was the second of eight children.

She attended the parochial elementary school staffed by Presentation Sisters in Marion and graduated from Marion High School. She attended Notre Dame College in Mitchell for one year and then taught in a rural school near Montrose.

Audry married H. Woodrow Poppe in Marion in 1938.