Service Date April 22, 2006
A celebration of life will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 22, 2006, at Big Bend Presbyterian Church in Rapid City, with Reverend Bob Savot and Reverend Preston Brown officiating. Interment will be at a later date.
The angels came to take Winston D. Barness, 86, Rapid City to meet his Savior on Thursday, April 20, 2006, with his family by his side.
Winston D. Barness was born March 10, 1920 at the family farm near Hitchcock, South Dakota to Peter M. and Marjory (Harms) Barness. He attended country school and high school at Tulare, Athol, and Frankfort, SD, graduating in 1957 from Athol High School. He attended college in Huron, SD. He married Lola Bicknese of Frankfort, SD on April 21, 1940. They moved to Los Angeles, CA in 1941 and Winston worked in the Defense Industry until joining the Navy in 1944 until 1946. In 1947 he and his family returned to Hitchcock to take over his father’s family farm, where he was born and worked it until 1962 when he was elected Sheriff of Spink County, which he served until 1969. He was elected to the Office of Public Utilities Commissioner, which he served until 1975. During his time in the PUC office he became good friends with Don Rounds and John Thune. In 1976 he became Business Manager of the Redfield School District, until 1983. In 1984 he was elected as a Spink County Commissioner, which he served for four years.
He loved to serve the public with all kinds of people, and the people loved him. He enjoyed time spent with his family, and the ‘guys’ annual pheasant hunt. He loved his family very much, and was forever thankful for them. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Winston was a member of the American Legion; SD Peace Officers; Masonic Lodge of Frankfort and Big Bend Presbyterian Church.
In 1988 Winston and his wife, Lola moved to Rapid City, SD where they have since resided. Wins and Lola are blessed with sons, Ron, Salt Lake City, UT; Robert (Illa) Rapid City, SD, two grandsons, Steave (Karen)Barness, Colorado Springs, CO; Dr. Bryan (Leslee) Barness, Sioux Falls, SD; four great-grandchildren, Miranda, McKenna, Maddisen, and Caden; sister, Gladys Paplow, Redfield, SD, nieces, Margery Heinemann, Lawndale, CA, Barbara Johnson, Bloomington, MN, Darlene Dvorak, Redfield, SD, and many other relatives who loved him dearly.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, and a sister.
A memorial has been established.
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