HOT SPRINGS – As one year ends and another begins, the Fall River County Herald-Star felt it fitting to take a look back and remember those who died this past year.
Several long-standing and well-known members of the past and present Hot Springs business community passed away in 2025.
To name a few...
• Rich Gross, 73, who owned and operated Black Hills Books & Treasures with his wife Diane, died on Jan. 8, 2025. He was also a prominent member of the Save the VA Committee and was named the Hot Springs Citizen of the Year in 2013.
• Terry Blume, 83, passed away on Feb. 27. Many years ago, he started a pair of businesses in Hot Springs businesses including Blume’s Electric and Appliance, as well as Blume Ice. Somewhat of a local legend and avid golfer, Terry recorded a total of seven holes-in-one over his lifetime, with most of those happening at Southern Hills Golf Course in Hot Springs.
• John Johnson, 88, lived in Hot Springs for more than 50 years before passing away on May 4. He held many different jobs over the years but was owner/operator of John’s Boot Repair for approximately 20 years.
• Val Crawford, 73, who passed away on June 7, owned the Bering Apartments in Hot Springs with her husband Brian.
• Lloyd Flock, 82, purchased Jenny’s Recreation in 1974, from his father-in-law Norm Jenniges. Lloyd then owned and operated the “pool hall” for the next 43 years. He died on June 21.
• Janet Bernard, 80, died on July 30 and lived in Hot Springs since the age of 3. During her lifetime, she and her husband Bill owned and operated several different business in the area.
• Pamela Green, 61, passed away on Aug. 29, while living in Oklahoma. As a resident of Hot Springs during the early 2000s, she owned and operated Flame House Coffee and also ran her own Farm Bureau Insurance office.
• Russell Wyatt, 99, lived his entire life in Fall River County, where he was a well-known historian of the area and authored two books. He owned and operated a real estate and appraisal business, while also being a farmer/rancher. He passed away on Sept. 8.
• Tom McColley, 99, passed away in Michigan on Sept. 23, but lived in Hot Springs from 1953 to 1991. During that time, he and his wife Anne owned the funeral home which still bears his name (Chamberlain McColley’s). He also renovated the Evans Hotel into the Century House and built the Best Western Inn by the River, which is now the Springs Lodge and Cafe.
• While he did not own a business like the others mentioned here, Roger Spitzer was certainly a well-known and respected member of the Hot Springs business community for his 30 years spent working at Hills Edge Auto when it was owned by his brother-in-law, Jim Sieg, and his sister, Priscilla. Roger passed away on Nov. 25 at the age of 85.
• Dave Schott, 76, who died on Dec. 5, owned and operated the White Elephant building at the bottom of the viaduct, where he resold used items and also opened up the parking lot to vendors for routine flea market sales.
• Jim Stevens, 65, was co-owner of two businesses in town at the time of his death on Dec. 9, including Stevens Plumbing, with his brother Alan, as well as Century 21 Stevens & Associates, with his wife Darla.
The past year also saw a few local Centenarians pass away, who lived into their 100s. The oldest on that list is Maggie May, who was 107 years old when she passed away on May 26 while residing at Seven Sisters Living Center in Hot Springs.
Dr. Marvin Green Norris died on Feb. 27 at the age of 104. He had lived in Hot Springs since 1972 and served as Chief of Staff at the Hot Springs VAMC from 1975 to 1987.
Shirley Sieg passed away on Aug. 13, just a little over one month after her 100th birthday. She moved to Hot Springs in 1947 and worked as a nurse at the Lutheran Hospital, State Veterans Home and the Hot Springs VAMC.
Following is a listing of all the obituaries that were published in the newspaper for those who passed on in 2025. Our sincerest condolences to all of their friends and families, as we wish for peace and comfort to you all in 2026.
JANUARY
Nancy Barker: August 8, 1952 - January 5, 2025
Charles “Rich” Gross: November 25, 1951 - January 8, 2025
Edwin F. Madigan Sr.: March 19, 1940 - January 9, 2025
Marlene Ruther: December 20, 1939 - January 13, 2025
Wayne Lee Straub: July 3, 1955 - January 16, 2025
Arnold Leroy Monroe: June 19, 1940 - January 17, 2025
Paul Bruce Swenson: January 4, 1946 - January 18, 2025
Helen Lavonne (Miller) Bollwerk: April 16, 1937 to January 22, 2025
Eddie Dean Hunter: March 8, 1936 - January 23, 2025
Beverly Jean Jensen: January 29, 1942 - January 25, 2025
Jacklyn (Jackie) Dean Martin: March 5, 1942 - January 26, 2025
Gary Cyril Zieglmeier: September 24, 1953 – January 26, 2025
Judith Garland Wright: June 19, 1986 - January 28, 2025
FEBRUARY
Leo O’Dea: May 18, 1946 - February 10, 2025
Carl William Atchley: March 1, 1942 – February 12, 2025
John Anthony Daum: July 8, 1947 - February 12, 2025
Patricia Ann Dalton: August 8, 1937 - February 16, 2025
Dr. Marvin Green Norris: April 5, 1920 - February 27, 2025
Terry S. Blume: July 9, 1941 - February 27, 2025
Betty Ann Welch: August 9, 1936 - February 28, 2025
MARCH
Eugene R. Lysher: July 12, 1931 - March 10, 2025
Kenneth Buell Redden: December 5, 1932 - March 13, 2025
Shezalle G. Simoms: September 1, 1951 – March 16, 2025
Richard ‘Dick’ J. Turnquist: February 6, 1932 – March 21, 2025
Sharon K. Parker: February 17, 1949 - March 27, 2025
William Charles White: October 10, 1943 - March 28, 2025
APRIL
Ronald Eston Beseke: January 6, 1950 - April 7, 2025
Robert “Bob” Bruce Weisser: May 29, 1935 - April 10, 2025
Gordon Melvin Forbord: August 11, 1948 - April 10, 2025
Sandra K Caveye: December 10, 1942 - April 12, 2025
Anita (Rickenbach) Gilkey: December 24, 1943 – April 23, 2025
Alan Leroy ‘Bud’ Bell: September 7, 1936 – April 24, 2025
Joseph Bunij Jr: January 22, 1947 – April 24, 2025
Travis MacHenry Williams: December 9, 1964 - April 25, 2025
Shirley Davis: August 29, 1930 – April 27, 2025
Carrell Scott Haines: April 5, 1978 – April 28 2025
MAY
Dirl H. Steffe Sr.: March 27, 1931 – May 3, 2025
James Henry Kluender: October 17, 1945 – May 4, 2025
Diane (Godin) Hinkley: July 7, 1951 – May 4, 2025
John Henry Johnson: December 15, 1936 – May 4, 2025
Caroline “Carrie” Cofer: October 3, 1942 – May 11, 2025
Joanne Bradshaw Cutchin: May 16, 2025
Margaret E. ‘Maggie’ May: August 3, 1917 – May 26, 2025
Randy Hamilton: May 28, 1955 – May 27, 2025
Daryld Donald Fritz: July 8, 1940 – May 26, 2025
Ethan Schuessler: June 7, 1998 — May 30, 2025
Jerry Michael Simunek: September 21, 1950 – May 31, 2025
JUNE
Clarence Willis John Jerke: March 25, 1931 - June 1, 2025
Diane Kay Spencer: August 4, 1962 - June 2, 2025
Linda K. (Temple) Hanson: January 19, 1945 - June 2, 2025
Floyd David Smith: January 23, 1941 – June 3, 2025
Alethea Valeta Crawford: May 11, 1952 – June 7, 2025
Dick Owens: February 3, 1950 – June 11, 2025
Mary D. Denett: May 9, 1958 – June 12, 2025
Trudy Sullo: August 8, 1950 - June 12, 2025
William Charles Hagman: October 2, 1930 - June 16, 2025
Lloyd Ellis Flock: December 5, 1942 - June 21, 2025
Lynette Lela McCabe: August 20, 1951 – June 22, 2025
Robert J. Heiser: April 28, 1934 – June 30, 2025
JULY
Webb Carson: December 14, 1947 – July 12, 2025
Erma Nadine Nikkila: October 9, 1942 – July 27, 2025
Janet Bernard: October 15, 1944 - July 30, 2025
AUGUST
Judith Farrell: August 18, 1961 - August 1, 2025
Donald Floyd Watts: December 4, 1942- August 11, 2025
Shirley Frances Sieg: July 3, 1925 – August 13, 2025
James (Jim) Ray Kotschevar: February 20, 1954 – August 14, 2025
Kenneth “Ken” Ray Wilson: October 21, 1975 – August 16, 2025
Gary Cummings: December 10, 1940 – August 24, 2025
Algera Jensen: September 18, 1936 – August 26, 2025
Beverly Jean Eissler Putnam: January 9, 1938 August 28, 2025
Pamela Cheri Green: January 24, 1964 - August 29, 2025
Chris “Russ” Christensen: August 4, 1930 – August 30, 2025
Shelly Lynn Stanton: July 10, 1956 - August 30, 2025
SEPTEMBER
June Ardella Fritz: June 16, 1946 - September 6, 2025
Paula Denise Swanson: November 13, 1963 - September 6, 2025
Russell Wyatt: June 20, 1926 - September 8, 2025
Judy Elizabeth Reed: July 13, 1941 - September 17, 2025
Wayne Ray Anspach: February 1, 1963 - September 19, 2025
Eugene (Gene) Francis Reecy: January 27, 1936 - September 20, 2025
Roland Neal March: August 19, 1941 - September 22, 2025
Thomas Edgar McColley: January 11, 1926 - September 23, 2025
Jon LeBar: October 22, 1956 - September 24, 2025
Mae (Tiny) McKnight: July 27, 1942 – September 25, 2025
Susan Price Johnson: April 26, 1947 – September 29, 2025
OCTOBER
DeeAnn (Buchanan) Jenniges: August 12, 1950 – October 3, 2025
Annette Smith: March 20, 1947 – October 4, 2025
Rachel Klippenstein: June 27, 1942 - October 4, 2025
Deacon Earl “Joe” Frederick Witte: January 3, 1929 – October 8, 2025
Neal G. Wynia: October 15, 2025
Albert Gene ‘Bubby’ Bollwerk: February 28, 1947 - October 17, 2025
Louella (Wing) Lankford: December 3, 1933 - October 21, 2025
Lois Ann (Hamilton) Lurz: January 11, 1941 - October 26, 2025
NOVEMBER
Charles (Chuck) Royal Johnson: August 19, 1929 - November 2, 2025
Sean Matthew Schultes: March 14, 2003 - November 6, 2025
Patricia Jean (Brady) Brown: March 14, 1936 – November 7, 2025
Anna Marie “Dolly” (Wood) Evans: January 16, 1930-November 13, 2025
Gerald V. Alder: July 5, 1941 - November 16, 2025
Gary Carl Jensen: November 27, 1944 - November 21, 2025
Roger Bing Spitzer: June 13, 1940 - November 25, 2025
Robert Wilton Irwin; October 8, 1932 - November 27, 2025
Larry Duane Brazell: November 7, 1945 - November 28, 2025
Russell Thomas Raby: September 27, 1945 - November 30, 2025
DECEMBER
Paul David “Dave” Schott: November 29, 1949 - December 5, 2025
James Lee Stevens: October 29, 1960 - December 9, 2025
Christina Carol Petersen: June 2, 1943 - December 6, 2025
Richard H. Roske: September 21, 1935 - December 18, 2025