Rapid City Journal from Rapid City, South Dakota • 10

Records Monday, January 22, 1996 Rapid City Journal Today's obituaries Sam Ruzick 81 Spearfish James W. Hamer, 79 Rockerville Dorothy Lauer, 72 Sturgis Jean Higgins, 95 Scenic Bernice C. Brownson Higgins, 80 Rapid City Emma M. Smith, 88 Rapid City Hazel B. Meidell, 92 Rapid City Don L.

Grable, 57 Custer Walter Carlson, 58 Rapid City Vernon 'Sonny' Schmidt, 69 Custer Renee Nichole Zirgibel, infant Belle Fourche Harold W. Haux, 74 Spearfish Sam Ruzick Sr. SPEARFISH Sam Ruzick 81, Spearfish, died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 1996, at Lookout Memorial Hospital in Spearfish. He was born March 17, 1914, at Lead to Walter Ruzick Sr.

and Mary Ruzick. He lived all of his youth and young adult life in Lead. He worked for Homestake Gold Mine until 1951 and then for Homestake Sawmill in Spearfish while pursuing a degree at Black Hills State College. On June 20, 1940, he married Frances E. Hargraves in Spearfish.

Sam's life was dedicated to education. He taught school in Winner, Pierre and Hemmingford, Neb. After 21 years of teaching in Pierre, he retired in 1979. He was named South Dakota Teacher of the Year in 1973. In the interest of strengthening his abilities as a teacher, he also did postgraduate work at Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University, among others.

The Ruzicks moved to Spearfish in 1980. Sam was an avid outdoorsman and was active in Spearfish Rod and Gun Club. Survivors include one son, Sam Ruzick Millbrook, one daughter, Barbara J. Nail, Wellington, one granddaughter, Lily Ann (Ruzick) Sheehan, Batavia, two grandsons, Sam Benjamin Ruzick, illbrook, and Christopher S. Nail, Wellington; one brother, Walter Ruzick Spearfish; and seven sisters, Dorothy Ruzick, Dolly Cross, Florence Thompson and Lillian Caropino, all of Lead, Elsie Hadorn, Aberdeen, Mary Jones, Rapid City, and Evelyn Sage, Cheney, Wash.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Evelyn Ruzick on Sept. 17, 1984, and one brother in infancy. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until services Tuesday at Fidler Funeral Chapel in Spearfish. Services will be at 2 p.m.

Tuesday at Fidler Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Ron Hennies officiating. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish. James W. Hamer ROCKERVILLE Services are pending at Behrens Mortuary Rapid City for James W.

Hamer, 79, Rockerville, who died Sunday, Jan. 21, 1996, at his residence. Survivors include two sisters, Charlotte Grav, Hermosa, and Margie Cox, Rapid City. Dorothy Lauer STURGIS Dorothy Lauer, 72, Sturgis, died Friday, Jan. 19, 1996, at Sturgis Community Health Care Cen- ter.

Survivors include two sons, Harold Lauer, Sitka, Alaska, and Richard Lauer, Gillette, one daughter, Dottie Milhoff, Bowie, foster children, Carla West and Marla West, both of Sturgis; four sisters, Gladys Woods and Bertha Orr, both of Sturgis, Hazel Morre, White Plains, and Shirley Mullins, Springfield; four grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Carlsen-Jolley Funeral Home in Sturgis. Burial will be at Black Hills Na- tional Cemetery near Sturgis. She was born Aug.

30, 1900, in Scott City, to William and Melinda (Lee) Arnold. She danced with her own dance troupe, traveling to Casper, where she met and married Maurice Higgins in 1922. They moved to his family ranch in Scenic then later moved to Rapid Valley where she ranched and farmed until the last few years of her life. Survivors include three daughters, Jean Bradley, Aurora, Joan Mumford, Rapid City, and Jaynell Higgins, Scenic; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Janet Thompson, and one grandson.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Osheim-Catron Funeral Home in Rapid City. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Osheim-Catron Funeral Home with the Rev.

Richard Harmeson officiating. Burial, following cremation, will be at Mountain View Cemetery in Rapid City. Jean Higgins SCENIC Jean Higgins, Scenic, died Sunday, Jan. 21, 1996, in Rapid City. Don L.

Grable CUSTER Don L. Grable, 57, Custer, died Saturday, Jan. 20, 1996, at Custer Community Hospital. Survivors include his mother, Bessie Grable, Highmore; two sons, Robert Grable, Rapid City, and Rodney Grable, Custer; one daughter, Rhonda Grable, Rapid City; one brother, Ron Grable, Albuquerque, N.M.; one sister, Verna Compton, Arvada, and four grandchildren. Visitation will be from 2 p.m.

to 5:30 p.m. today at McColley's Chapels of the Southern Hills in Custer and for one hour before services Tuesday at the church. Services will be at 11 a.m.' Tuesday at Custer Community Church with the Rev. Chuck Hazlett officiating. Burial will be at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

Walter Carlson Services are pending at Campbell, Paula and Quinn Funeral Home in Rapid City for Walter Carlson, 58, Rapid City, who died Sunday, Jan. 21, 1996, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Survivors include his wife, Alice Bernice C. Brownson Higgins Bernice C. Brownson Higgins, 80, Rapid City, died after a long illness Saturday, Jan.

20, 1996, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. She was born June 8, 1915, in Rapid City to Merl and Opal (Bush) Warner of Quinn. She attended Quinn High School, graduating in 1933. On March 18, 1935, she married Lynn Brownson. The couple resided at Quinn until moving to Custer in 1941.

In 1948, they moved to Hot Springs, and in 1956 they moved to Rapid City. Her husband died in 1972. In 1981, she married Lloyd Higgins. He passed away later that year. In 1987, she moved into Valley View apartments.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church, and Canyon Lake and Minneluzahan Senior Citizen Centers. Survivors include one daughter, Gwendolyn Graves, Rapid City; one grandson; Wesley Graves, Denver, and one sister, Lucille DeLuca, Grayland, Wash. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Lynn Brownson (1972) and Lloyd Higgins (1981); two infant sons, Eugene and George; and one foster brother, Robert Cusick. Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. today and for one hour before services Tuesday at Behrens Mortuary in Rapid City.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Behrens Mortuary with the Rev. Greg Kroger officiating. Burial will be at Mountain View Cemetery. A memorial has been established.

Emma M. Smith Emma M. Smith, 88, Rapid City, formerly of Sturgis, died Saturday, Jan. 20, 1996, at Black Hills Retirement Home in Rapid City. She was born Oct.

18, 1907, in Canton to Harold and Martha (Johnson) Sletten. She lived many years in the Zeona area where she farmed and ranched with her husband until 1952 when he died. In 1954, she moved to Sturgis where she lived until 1994 when she moved to Rapid City. She was a member of St. Francis Assisi Church and Altar Society and St.

Rita's Circle. Survivors include two sons, Joe Smith, Belle Fourche, and Mike Smith, Chicago, three daughters, Margaret Biggs, Pierre, and Hazel Smith and Gladys Smith, both of Rapid City; one sister, Selma Storm, San Diego, 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1952; three brothers, John, Conrad and Helmer; one infant sister; and one grandchild, Mary Ann Smith Hammond in 1988. Rosary and Christian prayer service will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Francis of Assisi Church with Father Dan Juelfs officiating. Burial will be at Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche following services. Hazel B.

Meidell Hazel B. Meidell, 92, Rapid City, died Saturday, Jan. 20, 1996, at her home. She was born Oct. 13, 1903, in Curtis, to Pliney and Bertha Powers.

She was raised in Cheyenne, Wyo. She married Byron W. Hastings in 1920, and they lived in Ravenna, until his death. To this union were born Byron W. Hastings Jr.

and Rose Mary. In 1943, she married Donald F. Meidell. They lived in Ravenna until 1965. After Mr.

Meidell died, she moved to Edgemont to be near her family. In 1985, she moved to Rapid City where she has maintained her own home. Grateful for sharing her life are her grandchildren, Byron W. Hastings, Sheridan, Jackie Peterson her husband, Ned, Rapid City, and Mary Marsh and her husband, Tom, Edgemont; six great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and her brother, Wallace Powers, Cheyenne. She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, one son, one daughter, one great-grandson and four sisters.

Inurnment will be at Fort McPherson, Neb. Behrens Mortuary in Rapid City is in charge of arrangements. We can help prevent Medicare fraud, waste It is incredible that here we are, money lost each year because of number in the government you can three weeks into the new year, and fraud and mismanagement range call: 800-447-8477, Monday through Congress is still fiddling while from $25 billion to $270 billion. Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

MST. Americans are burning! It would be impossible to arrive at Further, certain tell-tale actions We are being inundated with a true figure, but experts agree that may indicate that a provider is not rhetoric, frightened by dire there is significant pilferage and using the system as intended: predictions of increased costs and waste, and the bright side is that Free testing or screening decreased benefits in our health legislation is being worked on to offers that require that you furnish insurance, and totally confused by stem this outflow. your Medicare number. the whole Unfortunately, it is the providers Salesmen trying to sell items business. of health care (HMOs, hospitals and or services, claiming that they are doctors) who are violating the from Medicare or some other However, provisions of the health care system branch of the government.

there is one and we, as the unwary recipients, Free medical offers way to view are unaware of what these that require you to furnish the whole mess providers are doing. Medicare numbers. that might be The handling of paperwork and considered notifications of benefits is too often Services by providers offered desirable. For out of the patients' hands and the who say that if you purchase the the first time indecipherable we receive products you won't to pay have the reports copayment or deductible that is since the do little to enable us to keep track beleaguered Win of what is being billed. required by Medicare.

entitlements The bottom line on these scams is went into The good news is that there is that we should be suspicious of any effect, we are Robberson growing awareness of the activity, offer of free medical or health more involved and steps are being taken, both by equipment and not be influenced by and aware of the inspector general of the high-pressure sales pitches and United what the programs are all about. States and the Health Care scare tactics. And, above all, be Financing Administration, to wary of any proposition that is Many of us coasted into investigate and cure the problem. offered as "free" but requires that retirement and advancing age, The American Association of you furnish your Medicare number. confident that we were well covered Retired Persons (AARP) is also On the positive side of this in handling our health and medical joining in the battle, and has costs.

Now there is some question, offered suggestions whereby problem, Congress is aware that and we are investigating the seniors can help in the fight against practices working these exist and is and considering what ignorance, waste, fraud and abuse. on ways to curb them. should be done about them and However, as we all well programs know, about the legislators who have the who Actually, become the we, first line of patients, defense "the wheels of government grind it is the outcome in their hands. in battle such this. slowly," so it behooves each of us a as Only we can to do whatever we can to stop the Another positive fallout from the start the action that will halt the fraud and to hasten a favorable budget battle being waged in abuse.

solution of the health-care Washington is that seniors are Following some suggestions brouhaha. becoming aware of the fact that offered by AARP, if you suspect Win Robberson of Rapid City is retired from there is a great deal of waste and that your doctor or hospital is the publishing business and is a free-lance actual fraud in our Medicare making incorrect claims in your writer. To contact Robberson, write her at the SD Rapid City Journal, Box 450, Rapid City, system. Estimates of the amount of name to Medicare, there is a 57709. Vernon 'Sonny' Schmidt CUSTER Services are pending at McColley's Chapels of the Southern Hills in Custer for Vernon "Sonny" Schmidt, 69, Custer, who died Saturday, Jan.

20, 1996, at Custer Community Hospital. Survivors include his wife, Emalee Schmidt, Custer; one son, Clarence Schmidt; one daughter, Mona Bettlyoun, Rapid City; one brother, Robert C. Schmidt, Salisaw, and two sisters, Elinor Burnette, Rapid City, and Lorene Gullikson, Wagner. Renee Nichole Zirgibel BELLE FOURCHE Renee Nichole Zirgibel, infant daughter of John and Kari D. Zirgibel, Belle Fourche, died Tuesday, Jan.

16, 1996, at Lookout Memorial Hospital in Spearfish. Survivors include her parents, John Zirgibel and Kari D. Zingibel, both of Belle Fourche. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at United Methodist Church in Belle Fourche with the Rev.

Tom Haggar officiating. Burial will be at Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche. Fidler Funeral Chapel in Spearfish is in charge of arrangements. Harold W. Haux SPEARFISH Harold W.

Haux, 74, Spearfish, died Friday, Jan. 19, 1996, at Lookout Memorial Hospital in Spearfish. Survivors include his wife, Gladys Haux, Spearfish; one son, Robert Haux, Spearfish; one daughter, Paula Bissell, Oklahoma City, five grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday at Carlsen-Jolley Funeral Home in Spearfish and for one hour before services Wednesday at the church. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Spearfish with the Rev. Kent Stillson officiating. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Calendar Douglas Board of Education 7 p.m. today in the Douglas Central Office. Agenda items include: Open forum, a time when people can address the board on items not on the agenda. Update on the curriculum. Approve specifications for a bus bid.

Second and final reading on a revised board policy concerning student due process. Final reading on a new federally mandated policy on bus driver examinations, training and testing. Consider recommendation to reduce the district's talented and gifted staff from 2.1 full-time equivalent employees to one FTE. Executive session: student conduct hearing and conduct superintendent's evaluation. Records Births Rapid City Regional Hospital Dec.

22 A boy to Dave Mueller and Laurie Cadman of Rapid City. Jan. 5 A girl to Michael Hallor and Iris Braunesrether of Rapid City. Jan. 7 A boy to Rod and Amy Willam of Rapid City, and twin giris to Jason and Lisa Koppman of Rapid City.

Jan. 8 A boy to Robert Jr. and Mary Slaba of Murdo; a girl to Trevor and Amybeth Reed of Rapid City; and a girl Michael Mahle and Amber Hansen of Rapid City. Jan. 9 A girl to Shawn Pullins and Candi Kosh of Rapid City, and a boy to Bud Lone Eagle Sr.

and Gina Motah of Eagle Butte. Felony alert Rape suspect sought by authorities Law enforcement authorities are searching for a man charged with rape. A felony warrant has been issued for David Eugene Hill charging him with seconddegree rape stemming from an incident in July. The 32-yearold Hill is deHill scribed as a white male standing 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. Hill is thought to have left the Rapid City area.

If you know where Hill is, do not contact him. Contact the Pennington County Sheriff's Office at 394-6117, the Rapid City Police Department at. 394-4131 or the nearest law enforcement agency if you have any information Grant program deadline Jan. 31 Classroom teachers have until Jan. 31 to enter their proposals for the second annual West "Connecting Teachers with Technology" grant program.

The program, sponsored by the US West Foundation, encourages certified teachers, working in teams, to develop communications technology projects for their own classrooms and to share their techniques with other teachers. Five teams of South Dakota teachers will receive grants. Top grant is $12,000 cash, plus laptop computers and training in the US West Teacher Network program, which is a collegelevel course in how to use communications technology. Four other teams will receive $8,000 to develop their own classroom technology projects. Last year, a teacher team from Williams Middle School in Sturgis received the top prize.

Four finalists that also received grants were the Jefferson Alternative Program in Rapid City, McIntosh Public Schools, Flandreau Public Schools and Edison Middle School in Sioux Falls. Teams can involve teachers at any grade level, from kindergarten through 12th grade, and are encouraged to include a range of computer skills from beginning to expert. The projects should involve using computers and modems to gather information, exchange ideas and put information technology to good use in the classroom. Information and application forms are available from Orie Rentschler at West Communications, (605) 339-5323. Journal photo by Steve McEnroe Pet of the week: Max is a young adult male springer spaniel cross in search of a good home.

The black and white pooch is house-trained and playful, loves attention and is good with older children. He and other dogs and cats available for adoption can be seen at the Humane Society of the Black Hills, 1820 E. St. Patrick St. SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF NOTICE HIGHWAY HOUSE OF RAPID CITY TY, Patrick 90-2(39)61 Street Exit PCEMS 1939 IM 90-2(D7)61 PCEMS 4419, Projects: IM PENNINGTON COUNNotice and Access to Visitor Information Center at is given that a public house will be held Rapid City.

p.m. at the Rapid Cily Region Office meeting room located at 2300 Elgin 6 p.m. to 7 February 6, 1996, from Dakota. The purpose of this house will be to discuss in Rapid City, South above projects. and receive public input on the Between 6 p.m.

and 7:00 p.m., South Dakota Department of City personnel will be available with displays to acquaint with the Transportation and City of Rapid answer your questions. Information will be available on the you proposed projects and relocation assistance, the environmental impacts of the projects, acquisition of right-of-way, available effects of the projects' location and design. During this time period and the economic and social Ify to present formal comments. you will aiso have the Persons with disabilities are advised that this hearing is place and that interpreter services will be provided during being held in a physically accessible contact James Nelson, Environmental Engineer at (605) 773-3268, within upon 48 prior request. Please the hearing, house, if you have special needs for which this department can make hours of the hear(TbD Relay Service 1-800-877-1113).

arrangements All persons interested in this section of highway are invited to Dated at Pierre, South Dakota this 18th day of January. 1996. appear and express their views. SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Larry Weiss, P.E., Director Division of Engineering Nelson, Environmental Engineer Office of Project Development.