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Family, farming, football
Yohnkes raise cattle, athletes
CARLOS — Sibling relationships are unique in each family; the Yohnke brothers live, work and play together, literally. From being teammates to roommates to coworkers, they are never far from one another.
Chuck and Sandy Yohnke raised their four sons, Grant, Travis, and twins Preston and Spencer, on a farm near Carlos. The boys have spent their entire lives doing farm work, playing games and competing with one another. From playing baseball in their grandma’s yard to swimming in the river, they have never sat still.
Today, Travis and Preston both attend the University of Sioux Falls and play football. Grant and Spencer both work for Thoennes Masonry and work on the family farm.
Family firefighting force
Merchlewitz father-daughter team serve on emergency services
RIDGEWAY — For Rodney and Laceylyn Merchlewitz, fighting fires is a family affair. The father-daughter team have been part of multiple area fire departments for a combined over 40 years. Their involvement runs back into both of their childhoods.
“What has kept me going is the community,” Rodney said. “People tell you, ‘Thank you guys so very much for coming.’ It’s great to be there for the people.”
Rodney was raised on a farm near Homer. In his mid-teens, he worked for a local hog farmer, Kevin Spalding, who was on the Ridgeway, Pickwick and Winona fire departments. When he was called out for a fire, Rodney would often end up going with him.