Mellette County, South Dakota
County & Town Histories -
Ringthunder School District No. 18
Ringthunder School District No. 18
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All the data on this web site is © Copyright 2008 by Genealogy Trails' Host with full rights reserved for original submitters.
All the data on this web site is © Copyright 2008 by Genealogy Trails' Host with full rights reserved for original submitters.
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Ringthunder School in 1918 enrolIed these pupils (from left to right) Darwin Henry, Josephine Talacek, Paul Kasat, Joe Talacek, Carmen Henry, Rose Topinka, Gale Eloe, another Eloe, Herman Eloe, Joe Topinka, Edna Holmes, teacher; Cornelius Rotchin.
Ringthunder School District No. 18
by Mrs. Robert Adrian
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book, published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
The first school building in Ringthunder School District No. 17 was a one room shack on the O'Reilly homestead. The . . teacher was L. V. Raffensperger. This was in the school year 1914-1915. There were seven pupils.
From the spring of 1915 until December of 1917, there was no school held as most of the pupils had moved from the area. In December of 1917, Mrs. Nell Didier started teaching school. She taught for one month. Her husband, Nicholas Didier, then taught for two months until Edna Holmes was hired to finish the term. She also taught the following year. During those two years there were six students. They were the two Kasat children, two Topinka children and two Talacek children.
School continued to be held in the one room shack during the next six years. Emily Gutherie taught in 1920-1921. Mrs. John Daughtery taught in 1921-1922. A man teacher, Edward Young, was hired in 1922-1923. In 1923-1924, Olga McKennett taught and in 1924-1925 Inez Dvorak was the teacher.
Inez Dvorak was the last teacher to hold school in the one room shack. During the next year two new school buildings were completed.
Starting in the school year 1925, Ringthunder School District had two schools. North Ringthunder and South Ringthunder were in operation. Miss Olga McKennett taught the South school and Miss Vera Van Schaack taught the North school for the first half of the school year, with Margaret Van Schaack teaching the second half.
In 1926-1927 Miss Winifred Robbennolt and Olga McKennett taught the schools. Miss McKennett seemed to be having her problems, for according to a letter dated November 10, 1926 to Ringthunder School Board, Doctor F. E. Bouza was called to the South Ringthunder School to examine the students and teacher for any signs of the itch. However, he found no itch present. He also praised the teacher and students for the measures they were taking to prevent the disease. Some of the steps were: scrubbing woodwork and desks at frequent intervals with an antiseptic solution and having the pupils wash their hands frequently with an antiseptic solution. Ringthunder School District continued to operate two schools for four more years. In 1927-1928 teachers were Winifred Robbennolt and Evelyn Orlley. In 1928-1929, they were Henrietta Waack and Margaret Gomershall; in 1929-1930, Winifred Robbennolt and Grace Astleford (Mrs. Gene Strain) taught the schools. For some reason there was only one school operating in 1930-1931 with Edith Harrison teaching. However, in 1931-1932 both schools were again opened with Mabel Kent and Bert Humphrey, Jr., as teachers.
In 1932-1933 both schools were closed for lack of funds.
School reopened in the 1933-1934 school year. However, only one school was in operation. Myrtle Davenport was the teacher.
From 1933 until 1942 the school continued operating at the location of the south school building. Teachers were: 1934-1935, Miss Ethel Rohrig, she also taught the following year. In 1936-1937, Helene Melvers (Mrs. Clarence Krogman) taught. In 1937-1938, Sophie Anderson taught. In 1938-1939, it was Lois Curry. Miss Mary Postlewait taught the next two years. In 1941-1942, the last year the school was in operation for several years, the school had two teachers, Nina Samuelson taught for the first half year and Mary Topinka taught the remaining months.
The school was closed at this time and didn't reopen until the fall of 1955. At that time the school building was moved from the South Ringthunder School site to its present location.
The teacher for 1955-1956 was Mrs. Harold Deiss. In 1956-1957, Miss Helen Dittmer taught. Miss Doreen Letellier was the teacher for 1957-1958. Mrs. Herbert Huber taught in 1958-1959. Miss Eunice Karlin was the teacher for 1959-1960.
At the present time (1960-1961) the teacher is Maude Spreckels. There are nine pupils attending school representing seven grades.
by Mrs. Robert Adrian
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book, published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
The first school building in Ringthunder School District No. 17 was a one room shack on the O'Reilly homestead. The . . teacher was L. V. Raffensperger. This was in the school year 1914-1915. There were seven pupils.
From the spring of 1915 until December of 1917, there was no school held as most of the pupils had moved from the area. In December of 1917, Mrs. Nell Didier started teaching school. She taught for one month. Her husband, Nicholas Didier, then taught for two months until Edna Holmes was hired to finish the term. She also taught the following year. During those two years there were six students. They were the two Kasat children, two Topinka children and two Talacek children.
School continued to be held in the one room shack during the next six years. Emily Gutherie taught in 1920-1921. Mrs. John Daughtery taught in 1921-1922. A man teacher, Edward Young, was hired in 1922-1923. In 1923-1924, Olga McKennett taught and in 1924-1925 Inez Dvorak was the teacher.
Inez Dvorak was the last teacher to hold school in the one room shack. During the next year two new school buildings were completed.
Starting in the school year 1925, Ringthunder School District had two schools. North Ringthunder and South Ringthunder were in operation. Miss Olga McKennett taught the South school and Miss Vera Van Schaack taught the North school for the first half of the school year, with Margaret Van Schaack teaching the second half.
In 1926-1927 Miss Winifred Robbennolt and Olga McKennett taught the schools. Miss McKennett seemed to be having her problems, for according to a letter dated November 10, 1926 to Ringthunder School Board, Doctor F. E. Bouza was called to the South Ringthunder School to examine the students and teacher for any signs of the itch. However, he found no itch present. He also praised the teacher and students for the measures they were taking to prevent the disease. Some of the steps were: scrubbing woodwork and desks at frequent intervals with an antiseptic solution and having the pupils wash their hands frequently with an antiseptic solution. Ringthunder School District continued to operate two schools for four more years. In 1927-1928 teachers were Winifred Robbennolt and Evelyn Orlley. In 1928-1929, they were Henrietta Waack and Margaret Gomershall; in 1929-1930, Winifred Robbennolt and Grace Astleford (Mrs. Gene Strain) taught the schools. For some reason there was only one school operating in 1930-1931 with Edith Harrison teaching. However, in 1931-1932 both schools were again opened with Mabel Kent and Bert Humphrey, Jr., as teachers.
In 1932-1933 both schools were closed for lack of funds.
School reopened in the 1933-1934 school year. However, only one school was in operation. Myrtle Davenport was the teacher.
From 1933 until 1942 the school continued operating at the location of the south school building. Teachers were: 1934-1935, Miss Ethel Rohrig, she also taught the following year. In 1936-1937, Helene Melvers (Mrs. Clarence Krogman) taught. In 1937-1938, Sophie Anderson taught. In 1938-1939, it was Lois Curry. Miss Mary Postlewait taught the next two years. In 1941-1942, the last year the school was in operation for several years, the school had two teachers, Nina Samuelson taught for the first half year and Mary Topinka taught the remaining months.
The school was closed at this time and didn't reopen until the fall of 1955. At that time the school building was moved from the South Ringthunder School site to its present location.
The teacher for 1955-1956 was Mrs. Harold Deiss. In 1956-1957, Miss Helen Dittmer taught. Miss Doreen Letellier was the teacher for 1957-1958. Mrs. Herbert Huber taught in 1958-1959. Miss Eunice Karlin was the teacher for 1959-1960.
At the present time (1960-1961) the teacher is Maude Spreckels. There are nine pupils attending school representing seven grades.
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