BENJAMIN “BEN” MACCONNELL

The funeral service for Benjamin “Ben” MacConnell will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 30, 2026 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Veblen. Pastor Karie Geyer and Pastor Vern Donnell will officiate the service. Spring burial will take place at the MacConnell family farm cemetery.

Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 2026 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church.

Ben passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at Avera St. Luke’s in Aberdeen, at the age of 77.

An obituary and online guestbook are available at www.olsonfuneralchapel.com

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Poll: REGIONS FOR AMBULANCE SERVICE? A legislative task force is considering a plan to organize South Dakota’s ambulance services into eight to 14 regions, potentially with state oversight and funding to help keep emergency medical services sustainable. The proposal comes as many ambulance services face financial challenges, low reimbursement rates and an aging, often volunteer workforce. Lawmakers say the goal is to ensure an ambulance can respond when someone calls 911, but establishing the regions and determining how they would be funded could take years. Do you support creating regional ambulance service systems with state oversight and potential state funding?

Yes, regional systems could help ensure reliable ambulance service.

No, ambulance services should remain organized locally.

Unsure. I would need more information about how it would work.

10/27/2026 – 11/27/2100