BERNICE E. DOCTER

SERVICE NOTICES

The celebration of life for Bernice E. Docter will be 3:00 p.m. Saturday, October 31, 2026 at Olson Funeral Chapel in Britton. Lance Griese will lead the service. Private family burial will take place at the Britton Cemetery.

A full obituary will be in next week’s edition of the Journal.

Bernice passed away Friday, October 23, 2026 at Wheatcrest Hills Healthcare Center in Britton, at the age of 94.

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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