In Memory

The Black Hills Stock Show Foundation lost two pillars of strength during the year of 2007. Milo Rypkema and Dr. Max Winkler were an integral part of our organization. Words cannot express our gratitude for their involvement and continued support during their terms as directors. As they pass on to that greater reward waiting for them, we will hold their memories close and dear to our hearts.

His is a legacy born of good intentions and a passion for the open plains.

Folding his stiff arms and crossing wrinkled hands,
he took in both the present and the past.

The dirt and animal smell in the air rounded up his old stories and pulled them to the surface.
He was thinking of friends past and places far
that hold hunks of his history in their grip.

Tall, as anyone who lived a life as such,
he took a long sweeping look across the valley of his life….
and his soul finally rested easy in the saddle.

The setting sun’s last golden whisper of color spread over the land.
It was solid confirmation that he’d done right….
the final act in the play he had written,
and tonight he had the best seat in the house.

                                      Rob Henrickson

Dr. Max Winkler served on the BHSS Foundation for three years. He will be sorely missed by the entire community and the many organizations he served so well. During Dr. Max’s life, he was a chiropractor, a city commissioner, involved in Jaycees, Shriners, a Toastmaster, served on the Central States Fair Board, Hughes County Fair Board, Crazy Horse Rodeo Committee, State High School Rodeo Committee and most amazing of all, served twenty years on the State 4-H Rodeo Committee! Dr. Max started taking his own kids to small area rodeos in 1973 and continued through all the levels until 1983. The BHSS Foundation is proud to give two $500 scholarships at the 20X High School Rodeo during the 2008 Black Hills Stock Show in memory of Dr. Max. He always helped with this event during his tenure as director for the foundation.

Through his involvement with the riders and helping them to gain relief from pain with his chiropractic practice, Dr. Max began to realize the need to help the horses. He developed a large following of cowboys, cowgirls and their equine partners that showed up at his clinic looking the kind man with the twinkle in his eye.

Dr. Max has gone on to that better place where all the horses run free and the ‘top hands’ are feeling no pain. We will miss him and always hold him in our hearts knowing he is out there enjoying the wild bunch as they run across the sky.

 
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