NEWS

Sioux Steel workers: Grieving but getting back to work

Payton Randle
prandle@argusleader.com

Sioux Steel employees in Lennox are still grieving but gradually making their way back to work nearly a week after a workplace shooting claimed the life of a coworker.

Scott Rysdon, CEO of Sioux Steel, said the doors reopened Monday. The company is letting employees come back as they feel ready and offering counseling and other assistance to help workers and their families cope with the situation.

Rysdon said it will be a long-term process that will involve regular plant meetings to gauge how people are feeling.

"They're traumatized by those events and they need time to heal," he said.

A semi-truck driver for a company affiliated with Sioux Steel got into an argument with his dispatcher last Thursday. Police say Jeffrey DeZeeuw returned with a gun and shot and killed Jon Richter. Another employee, Kathy Steever, was shot but survived. An update on her condition was unavailable Wednesday.

Richter's funeral services are set for Friday at 1:30 p.m. Rydson said the company is allowing and encouraging employees to attend.

Rydson said there is no manual on how manage a situation such as this.

"There are people crying themselves to sleep at night, but they are still getting up and going to work," he said. "People say 'we're gonna get a handle on this and be better for it.'"