Ana Lou Bailey

Ana Lou Bailey, age 84 of Yankton, SD passed away early Saturday, January 31, 2026 at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD. Memorial services will be 2:00 PM, Friday, February 6, 2026 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Chapel, Yankton, SD with Rev. Dani Jo Bierwagen officiating. Burial will be a later date at the Mount Hope Cemetery, Springview, NE. Visitations will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent at: www.okfhc.com. To view Ana’s service live, click this link: https://server.attend.live/static/event/Nk712.

Ana Lou Bailey was born on December 7, 1941 in Burke, South Dakota to Ray Richard and Lula Blanche Larsen. She was raised in the Springview, Nebraska area and attended Keya Paha High School in Springview Nebraska. Following high school, Ana attended secretarial school in O’Neill, Nebraska.

Ana was united in marriage with Dale(Bill) W. Bailey on September 10, 1960 and from this union was blessed with three children, Jolene, William, and Bruce. Due to Bill’s military career, Ana and the children had the opportunity to live in Germany, Okinawa, and several states across the United State. In 1973, the family moved to Yankton where they decided to end their military travels and make Yankton their permanent home. A few years following the end of Ana and Bill’s marriage, Ana found her life partner, Dale Johnson. Ana and Dale were together until Dale’s passing in 1995.

Ana was especially proud of working at American State Bank and then First Dakota National Bank. Ana retired from First Dakota National Bank in 2008 after nearly 32 years of service. Ana loved to read, knit, and crochet. In her later years, she always carried a bag of handmade dishrags and scubbies for whoever needed one. Her favorite time of the year was Christmas because it gave her the chance to do two of her favorite hobbies, shopping and cooking. One of the things that will be missed the most, because nobody can make them like she did, are her homemade beef noodles.

Grateful for having shared her life are her three children, Jolene (Dave) McCloud, Yankton, SD, William Craig Bailey and Angie Wermers, Yankton, SD and Bruce(Patti) Bailey, Gold Canyon, AZ; grandchildren: Tyler(Dell) Bailey, Minneapolis, MN, Trevor Bailey, Minneapolis, MN, Taryn Bailey, Gold Canyon, AZ, Kristin(Bobby) Gilbery, Yankton, SD, and one great-grandchild, nephew Donny(Sydell) Allington, Colorado Springs, CO. Ana’s extended family includes Gary(Tammy) Johnson, Yankton, SD, Kurt(Dianne) Johnson, Yankton, SD, Dennis(Donna) Johnson, Grand Island, NE, Marty(Pam) Johnson, Minneapolis, MN, Deb Johnson, Yankton, SD, Jenny(Cory) Briest, Yankton, SD, and a host of other extended grandchildren and friends.

Ana was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Lula Larsen; grandson, Christopher Bailey; brother, Loren Larsen; and life partner Dale Johnson.