Loraine A. Mcneely

Loraine Heisinger McNeely was born on March 16, 1935, to George and Lucile (Rick) Heisinger on a farm north of Tripp, SD. She attended Sacred Heart Elementary in Parkston SD, Parkston High School, Southern State College, and received a BA Degree from Yankton College. She married Wendell McNeely on June 4, 1955, in Parkston, SD. Loraine taught school for thirty years at Pickstown, Ravinia, Pierre, Yankton, Watertown, Lake Norden, and Lemmon. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, General Federated Women's Club, Dakota Chapter of Questers, Sacred Heart and Episcopal bridge groups, Senior Citizens Center, and was a past member of Hillcrest Country Club and Retired Teachers. She held offices in many of these groups through the years. In 2007, she was awarded the Sacred Heart School Hall of Fame Award. Loraine thoroughly enjoyed playing in numerous bridge clubs and foursomes. She also truly loved the game of Mah Jongg and was an avid reader of mystery novels and historical fiction. Loraine set for herself a lofty goal of reading one hundred books a year which she accomplished since 1999. She was proud of her list of read books which she kept a record of on her computer. She volunteered for many years at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital.

Loraine leaves five sons: Dr. Kevin (Nancy) of Poway, CA, Kurtes (Phil) of Fremont, CA, Kraig (Scarlett) of Yankton, SD, Kory (Brenda) of Pittsburg, CA, Kelly of Santa Cruz, CA; ten grandchildren: Steven, Jacob, Shawn, Aaron, Sheryl, Sheline, Samuel and Kristen McNeely, Shanice Smith, and Tara Kuchta; ten great grandchildren: Jamisen and Genevie Volin, Mavis McNeely, Matthew, Daniel, Scarlet, Julian McNeely, Cole and Theodore Smith, and Mellie Kuchta; sister, Ethel Gramm of Mitchell, SD; two sisters-in-law, Jeanne Becker of Wagner, SD and Mary McNeely of Tabor, SD; forty nieces and nephews, and many cousins, and friends.

Loraine was preceded in death by her husband, Wendell; parents; brother, Edward Heisinger and his wife, Margaret; sister, Alice and her husband, Herman Schmidt; sister-in-law, Marilyn McNeely; four brothers-in-law: Merlin Gramm, Waldo Becker, Arlon (Bud) McNeely, and Don McNeely.