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Avis Gillaspie

Age 85 of Midland, South Dakota , died September 18, 2008, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.


Avis S. Gillaspie was born April 24, 1923 in White Lake, South Dakota the daughter of Earl and Hazel (Sheely) Schilling. At the age of two the family moved to a ranch northeast of Midland. In 1926 her mother died and Avis and her brother, Lawrence, moved back to White Lake where they made their home with their paternal grand- parents, Harry and Lizzie Schilling.
She started the first grade in White Lake and in 1930 she moved with her grandparents to Midland, South Dakota. She graduated from Midland High School in 1941.
As a young lady she worked for Archie Joy as a bookkeeper. In 1945 she spent six
months at the Black Hills Ordinance Depot in Provo. She returned to Midland to take care of her grandpa and she also returned to work for Archie Joy.
Avis was united in marriage to John J. Gillaspie on April 30, 1945 in Midland, South Dakota.
After their marriage, they made their home in Midland until October 1945 when they moved to a ranch north of Midland, where John worked for Western Cattle Company. In May 1946 they moved onto their own farm-ranch northeast of Ottumwa where they resided until 1957 when they moved into Midland. While in Midland they operated a Blacksmith Shop until 1971. Then they moved to the Sivage Ranch near Four Corners where they lived and worked until 1977. In 1977 they moved to Ord, Nebraska where they owned and operated a café and lounge until moving back to Midland in 1990. In 1991 they moved onto the Sandbo Ranch in the Deep Creek
Community where they worked for Bill Markwed until the fall of 1995 when they retired and moved into Midland.
Avis was a member of St. Williams Catholic Church in Midland, Midland American Legion Auxiliary, and a member of the Midland Senior Citizens Center.
Grateful for having shared her life include four sons, John L. of Hot Springs, Ken of Pierre, James (Sharon) of Pierre, and Rocky and friend Leesa Hodgin of Midland; four daughters, Evie Abrahamson (Doug) of Bowman, North Dakota, Marilyn Hoyt (Jim) of Ft. Pierre, Mary G. Schofield (Vincent) of Midland, and Delores Suminski (Carl) of Broken Bow, Nebraska; a daughter-in-law Marilyn of Midland; eight grandsons; seven granddaughters; eleven great-grandsons; one great-granddaughter; numerous step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren;
Judy Gillaspie of Rapid City; special friend of the family Linda Hodgins of Rapid City; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Avis was preceded in death by her husband John J. "Bud" Gillaspie on November 14, 2004; two sons, Ronald L. Gillaspie October 7, 1999, Conrad J. Gillaspie on February 2, 2000; one son and one daughter in infancy; one grandson Dean Joseph Gillaspie; her parents; and one brother Lawrence Schilling.
Visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. on Monday, September 22, at the St. Williams Catholic Church in Midland, with a vigil service at 8:00 pm.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 23, at the St. William's Catholic Church in MIdland, with Father Ron Garry as
celebrant.
Interment will be in the Midland Cemetery.
A memorial is established.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 – 10:00 a.m.
St. William's Catholic Church
Midland, South Dakota
CELEBRANT
Father Ron Garry
MUSIC
Barb Petoske – Pianist
Barb Jones – Cantor
"Amazing Grace"
"How Great Thou Art"
"Just A Closer Walk With Thee"
"On Eagles Wings"
LECTOR
Eleanor Zuccaro
ALTAR SERVER
Brody Jones
USHERS
Jerry Nemec - Mark Nemec
PALLBEARERS
Avis's Grandsons
Jay Gillaspie - Cody Gillaspie
Michael Schofield - Daniel Gillaspie
John D. Gillaspie - Tim Gillaspie
Joe Gillaspie - Aaron Olson
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Avis's Granddaughters
Vicki Daly Chrystal Wright
Connie Gillaspie Katey Gillaspie
Katherine Gillaspie Jessica Gillaspie
Abbie Gillaspie
INTERMENT
Midland Cemetery
Midland, South Dakota