The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Thayer Voas

The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Thayer Voas passed away on March 25 in Rapid City, S.D., from cancer. He was 81. Voas, a retired United Methodist minister, dedicated his life to family, attentive service to his church and parishioners and the communities in which he lived. During his pastoral career, he served South Dakota parishes at Clark, Henry, Garden City and Raymond, S.D. (1960-1972), Rapid City First Church (72-77) and Sioux Falls Sunnycrest. He also led the congregation at Wahpeton, N.D. While living in Clark, he served as the denominations Northern District Director of United Methodist Youth Fellowship, and was active in directing camps and youth ministries. He was an avid fan of high school and college sports in South Dakota, owing undoubtedly to his own prowess as a high school and college basketball standout. He followed the progress of teams all over the state right up until his death. In 1970, he embarked on a ministerial mission that took him to England, where he preached to local congregants while tracing the steps of John Wesley, founder of Methodism. Voas served as the United Methodist Conferences Southern District Superintendent from 1978-1984. He sat on the boards of trustees of Dakota Wesleyan University as well as Methodist Hospital in Mitchell. In 1985, he was conferred an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Dakota Wesleyan University. He and his wife of 60 years, Barbara Howard Voas, enjoyed their retirement years along Rapid Creek near Johnson Siding. Both remained active at Rapid City First Church, where he sang in the choir and taught a History of Religion class until illness hastened his withdrawal. He was born in Thomas, S.D., in 1927, the seventh of eight children born to Charles and Ethel Graves Voas. He graduated from Thomas High School in 1945 and attended Huron College, and then Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill. While attending seminary, he served as pastor at parishes in Owaneco, Buckeye and Millersville, Ill. He and his wife, an Onida native, were married in 1948 in Huron. In addition to his wife Barbara, Voas is survived by seven children, Charles of Annandale, Va.; Raleigh (and Cindy Logan Voas) of Rawlins, Wyo; Rita (and Mike) DeZurik of St. Joseph, Minn.; Jeremy of Phoenix, Az.; Stanley of Clear Lake, Minn., Brenda (and Ralf) McGahagin of Austin, Tx, and Peter (and Anne Olson Voas) of Chanhassen, Minn. He is survived by 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters Marjorie Mayer of St. Paul, Minn., Mary Olinger of Hemet, Ca., Jean Myers of Stillwater, Minn; a brother, Duane Voas, Burnville, MN and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Keith, sisters Lois and Ruth, and daughter-in-law Salle Voas. Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Monday, March 30, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home in Rapid City. Funeral service at First United Methodist Church in Rapid City is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31. Interment at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Prairie Valley Cemetery in Raymond, S.D., followed by a memorial reception at Clark United Methodist Church. The family suggests memorial gifts to the Voas-Graves Scholarship at Dakota Wesleyan, or First United Methodist Church in Rapid City.