Valois J Danekas

Valois J. Danekas, 89, formerly of Raymond and Clark, SD, died Sunday, October 12, 2014 at a care facility in Mobridge, SD. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 17, 2014 from 5-7PM with a Prayer Service/Sharing Time at 7PM in the Furness Funeral Home at Clark and visitation will continue on Saturday morning at the Church in Raymond after 9AM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 10AM in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church - WELS at Raymond with The Reverend Mark Guthmiller officiating. The organist will be Barb Wegman. Casketbearers will be her grandchildren, Brent, Jeff, and Greg Frey, Rachelle Terada, Margo Gervase & Karla Craig. Burial will follow in the Prairie Valley Cemetery at Raymond. Valois Jean (Bymers) Danekas was born on January 19, 1925 at Conde, SD, the daughter of Peter and Gladys (Schultz) Bymers. She graduated from Raymond High School in 1942. Following high school, she attended Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD. She received a two year teaching certificate and taught elementary school in Clark County for several years in the late 1940's. Valois was united in marriage to Willis E. (Bill) Danekas on June 3, 1947 at St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD. Valois was confirmed and baptized at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Raymond in March 1948. Bill and Valois farmed in Raymond until 1987 when they moved into Clark. Valois returned to teaching in the early 1960's at the Logan School. She returned to Northern State Teachers College in 1966 and received her Elementary Education degree in June of 1967. After graduation, she began teaching at Clark Junior High. She retired from teaching in the late 1970's so she could spend more time with Bill during the legislative sessions in Pierre. Valois was actively involved in the American Legion Auxiliary for many years. She served as President of the Department of South Dakota in 1981-1982. Since her marriage, she was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church at Raymond, SD. She taught Sunday School for many years, served in many roles with the women's organization and attended several national conventions for the Lutheran Women's Missionary Society. Valois will be missed by her family; a son Steven (Paula) Danekas of Naperville, IL; a daughter Sheila (Roger) Frey of Mobridge, SD; six grandchildren, Brent (Amanda) Frey, Jeff (Erica) Frey, Greg (Kim) Frey, Rachelle (Brent) Terada, Margo (Matt) Gervase, and Karla (Andrew) Craig; and 13 great grandchildren; four sisters, Pat Fey of Clark, Iris (Laird) Rasmussen of Sioux Falls, Mona Kirkeby of Vienna, and Karen (Forest) McCoy of St. Cloud, MN; three brothers, Dean Bymers of Raymond, Duane (Avie) Bymers of Brookings, and Marvin (Billie) Bymers of Cody, WY; one sister-in-law, Valois A. "Frenchie" Danekas of Clark, along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents. Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhoome.com