Irene Veit

Irene Veit, age 94, of Dupree, SD, passed away at the Hospice of the Hills in Rapid City, SD.  
Graveside services for Irene were held  on Saturday, May 23, 2020 at the Hillview Cemetery in Isabel, SD.
Irene was born on May 14, 1926 in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Irene’s parents were Ace and May (Clark) Johnson.  She was the first born from this marriage; her brother Mike arrived later.  Later in her mother’s life, May married David Trainor; from this union, four more brothers were born: Neal, Wayne, Dale, and Donnie.
Irene went to a country school near Glad Valley where she lived with the Wallenda’s in order to get her education.  Irene completed the eighth grade.
After a brief courting, Irene (age 16) and Roy Rollen Veit (age 19) were married on February 8, 1943.  They lived six months in a sheep wagon and six months later in a trailer house, for five years.  Their first baby girl, Linda, was born in 1944, and first son, Dan, was born in 1947.  Irene, Roy, Linda, and Dan stayed in a sheep wagon six months out of the year.
In 1947, Irene and Roy moved down the Moreau River with Alexander Milne, “Scotty” as he was known.  They were partners until Mr. Milne passed away.  Roy and Irene continued to live at the Moreau River between Thunder Butte and Iron Lightening.
To this union, the following children were born:  Linda, Dan (Paula), Jerry, Lila (George) Lafferty, Roy “Tiger,” Frank (Brenda), Mary (Larry) Reede, Jack (Lisa), Dona (Kimbal) Russell, and Jim Veit.  Irene was blessed with 27 grandchildren , 64 great grandchildren, and 16 great great grandchildren.
Irene was a true pioneer woman who demonstrated numerous skills on a daily basis.  Work was life from the ash pole supporting her large family’s wash to masterfully cooking for 5 or 50 in a blink of an eye.
Irene provided for her family off the ranch with her chickens, bum lambs, homegrown vegetables, berry patches, and finesse of using it all in her down home cooking.  She nurtured successful gardens and magnificent flowers despite the gumbo soil at the ranch.
Irene took great joy in her family.  She proudly displayed a full wall’s worth of pictures of all her people.  Having her house full of family made Irene happy.  Irene often wore a sheepish grin when shenanigans would ensue from a card or marble game or a wrestling match. Often she wore that same grin as she drove (with her lead foot) on the Thunder Butte Road--often tickling the bellies of her grandkid passengers.  Irene sewed like a professional seamstress with many of her family cherishing her creations from shirts, to blankets and quilts.  Everything she gifted was a work of art and made with love.
Irene is preceded in death by her parents, Ace and May, her husband Roy, her siblings Mike Johnson and Neal, Wayne, Dale, and Donnie Trainor, her daughter Linda, son Jerry, son Frank, grandson Ford, great grandson Walker, daughter in law Brenda, and son-in-law George.
Irene is survived by seven children: Dan (Paula) Veit, Bismarck, ND; Lila Lafferty, Roy “Tiger” Veit, Mary (Larry) Reede, Jack (Lisa) Veit, Dona (Kimbal) Russell, and Jim Veit all of Dupree, SD, 27 grandchildren, 64 great grandchildren, and 16 great great grandchildren, and sister-in-law Kay Trainor.

The Pioneer Review

221 E. Oak Street
Philip, SD 57567
Telephone: (605) 859-2516
E Mail: ads@pioneer-review.com

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