Dixie Stephens
June 15, 1954 ~ April 15, 2017
Dixie Stephens, 62, of Mitchell and formerly of Highmore, passed away Saturday, April 15, 2017 at Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Reck Funeral Home, Miller, with Pastor Roger Day presiding. Visitation was one hour prior to the service. Burial followed in the Gann Valley Cemetery. A lunch was served at 12:00 p.m., before the service, at Willie’s in St. Lawrence.
Dixie was born June 15, 1954, in Huron, SD, to William and Carol (Howard) Stephens. She joined brother Billy and sister Cheryl at the family ranch in rural Hughes County. Dixie attended grade school at Pratt County School and Highmore Elementary. She graduated from Highmore High School in 1972. She was active in basketball, track, All State Chorus and playing softball was her favorite summer activity. She also played piano and organ, her love of music led to her singing for many friends’ weddings. Dixie attended Lake Area Vo Tech, where she studied Cosmetology. After graduation she worked at a salon in Pierre and was later employed by the State of SD in the investment division. In 1976, Dixie moved to Denver and continued to be employed as a book keeper. Dixie moved to Seattle, WA, in 1987 and joined John Wilkens CPA Firm. In 2001, she moved to the Los Angeles area, continuing to work for John Wilkens by computer and mail. Dixie purchased a house in Mitchell, SD in 2009 and returned to SD, still doing work for the Wilkens Firm. In 2013, John’s health was failing and she chose to return to Seattle, close the office and fire herself. From that time until her death, she retained book keeping clients that she had been serving since 1987.
Dixie enjoyed reading, watching movies and TV, playing cards and games and was a fierce competitor. She also organized and enjoyed family reunions, reminiscing and re-connecting with friends. Having no children of her own she adopted and loved her nieces, nephews and their children as her own.
Dixie is survived by her mother, Carol Stephens, Miller, SD; her sister, Cheryl (John) Knippling, Gann Valley, SD; sister in law, Yvonne Stephens, Red Cloud, NE; nephews: Bert (Summer) Stephens, Monte Knippling, Mark (Babe Dean) Knippling; nieces: Kelly Gran, Kori (Brent) Blake, Robin (Randy) Sporrer, Donna (Randy) George, Brenda (Robert) Haseman and Sarah (Brent) Woodman; many great and great-great nephews and nieces and many special friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, Bill Stephens; her brother, Billy Stephens; a great niece, Jasmyn Knippling; a great nephew, Thomas John Blake and great-great nephew, Damien Hoit.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Dixie’s arrangements.
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Our sympathy and Prayers to The family’s of Dixie. She was a one of a kind . So many good memories. The class of "72" will definitely miss you too.!
Sending lots of big Texas hugs and prayers to the family. Dixie and I were both in the awesome class of 1972. She will be missed by many.
So sorry to hear of Dixie’s passing. Over the years always had fun bantering with Dixie. Cheri, Carol & family you are in my thoughts & prayers. ✝
So sorry to hear the news. Love and prayers to all the family.
Sorry to hear this…God bless the family.
To all the family you have my sincerest condolences. Also the class of 1972 will miss anothercgreat person from the roster.
sorry to hear this news. She was a neighbor of mine growing up and a friend to my sister Merry.
Our prayers are with your family. Dixie’s spirit and laughter will be missed.
Our Thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Heaven is a happier place with you there, Dixie! Give hugs to my Grandpa, please. Prayers to all the family. Love and hugs to all.
I wanted to express my heartfelt condolences to Dixie’s family. There’s such a sense of helplessness when someone we love dies. I’d like to share some scriptural thoughts that really helps me. Prayer is so valuable at this time but it’s not that prayer simply makes us feel better. 2 Cor.4:7 says that God can give us, "… power beyond what is normal ", to go from one day to the next. This does not mean that we no longer cry or that we forget, but it means we recover. The reason we recover is because of our hope. Jesus Christ talked about our hope in John 5:28, "… all those in the memorial tomb will hear his voice and come out ". Jesus was referring to the resurrection, this is our hope that helps us recover and gives us power to go on. 2 Cor.1:3 describes our Creator as, "… the God of all comfort ". One way that God comforts us is by moving people who care about us to give us words of encouragement that we need to hear. May the God of comfort (Ps.83:18) be your comfort now during this time of sorrow.
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. “He will swallow death forever, and the Sovereign Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces.” Revelation 21: 4 “He wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” My heartfelt condolences and prayers for family and friends.
So sorry for your loss.