Obituary: Sylvia Stone

Funeral Services

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 10:00 AM (Mountain).

United Methodist Church
Wall, South Dakota

Interment

11:00 a.m. Friday, March 9, 2018
Rose Cemetery
Pedro, South Dakota

Visitation

One hour preceding the services at the church on Saturday.

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In memory of

Sylvia Stone

of Rapid City, formerly of Pedro, South Dakota, died on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at her residence in Rapid City at the age of 94

Sylvia Myrtle Davis was born June 20, 1923, on the banks of the Cheyenne river, in the log cabin her parents, Guy Davis and Myrtle Rose Davis built on their homestead in 1906.

From a very young age, Sylvia felt deep ties to the land and the ranching way of life. Her childhood was spent helping to care for her family's cattle, and she would tell stories of during drought years trailing the cattle into the Badlands to graze the undisturbed grass growing on the plateaus. Her mother would meet them in a covered wagon, and they would spend the nights out under the stars. One of her proudest moments was when she overheard her father (a cowboy in the great round up of 1902) ask her mother if Sylvia might be able to round up the cattle with him, as she was a better cowboy then most of the men he knew. As Sylvia grew, she kept her love of ranching, and after her marriage to William Stone, Sr, they were able to ranch first, south of Rapid City, then buying their own ranch from Leo Bastian, on the old Pedro town site in 1959, bringing her again to the Cheyenne river breaks that she loved so much.

Growing up, Sylvia loved her time spent on the prairie, but being so far from town brought up an issue of schooling for she and her six siblings, which was solved by her mother running the hotel in Wasta during the school year, so they could all attend school. She attended school in Wasta until her senior year, then finished her schooling in Philip, graduating from Philip High School in 1941. It was while she was a sophomore in Wasta, that a boy from up north transferred into school. His name was William Stone, and she would marry him in 1942.

In the fall of 1943 Bill and Sylvia welcomed their first son, William Robert, Jr. He was soon followed by John Ralph, Susan Marie, Guy Evans, and David Luke, having five children in the span of ten years. While her children attended Deep Creek School, Sylvia enjoyed teaching music classes and harmonica to all the school children. Sylvia passed on her kind and caring personality to her children, along with her love of the land she was raised on. In addition, she passed on her love for animals, and it was during this time Sylvia began a life long love of raising animals, ranging from cocker spaniels, collies, horses and even canaries, just to name a few.

In 1989 Bill and Sylvia sold the ranch, and Sylvia was able to retire, first living in a cabin near her parents homestead, then moving to Rapid City, where she had lived for the past 25 years. In her retirement, Sylvia was able to focus on her poetry, of which she was very talented. She was featured in many magazines, a PBS TV special, and in recent years had a collection of her works published into a book. Even in retirement, Sylvia was an active rancher, keeping a small herd of cattle until the day she passed.

She was a friend to all who met her, and one of the most genuinely kind and loving people that you could ever have the honor of meeting.

Sylvia Davis passed peacefully from this earth on Sunday, February 4th, at her home in Rapid City. She is survived by her sister Dona Bodkin, children Susan (Paul) Robinson of Chamberlain, Guy Stone of Yankton, and Dave (Virgina) Stone of Spearfish, daughters-in-law Louise Stone of Lincoln, Nebraska and Linda Stone of Rapid City; ten grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter; and many other friends and family.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Myrtle Rose Davis in 1942 and her father Guy Davis in 1960; her older siblings Roy Davis, Ruby Brech, Rose Stahr, Lucy Wilsey, Ada Wilsey, and two infant sisters, Myrtle Grace and Ida Jane; her husband William Stone, Sr. in 2015, sons Dr. William R. Stone, Jr. in 2014 and John Ralph Stone in 2016, and daughter in law Peggy Weber Stone in 2015.

No matter where she lived, or her condition in life, she always felt her heart was in the land of the Cheyenne river breaks, and to that land she will return, being laid to rest in peace in the Rose Family Cemetery.

Visitation will be held one hour preceding the services at the church.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 10, at the United Methodist Church in Wall with Pastor Russell Masartis officiating.

Graveside services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 9, at the Rose Cemetery near Pedro.

FUNERAL SERVICES
Saturday, February 10, 2018 - 10:00 a.m.
United Methodist Church
Wall, South Dakota
CLERGY
Pastor Russell Masartis
MUSIC
Carla Brucklacher - Pianist
Cindy Nuzum - Vocalist
“Softly and Tenderly”
Congregational Hymns
“When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder”
“God Be With You Until We Meet Again”
USHER
Jerry Johannesen
PALLBEARERS
Eric Robinson - Evan Robinson - Karl Robinson
Tyler Anderson - William Stone, III - Jef Wilsey
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance
INTERMENT
11:00 a.m. Friday, March 9, 2018
Rose Cemetery
Pedro, South Dakota

Sign the guestbook

Sylvia was a dear friend of my Mother Norma Gentry. Such a sweet lady, she will be missed. ~ Rebecca Louisiana (6/4/2018)
So sorry for you loss.
Sylvia and my mother Evelyn
Were best friends,
We all loved Sylvia very much.
Heaven has surely gained another angel. ~ Larry Bourne HOT Springs, SD (2/10/2018)
A life well-lived. Upon reading the obituary, I wished I would have known Sylvia. Her life was so full and she put her heart into it. Her poem on the obituary folder is outstanding, it captures the spirit of a wonderful lady.
~ Theresa Deuchar Milesville, SD (2/10/2018)
Our sincere condolences. Sylvia as loved and will be missed.
We've made a donation in her memory to the Rose Cemetery.
May God bless you. ~ Mary Bauer, Dan Place, Mary Ann Hayworth Townsend, MT, Ft Collins, CO (2/9/2018)
Susan, Guy and David,
Your mother was my mother Pat's dearest friend. They shared so many memories of growing up on ranches near the Cheyenne River. Both of them are now home in our family cemetery. Love and blessings to you all. ~ Lesta and Mike Turchen Hill City, SD (2/9/2018)
Our deepest sympathy to the family. Those who have given of
themselves to others, will live forever in each heart they have touched. May God be with you and always remember the good times. ~ Gene and Ester Johannesen Wall (2/7/2018)
I'm really glad I got to meet you last September, I really enjoyed your stories of you and grandma bodkin when you guys were little. You will be missed me. ~ Sonna linder Colorado (2/7/2018)
You parents were wonderful people and great neighbors. Our family was very blessed to have them just down the road. May the Lordwrap his arms around you and fill you with all the precious memories until you see each other again in the kingdom of Heaven ~ Bobbie Jo White Custis Midland, Tx (2/7/2018)
You will be missed Aunt Sylvia. But never forgotten. Jesus is with you and all the lost family. We will See you again one day. Until then, keep the smile on your face and the herd in front of you. Love case & Cind Bodkin ~ Casey & Cindy Bodkin Colorado (2/6/2018)
Susan, Guy and Luke, With sympathy and prayers to you and your family. I remember her as a very sweet and gentle lady. She always had a smile on her face and kind things to say. ~ Marcia Denke Huether Interior, SD (2/6/2018)
Susan, Guy, David
We are currently in Texas for the winter. We want to offer you our very sincere consoldences in the death of your mother. She was a wonderful lady. May she rest with our Savior in heaven. God be with you. ~ Van & Cathy Simpfenderfer Wall, SD (2/6/2018)
Sympathy and prayers to the family. ~ Donna Bodkin Craven Rapid City, SD (2/5/2018)