Dixie Richardson, 16 days short of her 63rd birthday, died the 5th day of May as a result of a ruptured aneurism in her brain. She died peacefully with attentive witnesses including her husband, dear friends and supportive hospital personnel.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth and Sever Eubank and her, brother Perry Reed. Dixie is survived by her husband Lionel; her son, Michael Horvath (Julie), her grandson, Ryan Horvath; her sister, Martha Van Vactor (Dennis); her niece, Melissa Van Vactor and her life-long friends and the Class of '71.

Dixie was the prime example of "You can take a girl out of the South, but you cannot take the South out of the girl." Dixie moved with her family to Spearfish starting grade five. She graduated from Spearfish High School, got married and started her slow migration back to Texas. After she and Lionel were married, they decided to make Spearfish their home. Both she and Lionel were actively involved in community affairs. They loved living in the Black Hills and enjoyed riding motorcycles, jeeping, ATVing, and spending time at their cabin. Dixie was a people person, and she and Lionel were naturals in social occasions with friends. There was no place in the Northern Hills where she was a stranger.

Many people go through life never finding true love and companionship. Dixie found such a wonderful husband and friend in Lionel; a wonderfully wacky sisterhood bond with Martha and far too many fantastic friendships to name. She loved her work within the law firm. Recently she found pure joy in having Lionel at home in the evenings and having more cabin time for the two of them.

If you listen carefully to your mind's ear, you can hear her signature Southern greeting and see her contagious smile. To say that she will be missed is an understatement. There is this void that we find difficult to comprehend. How does one go on a yearly Thelma and Louise adventure without Thelma? Half of a whole is just that.

A celebration of Dixie's life will be held at 1:00pm, Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at the Snapper's Club in the Spearfish City Campground.

Private inurnment will take place at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to benefit Black Hills State Yellow Jackets Girls Basketball Program.