Jane Abbott Prosper, age 93, died peacefully on January 5, 2017 at the Sangre de Cristo Hospice House in Pueblo, Colorado shortly after suffering a stroke. Jane was born November 25, 1923 in Paragould, Arkansas, the daughter of Thomas C. Abbott and Mina Garrard Abbott.

Jane was a 1941 graduate of Little Rock High School. She then went on to the University of Illinois, graduating in 1945 with a degree in journalism. While pursuing her degree, she was given an assignment to compete in a national newspaper essay contest. She reluctantly completed the essay because it was a class requirement. She was surprised when her essay was judged to be the nationwide winner! She won a trip to the Waldorf Astoria in New York City to receive her award, accompanied by her older sister, Mina.

In 1942 at an Army dance, Jane met a young man named Arthur Prosper from Detroit, Michigan, who was stationed at Fort Robinson. This romance blossomed and they corresponded throughout World War II, planning to get married once the war was over. Art returned from the South Pacific in late 1945. They were married on February 9, 1946 and this union would last for 66 years, until Art passed away in 2012.

Jane agreed to marry Art on the condition that he would attend college for at least one year. Little did she know that one year would become closer to eight as he moved along the teaching ladder pursuing advanced degrees. Through it all, Jane would help support the family doing secretarial work at most of their stops which included the University of Michigan, Lehigh University, the University of Virginia, Magnolia College, Mary Hardin Baylor, Central Missouri State, and finally ending up at Black Hills State, in Spearfish, SD. They would stay there until retirement, and continue to live there for over 50 years!

Jane was a member of the Spearfish United Methodist Church, The American Association of University Women, P.E.O. Chapter N and Black Hills State University Faculty Wives.

Jane is survived by her children, Judy and husband Doug DeNio of Columbus, Nebraska and their children: Brian (Dawn) of Tucson, Arizona; Chrystal (Stephen) Hambek of Omaha, Nebraska, and Sarah DeNio, Columbus, Nebraska; Robert and wife Jacki and their children: Kristen and John, all of Aberdeen, South Dakota; Mary and husband Randy Neu of Pueblo West, Colorado and their children: Sheri Neu of Denver, Colorado, Amanda (Robby) Bent of Santa Maria, California, and Kaitlin Neu of Mexico City, Mexico; Daughter-in-law Laurel Prosper of Lansing, Michigan and her daughter, Leila Pace of Indianapolis, Indiana. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Arthur, son Thomas, brother John Abbott, and sisters Edith Danner and Mina Abbott.

Services will be held at the United Methodist Church in Spearfish on January 12 at 10:00 a.m. with burial to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish. Memorials have been established to the United Methodist Church and Black Hills State University.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Crematory Service of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com