Loretta H. Velte, 92 of Spearfish, died on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at Rapid City Regional Hospital after a brief illness.

Loretta was born on April 2, 1920 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to William and Hilda (Neils) Krug. She was one of seven children. After graduating from high school she went to Mt. Sinai School of Nursing and graduated in 1941. She then went on to become an instructor in surgical nursing.

One of her students introduced Loretta to her brother, Wallace, and they were married on August 18, 1949. They lived in Reedsburg, Wisconsin for a few years before moving to Spearfish in 1952. Loretta worked as an RN at the David M. Dorsett Healthcare Center, later becoming Director of Nursing until her retirement in 1982.

After she retired from nursing, she remained active with volunteer work at Spearfish Regional Hospital, the Food Bank and Senior Citizens Center.

She is survived by three children, Margaret Velte of Poway CA, David (Karen) Velte of Newhall, CA, and Laurie (Jedd) Tetreault of Raleigh, NC; five grandchildren, Nikole, Danyell, Michal and Conner Tetreault of Raleigh, NC, and Jahala (Christopher) Wilcox of Marysville, CA; and two great-grandchildren, Dylan and Zachary Wilcox of Marysville, CA. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Wallace and six brothers and sisters.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, June 18th 2012 at All Angels Episcopal Church in Spearfish with Father Bunker Hill officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established to the Friends of Grace Balloch Memorial Library Endowment Fund.

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