Mildred Thode Sleep, from Spearfish/Lead SD passed away at her residence in the Prince of Peace Care Center, Sioux Falls SD, on January 12, 2011.
Memorial Services will be Monday, January 17 at 10 A.M., at Trinity United Methodist Church in Lead, with inurnment at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish, SD. A prayer service with Eastern Star Rites will be held at Sunday evening at 7 P.M. January 16 at the Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish.
Mildred Emma Thode Sleep was born Oct. 2, 1917 at the E.W. Thode ranch in Belvidere, SD, to Ernst and Frances (Stephenson) Thode. She was the youngest of 12 children, and treasured her growing-up time in Belvidere. After graduating from Belvidere High School, she earned a teaching certificate from Black Hills Teachers College and taught two years at the Crow Peak country school, where she met Bill Sleep.
In 1938, they married and moved to the Hannah Canyon where they lived, raised a family and made many happy memories together. Mildred received a Master's Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Special Education, and for years served both students and adults with special needs in the Black Hills area. After retiring, she lived in Spearfish, SD until she moved to Sioux Falls, SD because of health concerns. She also actively served as a member of the Lead and Spearfish United Methodist churches, Eastern Star, Daughter's of the Nile, Retired Teachers Association, the Black Hills Alumni Association, Senior Citizens, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the board of the Adjustment Training Center in the Black Hills. Although she has received many awards for her career achievements, as well as her organized and generous work, her most cherished treasure was the affection and relationships of her family, friends and students.
Mildred was always up for fun. She loved going to all kinds of activities to cheer on her family members, and was still going to wrestling matches when she was 91. She also loved entertaining at Sleep Hollow Cabin. She grew up in a loving crowd and continued to love people for her entire life.
Survivors include: her daughter-in- law, Carol Wiesen of Powell, WY; grandchildren and spouses--Sheila (Dan) Freed, of Sioux Falls, SD; Randy (Kim) Sleep of Garden City KS; Jason (Ginger) Sleep of Powell, WY, Ed (Megan) Wiesen, Salt Lake City, UT; and Joe (Angie) Wiesen of Cheyenne, WY. She had 17 great grand children, two great-great grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, children Gary and Carolyn, as well as her 11 siblings, and both parents.