Gladys Helen Graves

Gladys Graves, formerly of Dell Rapids, SD passed away March 21, 2010 in Rosepine, Louisiana.

Funeral Services are Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 2 p.m. at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids. Burial will follow in the Dell Rapids Cemetery.

Visitation with the family will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 26, 2010 at Minnehaha Funeral Home.

Gladys Helen (Ockenga) Graves was born February 26, 1912 at Colman, SD to John H. and Belle (Waite) Ockenga. She attended school in Colman, SD; then worked as a mother's helper and at the IOOF Home in Dell Rapids where she met Howard Graves. They married on May 27, 1937 at her parents' farm home in Colman, SD. She joined Howard's church, The First Baptist Church of Dell Rapids where she was a member for more than 70 years.


She and Howard operated a dairy for a few years in Dell Rapids. After selling the dairy, they opened the cafe in the historic Rock Garden Cafe and Gas Station. They owned and operated Smokey’s at the corner of Garfield and Main Street until shortly after Howard's death in 1971. When Friendship Village I opened, Gladys moved into one of the apartments were she lived for over 25 years before moving to Louisiana in 2003 to make her home with her daughter.



Gladys enjoyed being with her immediate and extended family. She was considerate of others' busy lives and always appreciative of any kindness shown to her. Gladys had a mischievous sense of humor such as the time she yielded to temptation, dropping a few grains of pepper down the nose of one of her napping brothers. When she offered to bring something for a family gathering, often the request was for one of her melt-in-your mouth angel food cakes or one of her pies. She enjoyed playing cards, especially Rummy.


Survivors include her daughter, Carol Cox; her granddaughters, Terri (Lonnie) Walker and great-grand daughter, Ashton; Becky (Mat) Robles and step great-grandson, Jarred; two sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews and their children.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, Howard; her son-in-law, Raymond (Murl) Cox; her sister, Frances Guild and brothers, Joseph, George, Chester, John and Donald Ockenga.