Mary Paulette Gillespie

On December 4, 2021 God, through his divine grace, called Mary Paulette Gillespie to be with her Lord & Savior Jesus Christ in heaven. Love of his life and wife to David Gillespie for almost 51 years, Paulette opened her arms to Jesus at the Madison Regional Hospital at 4:33pm.

Paulette was a gracious & loving wife & mother, and an affectionate & passionate grandmother. Though grieving the loss of her companionship, David is eternally grateful to God for having shared her life. Paulette will be lovingly remembered by her husband; and by her son Corey Gillespie of West Des Moines, Iowa and her daughter Robyn Kippley (Brian) of Eden Prairie, Minnesota; and by her four grandchildren Charlie, Alexis, Zorah, and Lazlo along with numerous relatives and friends.

Paulette was preceded in death by her parents Axel and Phyllis Johnson, her sister Rita Stewart and brother-in-law Don Stewart. Paulette was born March 29, 1945 in Parkston, SD and attended Lennox Grade School. She attended Mount Marty High School in Yankton, SD. After graduation, she attended St Mary's School of Practical Nursing in Pierre, South Dakota and was an LPN until she retired in 2011. She worked at McKennan Avera Hospital in Sioux Falls from 1964-1985 until she moved to West Des Moines, Iowa. There, she worked at Orchard Place in Des Moines, Iowa from 1992-2008. Since moving to Brant Lake she worked at the Children’s Home Society in Sioux Falls until she retired in 2011.

Paulette married David Gillespie on April 17, 1971 and he was the great love of her life. They met at the Shipwreck Bar & Grill on Brant Lake, just north of Chester, SD in 1970 and always knew when they retired, they wanted to enjoy retirement on a lake. They moved from West Des Moines to Brant Lake in 2007. Paulette always enjoyed boating, motorcycle riding, & gardening. She loved drinking morning coffee on the porch with her husband listening to the pond or watching the lake, spoiling her pets (Rudy, JR, Sophia, Oscar, and Sally) and most of all spending precious time with her grandchildren.

Funeral mass will begin at 10:30 am, Tuesday, December 14th at St. Joseph the Workman Catholic Church (Huntimer), Colton, SD. Interment will be at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Sioux Falls, SD. Visitation will be 5-7:00 PM Monday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids with a Wake Service beginning at 6:30 pm.

Paulette loved all her pets and they gave her immense joy. Memorial Donations may be made in Paulette's name to Sioux Falls Area Humane Society, 3720 E Benson Rd, Sioux Falls, SD 57104.

The family wishes to send a special thank you to the staff at Madison Regional Hospital for their care and compassion.