Velma J. Yates
June 4, 1928 – September 1, 2020

Graveside services for Velma J. Yates, 92, of Chamberlain, SD, were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, at Riverview Cemetery of Chamberlain, SD.
Visitation began at 10 a.m. at Riverview Cemetery of Chamberlain, SD.
Velma J. Yates died Sept. 1, 2020, at her home in Chamberlain, SD.
Velma J. Yates was born June 4, 1928, in Tripp County of South Dakota to Theodore and Gertrude (Larsen) Larson.
She attended grade school at Gassman School in rural Tripp County of South Dakota and attended high school in Winner, SD, graduating in 1947.
After graduating high school, she attended Notre Dame (Dakota Wesleyan University of Mitchell, SD) for two summers where she received her teaching certificate. In 1948, she started teaching at the Wolcott School in Lyman County of South Dakota. She went on to finish her teaching career at Cooper
School in Lyman County, also in South Dakota.
On Aug. 27, 1950, Velma was united in marriage to Robert (Bob) Yates, to whom they had two daughters, Marla and Carlene.
After the birth of her children, Velma held many jobs, including a dental assistant for Dr. Henry Mueller, a stylist at Al’s Oasis Gift Shop and lunch lady at the Chamberlain School District. Being the lunch lady brought her the most joy as she was known as “Grandma” by all.
After retiring, she enjoyed tending to her lawn, visiting neighbors, cleaning the ditches, chopping thistle and tending to the neighborhood gardens.
You could always spot her around town in her red “Chamberlain Booster Club” jacket.
The neighborhood watch team and Monte and Stacey Claussen, Steve and Jan DeSloover and Paul Cozine provided extra care for her.
Grateful for having shared her life are a daughter, Carlene Petersen and husband, Herman of Chamberlain, SD; five grandchildren, Brock Frederick of Chamberlain, SD, Mark Petersen and wife, Dee Dee of Platte, SD, Kimberly Nelson and husband, Roger of Spencer, NE, Lori McQuirk and husband, Nate of Oacoma, SD, and Robert Frederick and wife, Leah of Oacoma, SD; 11 great grandchildren; a brother, Darrell Larson and wife, Frances of Hamill, SD; a sister, Fern Zastrow of Sioux Falls, SD, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert (Bob) Yates; her parents, Theodore and Gertrude Larson; a brother, Glen Larson; a daughter, Marla Frederick; a son-in-law, Dale Frederick; a brother-in-law, Matt Zastrow and several aunts, uncles and relatives.
Hickey Funeral Chapel of Chamberlain, SD, was in charge of arrangements.
The obituary may be seen at www.hickeyfuneralchapel.com.