Irene “Soogie” LaFave, 77, of Onida, died Tuesday, May 17, at the Oahe Manor in Gettysburg. Services will be 10:00am, Monday, May 23 at the Onida United Methodist Church with visitation one hour prior to services. Burial will take place at the Onida Cemetery. On-line condolences may be left at Isburg Funeral Chapel.
Irene Mae McChristy was born March 11, 1939 in Yankton County, SD to Everett and Christine “Babe” McChristy. She graduated from Irene High School in 1957. After high school, she attended the School of Practical Nursing in Pierre, becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1958.
She was united in marriage with Lonnie LaFave on June 4, 1961 at Salem Lutheran Church in Irene, SD. To this union four children were born: Alan, Steven, Amy and Linda. They lived in Pierre until February 1, 1965, when Lonnie and Irene opened LaFave Electric in Onida. Irene was the bookkeeper and tended the shop when Lonnie was out on calls. They retired in 2007. Irene was a member of the Onida Methodist Church.
Irene was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1979. She became a resident of Oahe Manor in Gettysburg in 2012. Despite her health issues her faith never wavered and she always had a smile on her face. Besides Lonnie, Irene’s children and grandchildren were the center of her world.
Grateful for having shared in her life are her children: Alan (Kari) of Aberdeen and their children Ashley and Alexis, son Steven (Lori) of Mission Hill and their children Nicholas, Matthew and Thomas, and daughter Amy (Mark) McGee of Dell Rapids; sister Myrtle Jackson, brother-in-law Dennis (Lorna) LaFave, sister-in-law Belva (Clovis) Wood, and brother-in-law Eldon (Lilia) LaFave; nieces and nephews, Joan Jackson, Kent Jackson, Dawn (Shane) Bonham, Janelle (Eddy) Coker, Lynne LaFave, Marty LaFave, Les LaFave, Dawn LaFave, and Corey (Susan) LaFave.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lonnie, daughter, Linda, parents, Everett and Christine McChristy, brother-in-law Duane Jackson, father and mother-in-law, Eugene and Olinda LaFave, brother-in-law Wayne and Dianne LaFave, and niece Michelle LaFave.