Jacklyn Lee Lindstrom, "Jackie," 83, Whitewood and formerly of Spearfish, passed from this world on July 16, 2013 - to join her deceased husband, Don, and to dance with him in the mystery of life. Following her wishes, she was cremated. Private family services will be held at a later date.

Despite her dementia, Jackie died the way she lived - graciously and stubbornly - doing it "her own way." She would be the first to tell you that hers was a blessed life. She wasn't given to a lot of religious conversation. But a child-like grin and, "Thank you, God," could happen at any moment. Yet hers was a deep faith in God. She burned with a deep love of creation and of God's living creatures. To this day, people wonder whether she despised cooking more than she loved horses. To that, I can only hear her saying, "Does there have to be a choice?" From her first uttered word, "hoosey," - to the building of barns, sheds and endless maintenance of fences - to her last moments, looking out on her beloved "Bear Butte," that magical mountain on the prairie - "country" was in her soul. It came out all over the place. Horses and dogs - yes, even people - lived in her paintings and pastels. And family and friends lived in her published writings. (If you missed the 1997, "Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul" collection of stories, you probably need to find it.)

It was a picture of sheer joy, watching Jackie and Don dance a country-western "two-step" - and wear out the band with, "C'mon, Just one more" She and Don shared 62 years together as husband and wife - painting, dancing, arguing - and giving their kids the best that country life had to offer. Jackie and her son, Dave, learned the most important lessons of parenting and being parented from horses - and likewise from the snakes, birds and wiggly things that her son, John (who friends and loved ones know as "Q"), invited to share their childhood home. Jackie and Don were more than parents to Q and his wife, Brenda. They were best friends. And Q and Brenda's daughter, Vanessa was not just a granddaughter. She was a daughter, as well - a little girl whom Jackie held for hours in the shower to cool her from a childhood chronic illness - and with whom she ofted clogged to "Salty Dog Blues" until Jackie was no longer able. Jackie and Don would waste no time, telling you that their best move in life was to follow John and Brenda from Minnesota to the Black Hills, in South Dakota. The relationships that formed with friends, neighbors and their beloved church in Whitewood was, for them, an unequaled experience. Friends, Stan and Sharon, might as well be called Lindstrom, as well. They are family and deeply loved. So many others. Naming all these folks would suffer from incompletion. But they know who they are. Jackie and Don wrapped their arms around Dave's previous wife, and continued friend, Joanne. And Jackie has deeply embraced Dave's new fiancé, Maureen - and Vanessa's love, Tom. Don didn't get the opportunity, but he would have loved them both.

It wasn't all roses, in the end. Dementia sucks. Brenda and John sacrificed to give Jackie the best experience as she walked through this - just as they had with Don as he walked through the grip of cancer. And it would have been unbearable without the love and help of the amazing Hospice team. Jackie embraced all that Hospice had to offer, finding not just medical help, but social and spiritual comfort. And when the time was near, family and friends gathered - and sang to Jackie, "Good Night, Irene." Jackie died - smiling, dancing, hating house-work, loving cleaning barns - and dancing to a country song on the radio.

We will miss you, mom. Say "hi" to dad.

If you find it in your heart, in lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Hospice of the Northern Hills, 1140 N Main St, Spearfish, SD 57783 - (605) 644-4444.

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