Loraine Ruth Kafka, 72, Newell, died Thursday, 11/10/2011, at the Sturgis Regional Hospital.

Visitation will be 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sunday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis. A rosary service begins at 7 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday, November 14, 2011 at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic church in Newell with Father Arnold Kari officiating. Burial follows at the Hope Cemetery near Newell.

A memorial has been established.

Loraine was born October 26, 1939, at Wessington, SD, to Martin and Margaret (Morrow) Scott. The family moved to Oregon for a year before returning to Newell, SD, where she grew up. After graduating from high school in Newell, she attended Black Hills Teacher's College. She taught at the Pleasant Valley School .

On June 11, 1959 she married Harry Lewis Fairbanks in Newell. They lived in El Paso, TX and following Harry's discharge from the service, they moved to Dupree, SD. They owned and operated the West River Progress. They moved to Sturgis, SD, and worked for Allison Publishing. Loraine was a writer and Harry was a printer.

In 1986 they moved to Newell and Loraine was a substitute teacher and worked as a writer for the Newell Irrigator.

In 1989 she married Thomas James Kafka.

Loraine was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and the NVN Senior Center. She helped with Meals on Wheels and loved her family gatherings where she got to cook for her family and friends. She enjoyed a good game of cards, her craft work and spending time with her family.

Survivors include her son Martin Kafka, Spearfish; daughters, Jane (Michael) Frerichs, Corona, SD, Lori Fairbanks, Newell, Sheila (Paul) Steiger, Whitewood; brother Martin (Sharyl) Scott, Newell; also 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband, one brother and two infant sisters.

Click on link to view service folder