Patricia S. Ketelsen, 85, Rapid City, died Monday, December 10, 2012, after a brief stay at Prairie Hills Golden Living Center in Rapid City.

Patricia Leona Speakman was born to Luella and Roy Speakman January 17, 1927, in Sturgis, SD. She worked for her room and board to attend high school and graduated from Sturgis High School in 1945.

She worked in Washington DC in 1945 at the Pentagon as a clerk in the war crimes department but came back to help her family who were having some tough times. She worked as a telephone operator to help support her parents.

She married Ray Ketelsen February 2, 1947, and had 5 children who kept her busy with their sports and 4-H activities. Her hot chocolate was the best at the many ice skating parties on the ranch that the neighborhood enjoyed.

She enjoyed her 7 grandchildren and their activities. She was on the election board, past president of the Cowbells, a member of the Idle Hour Club, and took various classes such as upholstery, quilting, and tailoring. She was an advocate for nursing home reform.

Pati was a Deacon for the First Presbyterian Church in Rapid City and was a volunteer in the Visitation Ministry, visiting and giving communion at nursing homes.

Survivors include her brother, Gordon Speakman, Milton-Freewater, OR; her sister, Joan Hobernicht, Lake Havasu City, AZ; her children, Jonilee Ketelsen, Jersey City, NJ, Karyl Meyer, Gillette, WY, Patricia Otte, Aspen, CO, and Kurt Ketelsen, Box Elder, SD; and grandchildren, Michael Otte, William Otte, Krystina Meyer, Robert Meyer, Bailey Ketelsen, Kayla Ketelsen, and Raymond Ketelsen.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; her son, Royce; her granddaughter, Cassie Ketelsen; and her sister, Jacqueline Ruhnow.

Visitation will be from 2:00-6:00 on Sunday, December 16, 2012, at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel located at 1235 Junction Ave. in Sturgis, SD.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 17, 2012, at the First Presbyterian Church in Rapid City with Pastor Jeff Kintner officiating. A luncheon will follow at the church with burial at 2:00 p.m. at the Black Hills National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the scholarship fund for the First Presbyterian Church in RC or the St. Jude Children Research Hospital.

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