NISLAND | Vera May (Simon) Elwood, age 87 and a half, died December 29, 2014 in the Sturgis Regional Hospital Hospice Unit. Vera was born May 25, 1927 in the family home in Owanka, SD. Vera's parents, Gustave and Charlotte (Roll) Simon, were homesteaders of the Lakeside Community in 1901. Her schooling was the one room school house on her parents' property. She then attended Owanka High School for three years. She finished high school and graduated from New Underwood High School in 1944. Vera then attended Black Hills State College and obtained a teaching certificate. She taught school in Lakeside Community schools until her marriage. She married Clyde B. Elwood on November 3, 1948 while he was home on leave from Navy Boot Camp. They moved to Norfolk, Virginia and lived there during Clyde's military service. Upon returning to South Dakota, Vera spent her life as a homemaker and the mother of seven children. In 1968, she began a career in the dietary department at St. John's Hospital. She retired from Rapid City Regional Hospital as the secretary of the dietary department in 1994. Clyde and Vera moved to Nisland, SD and lived out their lives. She is survived by her six children: Wanda (Lee) Estes, Terry Elwood, Clyde E. (Ardyce) Elwood, Edward Elwood, Rose Marie (Steve) Abernathy, and Jean Ann Mardian; a sister, Caroline Ivory, Ardmore, OK; ten grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Vera was preceded in death by her husband Clyde of 64 years; her parents; a daughter, Jacque Lynn Gerry; three brothers and three sisters. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 9, 2015 at Black Hills Funeral Home with Reverend Brad Abelseth officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date this spring at Lakeside Community Cemetery. A memorial has been established to the Lakeside Community Church.