Yvette Philipsen, 63, died September 10, 2014, with her family by her side at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Yvette was always very active and a competitor in everything she did. She always strived to bring out the best in everyone she touched. During her school years, she was active in fast pitch softball, cheerleading, FFA, and 4-H. After leaving high school, she trained and showed horses, participated in rodeos, bowled, and continued playing softball.

Yvette was a gifted leader and a very caring person. She was a City of Sturgis Councilwoman, on the board of directors for several nonprofit associations, and helped raise and guide several foster children through some of the most difficult times of their lives.

In 1984, she opened Sturgis Bookkeeping and Tax Service and went on to earn her Enrolled Agent accreditation with the IRS and received numerous professional commendations for her work.

In her free time, she liked to sing and play musical instruments, read, and ride her motorcycle. She was a member of the Red Hat Society, the Motor Maids- the oldest woman's motorcycle club in the U.S., the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Christian Motorcycle Association, where she was the area rep and helped establish two new chapters in South Dakota.

Survivors include husband: Roy Philipsen of Sturgis; one sister: Yvonne Koistinen (Lyle) of Sturgis; five children: Wendy Philipsen of New Underwood, Dee Dee Scovel (Tony) of Peyton, CO, Mel "ML" West (Stacy) of Tacoma, WA, Kristi Bradley (Jason) of Mitchell, SD, and Brian Philipsen (Jennifer) of New Underwood, 13 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Yvette was preceded in death by her mother: Wanda Gammel.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society.

Memorial Services will be held at Black Hills Fellowship (www.blackhillsfellowship.org) Rapid City at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 15, 2014, with Pastor Nathan Ennis officiating. A private family inurnment will be held at Bear Butte Cemetery at a later date.

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