Gail M. Slama, 81 of Avon

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at the First Presbyterian Church in Avon, with burial in the Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Wagner. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the church, followed by a prayer service. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Gail Marie Slama, daughter of Albert and Hazel (Haijsman) Oorlog, was born January 15, 1937 on a farm near Avon, SD. She died Friday, March 30, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Society in Tyndall. Gail attained the age of 81 years, two months and 16 days.

Gail attended country school in the Avon area and graduated from Avon High School in 1955. She then attended Southern State Teachers College in Springfield where she received her teachers certificate. Gail then taught at a country school south of Avon and Wagner. Later in her life she worked as a tutor at the Wagner School.

Gail married Benjamin Slama at the Presbyterian Church in Wagner on July 28, 1959. Four children were blessed to their union.
Gail first of all was a wife and Mom. Throughout her life she also worked at various jobs: Wagner Pork Plant, CR Industries, Springfield Academy counselor, and Kibbles Grocery Store.

Gail was an member of the UCC Church in Springfield and the First Presbyterian Church in Avon. She was a lifetime member of VFW Auxiliary, and member of Springfield Red Hats and Quilters Club of Springfield. She loved to quilt and made a special graduation quilt for each grandchild and baby quilt for each great grandchild. Gail was a Sunday School teacher for many years. She was an active person: she played softball into her '40s, loved to bake, traveled to all 50 States and attended many Volks Marches. Gail and Ben spent winters in Arizona for over 15 years.

Thankful for having shared her life are her husband Ben; four children: Robbin (Mark) Cuka, Wagner; Randy, Pierre; Timothy, Rapid City; and Thomas (Tracey), Minot, ND; 15 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren (and two on the way); five sisters: Gloria (Harold) Weidner, Apache Junction, AZ; Glenda (Gene) Laufer, West Bend, WI; Georgia Oorlog, Lincoln, NE; Ginger (Don) Scheutte, Carlinville, IL; and Glayds (Roger) List, Yankton; one brother, Mike (Ann), Avon; sister-in-law, Mildred Slama, Yankton; Amelia Hebner, Vancouver, WA; sister-in-law, Frances (Laverne) Andersh of Rodgers, AR; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Gail was preceded in death by her parents; grandson Benjamin Slama; infant brother Donald; four brothers-in-law: Dan Rehurek, James Hansen, Frank Slama and Lee Hebner; and sister-in-law, Martha (Lloyd) Hrdlicka.