Elaine M. Tate, age 80, of Volga, died Thursday, January 5, 2006, at Avera-McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Monday at the First Assembly of God in Brookings, with interment in Greenwood Cemetery at Brookings. Visitations will be from 4-7 P.M. Sunday at Eidsness Funeral Chapel in Volga. Elaine Margaret (Watson) Tate was born August 16, 1925, at Winner, South Dakota, to Albert and Emma (Poelke) Watson. She grew up on a ranch near White River, South Dakota, then lived in White River for a number of years. Elaine had rheumatic fever when she was 11, so she and her mother moved to Chamberlain to be near a doctor. After her recovery, Elaine helped operate her mother's small cafe where she learned to bake 17 pies at a time. After Elaine completed her junior year in high school, Emma sold the cafe and bought a hotel in Arlington which they operated together for several years. Elaine attended college in Brookings where a friend, Donna Revell, tried to fix her up with her cousin, George Tate, who had just returned from the navy. Elaine was certain she would have nothing in common with a sailor and tried to avoid the introduction, but eventually the meeting took place and Elaine said to herself, "why have I been wasting so much time'" George had begun dating Donna's roommate, and one day he invited both girls to go out to his farm for some shooting. The target was a swinging bottle. The roommate shot first and hit the bottle; Elaine shot next and hit the bottle neck. George was impressed, and the roommate was history. However, when their relationship began to turn serious, Elaine told George that she had a heart murmur from the rheumatic fever and her doctor had advised that she never marry, never have children, and would likely not live past 30, so he might want to find someone else. But George insisted that she was the girl for him, and they were married on November 1, 1947, at Arlington, South Dakota. They initially farmed near Lake Campbell and Brookings, and finally settled in the Sinai area. At the Sinai farm Elaine put her shooting skills to good use, sitting out on a small slope in the yard and shooting gophers that invaded her garden. Her success in this endeavor caused her eldest daughter to proudly proclaim, "My Mommy is a really good shot. She either hits them in the neck or she misses them." Elaine was active as a 4-H leader in Sinai for a number of years. She and George purchased the Dairy Maid Drive-In in Volga in 1968 and moved to Volga in 1969. Elaine operated the Dairy Maid for 13 years while George continued with farming and his hay moving business. Elaine became interested in natural health supplements and worked at a health food store in Brookings for several years. She was active in the Olivet Presbyterian Church in Volga and most recently attended First Assembly of God in Brookings. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and brother and sister. Blessed by having been a part of her life are Elaine's six children: Rita Tate of Astoria, Susan Tate of Sioux Falls, Paul Tate of Volga, Margaret Brown of Volga, David (Xiomara) Tate of rural Volga; and Donna Tate of Volga; six grandchildren: Trayce (Charlotte) Meyer, Ryan (Billi Jo) Meyer, Chelsea Pierce, Jimi Brown, Jeffrey Tate and Sydney Tate; and five great grandchildren: Trey Meyer, Chase Meyer, Shelby Meyer, Reilly Meyer, and Reid Meyer.