Laura Veal, age 89, of Bonesteel, South Dakota, died peacefully Friday, November 11, 2011, at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown, South Dakota. She spent her last week surrounded by family and loving friends. Funeral services will be 1:00 P.M. Monday, November 14, 2011, at Calvary Bible Church in Bonesteel, with interment at 2:00 P.M. (MST) Tuesday at the Bison Cemetery, Bison, South Dakota. Laura Kathleen (Jones) Veal was born May 15, 1922, in a sod house eight miles north of Bison, South Dakota, to Sam and Marie "Molly" (Hanson) Jones. Molly was a teacher and gave Laura a lifelong love of learning. Laura always said that her childhood was simple, full of both hard work and fun. She had many fond memories growing up with her two brothers, surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins, picking berries, making jams, attending barn dances and playing piano. It was during these early years that she discovered her love of reading, music and dancing. She attended her mother's one room country grade school and graduated from Faith High School in 1939. After high school, she worked for a café in Bison for a year to earn money for college. She attended Black Hills Teacher's College in 1940-41 and earned a certificate to teach in country schools. She taught two years in rural schools and then took a job in the auditor's office at the Perkins County courthouse in Bison, first as clerk and then as deputy. On December 23, 1944, Laura married Tom Veal in Bison. They lived in Lemmon, Buffalo, Belle Fourche, Sturgis, and Faith, before moving to Bonesteel in 1951.They had two children, Jack and Kathy, and she was always proud that she was able to stay home with them until they went to school. Tom and Laura divorced in 1965. Laura remained in Bonesteel, where she lived until her death. She worked part-time jobs in grocery stores, a dress shop and motel, and she substitute taught for six months. She worked for Rosebud Electric Cooperative from 1966 until her retirement in 1987. Laura's faith in God was an important part of her life; she lived out her faith as a committed member of her church, a caring and dedicated friend, mother and grandmother, and an active member of the Bonesteel community. She served as a Sunday School teacher, 4-H leader, city council member, and was involved in the Senior Center, Women's Club, and community chorus. Laura lived her entire life in South Dakota, a place that she loved; she always "felt a thrill to see the Black Hills rising abruptly from the prairie." She felt privileged to live out her life in her own home and was thankful she was able to spend her last year in the Haisch Haus in Bonesteel surrounded by lifelong friends. Laura delighted in her family and was a loving and adored sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Survivors include her son, Jack (Rickie) Veal, of Morgan, Texas; daughter, Kathy (Kim) Wilde, of Watertown, South Dakota; four grandchildren, Patrick Veal Camburn, Kristin (Nick) Wilde Giuliani, Jeff (Nicole) Wilde, and Laura Wilde; and three great-granddaughters, Nora, Madeline and Mikayla. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Lyle and Wilbur Jones.