Lotus Gillespie

Lotus Gillespie, age 67 of Belle Fourche, died Wednesday May 21, 2014 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital. A memorial service will be held 1pm Saturday May 24th, 2014 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Belle Fourche. Visitation with the family present will be 5 to 7 pm Friday at Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Inurnment will take place in the Minnesela Cemetery, rural Belle Fourche. Lotus June Egly was born June 14, 1946 in Custer South Dakota. She was the daughter of William Joseph and Hattie Dora Julia (Ketelesen) Egly. At the age of 10, Lotus moved with her family to Belle Fourche where she attended school. On April 7, 1965 she was united in marriage to Bob Gillespie. To this union two children were born: Robert Michael and Merryse Lianne. Following their marriage, Lotus and Bob continued living in Belle Fourche. Lotus worked as a cook for many years at the Belle Inn. She also worked at the cafeteria in the Belle Fourche High School, the Belle Fourche Public Library, and the Belle Fourche Nursing Home. She will be greatly missed by her husband of 49 years, as well as her family and friends. Lotus is survived by her husband, Bob of Belle Fourche; son, Robert (Sherry) Gillespie of Poteau OK; daughter, Merryse Gillespie of Lead; step children, Clayton (Sharon) Gillespie of Sheridan WY, Genille Dobrenz of Ranchester WY, Vicki (Ward) Cotton of Parkman WY, Diane (Don) Emler of Iowa, Cara Lea Gillespie of Sheridan WY; many grandchildren; brother, Bernard Egly of Rapid City; and sisters, Shirlee Hancock of Sturgis, and Berniece Blake of Del Rapids SD. She was preceded in death by her parents; 2 brothers, Billy Joe and Larry Lavern Egly; sister, Audrey Hackworth; nephew, James Arthur Becker; and niece, Susan Rene Becker.