Laura Chesley

Laura Chesley, 91 of Pierpont died on Monday, September 17, 2012 at Avera St. Lukes Hospital in Aberdeen. Her funeral will be at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, September 20, 2012 at Westside Wesleyan Church in Bristol, Rev. Matt Pribyl officiating. Burial will be in the Bristol Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday 5-7 P.M. with a 7 P.M. prayer service. The visitation will continue at the church on Thursday one hour prior to services. Laura Mary Long was born on Sunday, March 20, 1921 to Arthur and Mary (Lehmkuhler) Long on the family farm near Anselmo, Nebraska. As a young child the family moved to a farm near Arnold, Nebraska. She attended Yucca Valley country school near her home and graduated from Arnold High School in 1939. She taught country school in the sand hills of Nebraska. On August 19, 1942 she was united in marriage to Albert Chesley at North Platte, Nebraska. After he returned from his military service the couple made their home in Arnold Nebraska where they owned and operated Chesley Dairy. In 1961 they moved to Bristol, South Dakota where she worked at the Bristol School and then as a postal clerk at the post office for eighteen years. After they retired they couple moved from their farm near Bristol to Pierpont. Albert passed away in November 1999. After his death she continued to live in Pierpont. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Arnold where she was a youth leader and taught Sunday School. When they moved to Bristol she was a member of Westside Wesleyan Church where she taught Sunday School and was a youth leader. She also volunteered at Brown County Jail and Avera St. Luke’s I.C.U. Her hobbies included quilt making, reading, Bible study and gardening. She loved her country and was known for her sense of humor. She loved her family. Laura passed away on Monday, September 17, 2012 at Aberdeen, South Dakota at the age of 91 years, 5 months and 28 days. Survivors include two daughters, Jeanette (Wesley) Jensen of Bristol, SD and Dorothy (Dean) Larson of Pierpont, SD; seven grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and 2 step-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and one brother.