On August 12, 2017, Yvonne Kuehn went to join the angels and loved ones who have already travelled that journey, and to find the place Jesus readied for her.

Phyllis Yvonne Larson was born August 9, 1928, in her grandparents' home in Crosby, ND.  She was born to parents Carl J. & Thelma Larson, and joined a year-old brother, Paul. Yvonne was a name her father especially loved, and early on it became her preferred name.

Yvonne enjoyed living and working hard on her parents' ranch along the Missouri River in western ND. She attended a one-room country school through the 8th grade and graduated from Watford, ND, High School in the class of 1945. The following day she boarded the train for Portland where her family had found work in the WWII shipyards. Yvonne took many jobs and completed Stenotyping school while in Portland. Her next adventure was working as a civilian at the Ladd Army Air Corps Base in Fairbanks, AK.

Yvonne came to Rapid City in December 1948 to attend her brother's wedding, arriving hours before the famous blizzard of 1949. Yvonne never left Rapid City. She worked at Western Stationers, and then the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce.

A mutual friend introduced Yvonne to Jim Kuehn;  the Belle Fourche Round-Up was their first date. Courtship followed, and the two married April 3, 1950, at First Presbyterian Church – "The Stone Church with the Warm Heart," with officiant Rev. Rew Walz.

Yvonne happily became a full-time mother and homemaker with the October 16, 1951 birth of Douglas James.  Two other children followed: Deborah Kay on February 6, 1955, and Diana Lisa, born November 3, 1961.

Both Diana and Yvonne began school on the same day; Diana began Kindergarten, Yvonne began St. John's McNamara Registered Nursing program. It was Yvonne's lifelong dream to become a nurse, and she realized that dream when she graduated and received her nursing pin on May 31, 1970.  She worked nearly 25 years at Rapid City hospitals, and spent that time in the Newborn and Neonatal Intensive Care Nurseries.  She loved her chosen profession always, and being a Registered Nurse was her proudest accomplishment in life.

Yvonne devoted her entire career to babies and loved the night shift which allowed her time with the infants and their mothers as well as with her own family. Her most memorable shift began June 9, 1972,  during which employees could hear many of those who perished in RC Flood in the Sioux Park area adjacent to the hospital.

Yvonne spent countless hours volunteering: as Supervisory Committee Chair of the Rapid City Medical Credit Union, at Calvary Lutheran Church, and at the Chapel in the Hills, among many others.

Yvonne knew no strangers, and was always happiest when caring for others. This was evident in the many folks she "adopted" to help with whatever they needed – rides, visits, meals, mending, disaster clean-up. She always had an open heart and an available ear and shoulder.

Running a home was second nature for Yvonne, as was evident by her meticulous care for every detail to support the husband she adored, Jim, and the rest of her family as well.  Her real joy she was making everyone she touched feel loved and special. She especially enjoyed time she spent with her four grandchildren and her three adopted grandchildren: Bryce, Tanner and Cameron Blank.

Yvonne loved living in her twin home at Good Samaritan Village and enjoyed all the wonderful new friendships she found there. Her daughter, Deb, lives locally and was Yvonne's devoted care provider in the past few years. Especially appreciated are the countless efforts of close friends and family, the staff at RCRH, West Hills, and MorningStar and all of their wonderful care given our Mother/Grandmother.

Yvonne lives on in her daughters, Deb and Diana; and in her grandchildren Tim Butterfield (Doug's son),  and Shae, Kiara, and Aaron Loucks (Diana's children). She is also survived by son-in-law, Kevin Loucks, and extended families of  Lyle Peters and the Mike & Trish Blank family.  Those who joyfully welcomed her on the other side include the love of her life, Jim, her son Doug, her parents, Carl J. & Thelma Larson, and her brother Paul.

Yvonne's life will  be celebrated Saturday, August 19, at 10:30 a.m., at Calvary Lutheran Church . As per her request, there will be an hour of viewing and visitation at the church, beginning at 9:30 a.m.  Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 2917 at 9:00 am at Black Hills National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to the James M. & Yvonne Kuehn Endowed Scholarship Fund at USD, The Black Hills Playhouse, or Calvary Lutheran Church.