RAPID CITY--Voreta Mae Garman, age 81, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, November 15, 2008. Visitation will be held on Wednesday evening, November 19 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Osheim and Schmidt Funeral Home. Services will be held at Fountain Springs Community Church at 2:30 pm on Thursday, November 20. Rev. Darrell Wagner will officiate. Burial will be at the Mountain View Cemetery. Voreta was born at Houghton, SD on March 29, 1927. She was graduated from Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan University) in Marion, Indiana in 1949 and began her teaching career at an elementary school in Brookings, SD. Later, she taught at Meadowbrook Elementary School in Rapid City, SD. On October 12, 1962 Voreta married Harry Lee Garman - her true love, soul mate and best friend. Their first home was at Carlile, Wyoming. After a tragic fire, she and her husband established Garman Machine Co. in Sundance, Wyoming and subsequently in Rapid City. Voreta was an accomplished gardener who spent pleasant hours with her Creator tending the beautiful flowers that she often shared with family and friends. She was pianist and organist for several Wesleyan churches she attended during her lifetime. In her retirement years, she served as a volunteer English teacher for Chinese students attending the SD School of Mines and Technology and for students' wives. She also organized and hosted a music hour each week for residents of Fountain Springs Health Care, and conducted Sunday School classes there. Voreta's lifelong commitment to Christian missionary outreach extended her service and love to people of many nations. Voreta was preceded in death by her husband Harry Garman after 28 years of marriage, and by their infant daughter Marilee Faith Garman. Also preceding her were her parents, Rev. J.F. and Lovenah Simpson, her brother, Paul Simpson, and her sister Faith Simpson Fisher. Surviving his mother is Peter Daniel Garman (Rapid City), along with her brothers, Rev. Walter Simpson (Lawrence, KS), Franklin Simpson (Rapid City) and Dr. David Simpson (Birmingham, AL), and a host of nieces and nephews. All of her family are grateful for her gracious and loving impact on their lives. A memorial has been established at Fountain Springs Health Care for the Voreta M. Garman Activities Center.