Renée Reede, age 61 of Meadow, passed away peacefully at her lakeside cabin on Shadehill Reservoir on Friday, March 11, 2011.


The Funeral Service for Renée will be held at 11:00 am, MT on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon. Pastor Florence Hoff and Pastor Marjorie Hershey will officiate with burial in Gallaway Cemetery at Meadow.


An Eastern Star and Family Service will be held at 7:00pm on Monday evening at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.


Serving as casketbearers are John Gabbert, Norman Miles, Lyle Podoll, Jess Carmichael, Blane Chapman, and Ralph Lyon. All relatives and friends are considered Honorary Bearers.


Renée Irene Thomas was born October 28, 1949 in Deadwood, SD to Duane and Alice (Perkins) Thomas. The Thomas family lived in Dupree, then Mobridge where Renée started school until moving to Underwood, ND. In Sept. 1962, the Thomas' moved to Faith where her father purchased shares of Faith Lumber Company.


Renée started the 8th grade in Faith and graduated from Faith High School in 1967. She earned a Business Degree from Northern State College in Aberdeen. She returned to Faith and began working for Isaac's Repair, then for a realtor in Rapid City before returning to Faith to work at the Faith Independent.


Renée met Fred Reede in the fall of 1972 at a Fireman's Ball in Isabel. They were united in marriage on April 13, 1974 in Faith. They became partners with Fred's uncle in Rose Plumbing and Electric in Meadow. Renée began working in the Auditor and Treasurer's office in the Perkins County Courthouse. A son, Boyce was born in 1977 and a son, Scott was born in 1980. Renée worked as a Postmaster Replacement in the Meadow Post Office while being a stay at home mom. In 1981, she became the Postmaster at the Meadow Post Office. She also was a vital partner in the operation of Rose Plumbing and Electric.


Renée was very active with NAPUS (National Association of Postmasters of the United States) which has provided her many opportunities to travel throughout the United States to various conventions. She has served as South Dakota President, National Editor, and currently serving as Regional Editor of this organization. She also was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star where she served in most all of the offices.


After being diagnosed with colon cancer in July of 2008, she became a staunch advocate for cancer prevention. Renee fought this battle with cancer head on with the attitude and spunk that everyone who knew and loved Renee knew her for.


Renée loved to read, watching her favorite movies over and over, and traveling to conventions. She was an avid sports fan, especially enjoying the track and field events. She loved riding on the back of their Harley Davidson motorcycle. But most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family, and boating, at their cabin on Shadehill Reservoir.


Keeping her in their fondest memories are her husband, Fred, two sons and daughters-in-law, Boyce and Melissa Reede, Scott and Marla Reede, 3 grandchildren, Dillon and Kole Reede, and one on the way, all of Lemmon, a special daughter-like friend, Stacy Northrop, of South Heart, ND; her parents, Duane and Alice Thomas, Lemmon, SD; brother and sister-in-law, Randy and Mona Thomas, Faith, SD; niece, Tanya (Bill) Bushong, nephew, Jamie (Sabrina) Thomas, 1 great niece, Brianna Thomas, 4 great nephews, Jacob Thomas, Gereth, Treyton, and Gabriel Bushong, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of friends.


She was preceded in death by a brother, Kurt, in infancy, and her mother and father-in-law, Jean and Raymond Reede.


Visitation will be Monday, 1:00 to 7:00pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and on Tuesday one hour prior to services at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon.


A memorial has been established.