Funeral services for Vallie N. Bishop, age 80, of Lemmon, SD will be at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at the New Hope Worship Center in Lemmon. Pastor Dan Lindeman, Pastor Bob James, and Pastor David Bishop will officiate with burial in the Greenhill Cemetery.


Special music will be provided by Darrell and Marcia Klitzke and Nancy, Joel G., Adam, Anna and John Bishop.


Serving as casketbearers are Joel Gregory Bishop, Adam Bishop, Brad Bishop, Chad Bishop, Travis Klitzke and T. J. Shockley. All of Vallie's friends and family are considered honorary casketbearers.


VALLIE NADEAN CHRISTIAN BISHOP was born September 12, 1930 at home on the farm near Haynes, North Dakota. She was the eighth of ten children born to Albert and Naomi (Braford) Christian. Vallie graduated from Haynes High School in 1949 and from Northwest Bible College in Minot, North Dakota in 1952. Before her marriage, she worked at First National Bank, Lemmon Clinic, and was office manager at Five Counties Hospital. On June 22, 1957, Vallie was united in marriage to Joel Allan Bishop. She continued to work at Five Counties Hospital until October, 1968, when their son, Barry was born, after 11 years of marriage. At that time, they built a new home, where they currently reside.


Throughout her life, Vallie was a very faithful, active member of her church, serving as church clerk for 35 years, Sunday school teacher, choir member, ladies' ministries officer. She was a very tender-hearted worship leader all those years as well, right up to the end of August, 2010. Her church family was very special to her. She was also a longtime member in a homemakers' club called Progressive Pollies, which she enjoyed immensely. Vallie lived life to the fullest, laughing and loving, right up until her passing. Her home was always open to anyone, and she so loved serving others, but her greatest joy was her Lord and Saviour.


Vallie passed from this life on Wednesday, October 6 at Mayo Hospital in Rochester, MN with her family at her side. She died of heart and lung complications, two weeks after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.


Surviving family members include her husband, Joel A. Bishop, Lemmon, SD; son and daughter-in-law, Barry and Nancy (Goerdt) Bishop, Lemmon, SD; 4 grandchildren, Joel Gregory, Adam, Anna and John Bishop, Lemmon, SD; 3 brothers and sisters-in-law, Merland and Virginia Christian, Sun City, AZ, Lloyland and Jean Christian, Sun City, AZ, and Larry and LeAuna Christian, Spokane, WA; 2 sisters and brothers-in-law, Zola and Lloyd Finch, Lemmon, SD, and Deloris and Fred Huber, Lemmon, SD; and numerous nieces and nephews.


Vallie was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Naomi, two brothers, Donald at age 2, and Gaylord at age 31, and two sisters, Illa at age 3, and Burl at age 94.


Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 11, 2010 at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.


A family service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at the New Hope Worship Center in Lemmon.


A memorial has been established.