Jane Bills

1941 - 2013

Jane Bills

Jane Bills, Sioux Falls, SD, passed away March 28, 2013, at Dougherty Hospice House. She was 71.

Jane Keegan was born July 11, 1941, in Flandreau, SD, to David and Eileen (McDowell) Keegan. She moved to Sioux Falls with her family while she was a young girl. Jane attended Sioux Falls public schools, and graduated from Washington Senior High School.

She was united in marriage to Richard Bills on February 22, 1963, in Sioux Falls. Jane became a homemaker and loving mother. Dick and Jane loved spending summer hours together tending to their vegetable gardens. In 1972, the couple acted on their passion for gardening and purchased Cliff Avenue Greenhouse. Years later in 1984, they moved the business to east 26th Street. After continued hard work and success, Dick and Jane joined with their family members and expanded the business; opening a west side location on West 41st Street. Jane liked spending time at work helping others. As people came in with questions, she would guide them toward ideas and solutions in starting and maintaining their garden and landscaping plants. Dick passed away in March, 1995. In 2012, Cliff Avenue Greenhouse celebrated forty years in business.

Dick and Jane loved to travel with their family. Jane enjoyed trips to Ireland, New York, Mexico, and Canada. In her free time, she loved to read mysteries - deeper the mystery, better the book. She loved digging in the dirt, fashioning her gems and jewelry, getting her hair done and shopping. All of these were tempered with a solid and strong work ethic. Her Irish heritage led her to enjoy life but not to shy away from a good long day of hard work. Jane was as multifaceted as a beautiful diamond - all of these passions created an inner and glowing beauty that was uniquely her. In the center of all these hobbies was the passion she held for her grandchildren. Involved in their lives, she deeply loved and cherished each one of them.

She was a member of Holy Spirit Parish. Blessed with a generous and strong spirit, Jane will be forever be treasured by all that knew her.

Grateful for having shared her life are her daughters, Sherri Chappelear (Jim), Branson, MO, Hayley Zeigler (Heath), Sioux Falls, SD, Heidi Teal (Brian), Sioux Falls, SD; son, Gary Bills, Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren, Hayden and Hadley Zeigler, Ryan, Tyler and Sara Jane Teal; sisters, Colleen Briggs, Sioux Falls, SD, Shannon Coffaro (Steve), Tucson, AZ; and her brother, David Daniel Keegan (Barb), Lancaster, CA. In addition to her husband, Jane was preceded in death by a brother, Terry Keegan; and nephew, Jason Briggs.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 am Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at Holy Spirit Parish, 3601 E. Dudley Lane. Visitation will begin at noon, Tuesday, with the family present to greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 Tuesday evening at Miller Funeral Home, 507 S. Main Avenue.