Rachael Anne Cease

Rachael Cease, age 45, of Colman, passed away on August 20, 2025 at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, August 25, 2025 at Eastman Hall at 11:00 am with a meal to follow.

Rachael Anne Cease of Colman, SD began her peaceful journey home to her ancestors and the Creator on the morning of August 20, 2025, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD leaving behind a legacy of deep love, creativity, and devotion to family.

Born to Rick and Patty (Dudley) Johanson on October 21, 1979, in Dell Rapids, South Dakota. Rachael is Ihanktonwan (Yankton Sioux Tribal member). She graduated from Colman-Egan High School in 1998. In the fall of 1999, she briefly attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, where she nurtured her creative spirit, but her creativity and talent were something she carried within her from the start.

On July 21, 2001, Rachael married Justin Cease. Together, they built a loving family and were blessed with three children. Throughout her life, she worked hard in many roles, including as a manager of Subway in Flandreau, SD, where her dedication, customer service skills and strong work ethic were shown. Beyond her work her greatest legacy was the love she gave freely.

Rachael was compassionate and kind whose natural gift was "mothering" others by always making people feel seen, safe and loved. That gift extended to all her family and especially to her three children and all her nieces and nephews, whom she cherished with all her heart.

Her humor will be deeply missed, as she could make anyone laugh even in the toughest moments. She proudly embraced her free-spirited "hippie" nature, and her joy, warmth, and laughter filled every space she entered, always showing up authentically. She had a heart so big that tears came freely, a testament to her love and care for others.

She filled her life with many passions and gifts. She was a caring relative, an amazing cook, loved camping, and proudly claimed tending campfires as one of her greatest "talents". She was a natural artist, a lover of music with a knack for discovering new bands, and a talented musician in her youth, playing both clarinet and bass saxophone, and would humorously declare herself a "professional air drummer". Above all she delighted in caring for her family, mothering others with warmth and compassion and always offering help and laughter when it was needed most.

Rachael's beauty was striking, yet it was her warmth, kindness, and her free radiant spirit that left a lasting impression on everyone that knew her and all who were fortunate to love her.

Rachael is survived by her parents Rick Johanson, Egan, SD and Patty (Dudley) Johanson, Flandreau, SD, her forever companion, her "Honey Bunny", her "Clyde" to her "Bonnie" Justin Cease; her three children: Presley Cease, Flandreau, SD; Patience (Ethan Luciano) Cease, Brookings, SD; and Abigail Cease, Colman, SD. Granddaughter Anna Loehr, Flandreau, SD; Her parents Rick Johanson, Egan SD; and Patty (Dudley) Johanson, Flandreau, SD; mother in law Victoria Cease, Flandreau, SD; her brother, Lee (Anne) Johanson of Egan, SD; and her sister, Cynthia (Kenny) Weston of Flandreau, SD, nieces and nephews, Willow (Cameron ) Johanson, Sioux Falls, SD; LeeAnn Johanson, Leland Johanson, Egan, SD; Mazzy (Julius Grow) Johanson, Sioux Falls, SD, Elmer Weston and Samuel Weston, Flandreau, SD; Sister-in-law Jennifer (Chuck) Anderson, Chester, SD; aunts and uncles, Mary (Tony) Gonsor, Barb Fairbanks, Kristi Gallagher, Bob (Linda) Dudley and Phil Dudley, her sister cousins Jennifer Dudley, Sarah Gerbing, Tara Lovejoy, and Carmelita Barney and brother cousins Todd Nelson, Dustin Gonsor, Darin Gonsor, Derrick Dudley, Kevin Dudley, Art Dudley, Cody Gallagher and many more dear relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Phillip and Eva (Redwing) Dudley, Richard and Helen (Hasek) Johanson, father-in-law James (Jim) Cease, uncles, Dale Dudley, Kevin Dudley and Guy Fairbanks, and her dear brother-cousin Cameron Gallagher.

Rachael will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Her memory will live on through her family and the many lives she touched.