Meredith Taylor

Meredith (Westring) Taylor

RAPID CITY - Meredith (Westring) Taylor was born on September 19, 1927, in Silver Creek, NE and passed away on July 17, 2024, at Monument Health Hospice House in Rapid City, SD surrounded by family. She was 96 years old.

Meredith was the fourth of nine children born to E.E. (Swede) and Mabel (Anderson) Westring. On August 19, 1949, she was united in marriage to Ralph L. Taylor in Freemont, NE. To this union, two sons were born: Ralph Jr. (Randy) in 1952, and Kim in 1956. In 1956, they moved to Rapid City and remained there the rest of their lives except for several years when they were "snowbirds" in Arizona. Ralph passed away on June 9, 1995, and Meredith returned to Rapid City full-time in 2000.

Meredith worked for many years as the office manager at the family-owned business, Taylor Drilling. She was active in the South Dakota Well Drillers Association and organized many of their conventions. She was involved in National Federation of Republican Women and in 1970 went with a delegation on a trip behind the Iron Curtain into Russia, Poland, and Hungary. She was also involved in the Toastmistress organization. She was a member of the Benevolent, Patriotic Order of DOES----Rapid City Drove #33 where she served for many years as secretary. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Rapid City and looked forward to the Sunday morning radio service when she was no longer able to attend in person.

Meredith enjoyed socializing with others and loved a good game of bridge, golf, or trying her luck at a casino. Always wanting to look her best, she continued to have her hair and nails done on a regular basis, even during her time at Hospice House. She was an avid fan of "Judge Judy" and scheduled her day around the five o'clock show. She enjoyed participating in activities with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Meredith lived a life of service to others and volunteered for many organizations. While living in Arizona, she became a volunteer at the Phoenix Children's Hospital where she was affectionately known as "Grandma Minnie" since she often dressed up as Minnie Mouse for the children's enjoyment. In 1998, she was awarded the Reva & Saul Lebeau Annual Volunteer Award in recognition of outstanding effort and dedication to the care of children. As a two-time breast cancer survivor, she became involved with the Reach for Recovery program which connects people facing breast cancer with trained volunteers who are breast cancer survivors. She was always proud of her Scandinavian heritage and volunteered at the Chapel in the Hills gift shop.

She is survived by her sons; Randy (Marcia) of Rapid City, SD and Kim (Mary) of Black Hawk, SD. Four grandchildren; Kara of Black Hawk, SD, Christopher (Wendi) of Black Hawk, SD, Ryan (Lezlie) of Alliance, NE, and Cordell of Dunmore, PA. Six great-grandchildren; Gabriella, Natalia, Madison, Christian, Wren, and one expected in September 2024. She has two surviving sisters, Joyce Hopkins of Fort Myers, FL and Jeaneal (Lee) Engelke of Orlando, FL., one sister-in-law, Elaine Westring of Stromsburg, NE, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, four brothers and two sisters.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, July 22, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rapid City followed by the funeral service at 11:00 AM. The burial will be at 1:30 PM at the Black Hills National Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to Monument Health Hospice House or the radio broadcasting fund at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rapid City.

Her online guestbook is available at www.osheimschmidt.com