Gailya "Gay" Logan

    Gailya "Gay" Logan, age 84, of Philip, S.D., died on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, at the Philip Nursing Home.
    Gailya Marie Denke "Gay" Logan was born Feb. 29, 1932, in Wall, the oldest of 11 children born to Reinhold and Rose (Helms) Denke of Pedro.
    She was baptized April 10, 1932, and confirmed into the Lutheran faith on August 26, 1945, at the Saint Paul Lutheran Church 14 miles north of Quinn.
    She attended several different schools, the first and second grade she had to board away from home, then she was able to go to Haakon County to school two years where she rode a horse to school. Gay then attended a school eight miles from home during World War II when there was gas and tire rationing. She and her sibling and the teacher drove a horse in the spring and fall on buggy in the winter a sled. It was also Daylight Saving Time, so they went to school in the dark and came home in the dark, making up time so the children could get out earlier to help at home. Then her dad bought a building and hired his own teacher so they had school close to home. Gay then attended Philip High School, from which she graduated.
    Gay was united in marriage on June 3, 1951, to Philip G. Logan, they lived in several surrounding communities – Cottonwood, Kadoka, Belvidere, Wasta and Howes before moving to Philip in 1958 where they lived the rest of their married life.
    She was a member of the First Lutheran Church, where she was active in all the organizations and held offices in most of them. She taught Sunday school and release time 60 years from the age of 13 and was proud of it. Gay loved children. She belonged to several Extension clubs, and other organizations. PTA was very important to her when her children were in school.
    Gay worked in Philip 43 years in public places, Sooper Dooper / Deis Grocery, Scotchman Industries, and Baye and Sons. After retiring, she did a lot of volunteer work at the nursing home, assistant living, and day cares in Philip.
    She had many hobbies, her home was like a museum people would say. She loved to make afghans, quilts and braid rugs (every member of her family has one or the other). Her hands always stayed busy. Her outside hobbies were geology and the wagon train trips.
    She and Philip loved to dance, go camping, and spending time at their cabin in the hills. The highlight of their life was taking the grandchildren on a weekend vacation, to the hills or Oahe Dam. Then, it turned into the great-grandchildren which lasted for 35 years.
    They made a home for a lot of young people that came to Philip to work and some that live in Philip, a friendship that is ongoing.
    Gay is survived by her son, G. Russel Logan (Barbara), Philip; her daughter, Tammy Logan, Pierre; one sister, Cerella Overgard, Riverton, Wyo.; two brothers, Marvin Denke, Philip, and Byron (Cherry) Denke, Quinn; and seven grandchildren, Heather, Crystal, Lacey, Erica and Victoria, Jeffery and Gaylord “Wil” LaPlante.
    She was preceded in death by three children at infancy, Debra Sue, Roxie JaNell and Wesley Lynn; her parents; a sister, Loretta Brindlinger; six brothers, Richard, Herman, Donald, Leland, Wesley and Linden; five grandchildren, Brent Justin, Mark Alan, Brian James, Lane and KyleRae. A life well lived.
    Graveside services were held Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Wall Cemetery in Wall with Pastor Kathy Chesney officiating.
    Arrangements were with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.