Iola J. Kezar

Iola Joyce Kezar, age 83, of Custer, S.D., died Sunday, June 5, 2016, at the Custer Regional Senior Care Center.

Iola Joyce Drabek was born June 3, 1933, in Kadoka, the daughter of John and Velma (Parke) Drabek. 

She grew up on the family farm, north of Belvidere, attending school in Kadoka and graduating in 1951. She then went on to nursing school at Mitchell where she earned her registered nursing degree. 

On April 17, 1954, she married Norman D. Kezar of Belvidere. They made their home in the Belvidere area and raised seven children. In 1975, they moved to New Underwood and lived there until retirement. 

Iola moved to Custer and worked at the South Dakota State Hospital as an registered nurse. Since her retirement she has been active in church and traveling to see family.

Survivors include her children, Michael Kezar of Devine, Texas, Steve Kezar and his wife, Teri, of Torrington, Wyo.; Terry Kezar and his wife, Debra, of Arthur, Neb., David Kezar and his wife, Ruth, of Toppenish, Wash., Todd Kezar of Colfax, Wash., Linda Hoving of Douglas, Wyo., and Mark Kezar and his wife, Heidi, of Bartlett, Tenn.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; two brothers, Richard Drabek and his wife, Joyce, of Belle Fourche and Robert Drabek and his wife, Bev, of Rapid City; three sisters, Irene Hansen and her husband, Phil, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Margaret Thomas of Colorado Springs, and Marilyn Mechaley and her husband, Joe, of Spearfish; her special friend, Lyle Allen; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Iola was preceded in death by her parents, John and Velma (Parke) Drabek.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 9, at the Presbyterian Church in Kadoka, with Pastor Gary McCubbin officiating.

Interment will be at the Kadoka Cemetery.

Arrangements are with the Rush Funeral Chapel of Kadoka.

Her online guestbook is available at www.rushfuneralhome. com