Theda Rae Craven was born February 24, 1917 on the historic Craven Open Buckle Ranch located in the Badlands near Wanblee, South Dakota, the daughter of Theodore "Ted" and Charlotte (Gilchrist) Craven.

She grew up on the ranch and attended St. Mary's Episcopal School prior to graduating from Wanblee High School in 1936.

As a young lady she moved with her parents to Oregon where she worked in a photography shop as a photo technician.  After returning to South Dakota in the 1940's she made her home in Wanblee and later in Kadoka.  In the mid 1970's she moved to Rapid City, South Dakota.

Her hobbies included photography and sketching.  Music gave her great joy, playing the guitar, piano and writing songs and she had some songs recorded.  She also enjoyed writing poetry and was a great observer of nature and loved animals.

Grateful for having shared her life are her sister-in-law, Mary Jane Craven Green of Rapid City; a brother-in-law, Stanley Peterson of Kadoka, South Dakota; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Theda was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Cornelius Craven and a brother in infancy; three sisters, Cecil McDonald, Frances Peterson and Elaine Carol Craven in infancy.

Services
Saturday, October, 21, 2000
2:00 p.m.
Rush Funeral Chapel
Kadoka, South Dakota

Officiating
Pastor Gus Craven

Active Pallbearers (All the Nieces & Nephews)
Bill Craven - Pastor Gus Craven
Vivian Snyder - Winnie Buckner
Casey Peterson - Robin Peterson Lund
Michael J. Brady - Jennifer Erickson
Luchelle Werner

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Kadoka Cemetery
Kadoka, South Dakota