Lois Coats

Lois Jane (Babby) Coats, 89, of Martin, South Dakota passed away on April 21, 2020 in Rapid City, South Dakota. Lois was born November 28, 1930 south of Kadoka, South Dakota to Louis and Sophia (Rumsey) Babby. Lois attended grade school until 8th grade. She excelled in school and was a straight “A” student.

She established lifelong friendships with Eileen Coats, Arlene Ray, and others. She met her future husband Clyde Coats Jr., who had recently returned from active duty during World War II. It was love at first sight.

Lois and Junior decided to elope and were united in marriage in Rapid City, SD on December 23, 1947. They began their martial journey living with Junior’s parents in Martin. To this union 2 children were born, Gary Coats and Gloria Coats-Kitsopoulos.

Junior began to work for Sylvester Livermont on his ranch near Martin, they stayed on the ranch and then moved to Potter, Nebraska for employment at Sioux Ordinance Depot. Lois and Junior lived and worked there for a year before returning to Marin in 1954. Lois and Junior relocated to Mission, SD where Junior became the owner of Coats Well Drilling and Repair Service for the next 25 years. Lois worked at Cherry-Todd Electric for many years.

After Junior’s retirement they moved back to Martin where they began to travel extensively. Their travels took them from coast to coast and the Gulf of Mexico.

Lois loved to play cards all the time, she had a large group of friends that came to their house including Beulah Becker, Gladys Beardt, Hazel and Dean O’Bryan, Opal Smith, Fern and Cleon Boomer, and Ronnie and Jeanie Long.

Following the death of her husband, Lois continued to travel with her daughter Gloria, including a trip to Scotland and Ireland. She loved to travel back and forth to Texas to see her grandson John and great-grandchildren.

Lois was an extreme lover of pets, which began on the farm as a little girl. She had some beautiful cats, especially her favorites Mickey and Minnie who lived to be 19 and 20 years old. Then she developed a love for small toy dogs which included toy Poodles and toy Pekingese’s.

Lois is survived by her two children, Gary (Rachelle) Coats of Littleton, CO, and Gloria Coats-Kitsopoulos of Rapid City, SD, five grandchildren Travis (Leah) Blare Coats Sibarani of Steamboat Springs, CO, Jared (Dristen) Coats of Lincoln, NE, Cassie Coats of Rhode Island, John (Michelle) Kitsopoulos of Frisco, TX, and Katie (Christopher) Augenstein of Oakland, CA. Six great-grandchildren. Two brothers, Cecil “Sonny” Babby and Dwayne (Theda) Babby and three sisters Irene “Jeanie” Long, Sharon Bauer and Lucy (John) Arensdorf, numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Lois is preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Sophia Babby, husband Clyde Coats Jr, and younger sister Donna Perry.

Private Family Funeral Services were held Saturday April 25, 2020 at Martin Community Cemetery.