After a valiant fight to the very end, Irene Whitford, age 71, lost her battle with pancreatic cancer January 8, 2008 in her home in Hot Springs, SD with her family at her bedside. Irene was never one to give up, having lived with Epilepsy for the majority of her life and COPD with oxygen dependence for the last 6 years prior to her cancer diagnosis. Irene's lungs were insufficient for any surgical interventions, even though it would have bought her some time if she could have undergone surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are not affective against this cancer. In spite of being told there was nothing to be done but wait for the disease to progress, Irene actively pursued natural cures including herbs, Chinese medicinal tea, and a vegetarian diet but they were not curative.

Irene May Cummings was born August 9, 1936 to William Raymond Cummings and Eva Mary Ann (Pridgeon) Cummings. She was born in Newcastle, WY in the log house that her parents had built for her elder brothers to live in while attending High School. This was during the great depression and the great drought. Due to these factors, the family left the homestead 25 miles west of Newcastle, WY and moved to work in the mines in Montana in 1938. Other places lived during these few years were Belle Fourche, SD and Tinton, SD. The family moved back to Wyoming where Irene's father mined coal in the Rochelle Hills Mine by hand. The County Superintendent, Sybil Jackson, brought out supplies for Irene's mother to teach her first grade. The next year, Elizabeth Cummings, Irene's sister-in-law was hired to teach at the Darlington School. This school was located at the junction of the county road which came out west and crossed the north / south road which is now called Lynch Road. There were 3 students, Irene, and cousins Glen Darlington and Byrd Lynch. The weather improved and they were able to move back to their homestead ranch. Irene attended High School at Newcastle High and graduated in 1954. She was active in 4-H and won the Wyoming Governors Award for wool that was produced by sheep she had raised as well as awards for other projects. She grew up with the best family and neighbors in the county that she could ever hope for. Irene was 10 when her nephews and nieces were born and she had 8 years to play with them. She attended Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish, SD where she met her husband John R. Whitford. They were married May 29, 1955 at the Cummings Ranch west of Newcastle. After they were married, they moved to various places where John worked in schools or attended more college himself. They lived in Winner, SD where their eldest daughter, Mary Aletha was born. Irene and John moved to Grand Forks, ND so John could attend the Doctoral program and their second child Margaret Renee was born. John, Irene, and daughters lived in Belvedere, SD prior to moving to Oelrichs, SD where they had their son, Mark Winston. Irene worked as an EMT from 1974-1990 and was a founding member of the Oelrichs Ambulance Service.

Irene was a member of the United Methodist Church sporadically throughout the years. She was also very active in other activities such as the United Methodist Women, Jolly Workers Extension Club, PTA-SACO in Oelrichs and the Bennett Belles Extension Club in Martin. John, Irene, and Mark moved to Martin, SD where they lived for 10 years prior to returning to the Hot Springs area for retirement. It was just prior to moving to Martin that Irene joined the full-time out of the home workforce, working as a waitress and salad bar preparation person in Vesta's and the D & D restaurants. She also worked as a clerk at the Dakota Rose Restaurant and Dick and Mary's Grocery in Hot Springs prior to retirement. In her later years, she enjoyed attending the sporting events of her 5 grandchildren and working on her passion/hobby genealogy through which she developed a very respectable level of computer literacy.

Irene is survived by her husband John; daughters, Mary Boyd (Russell Bledsoe) of Hot Springs; Margaret Evans (Robert Evans) of Hot Springs; son, Mark of Albuquerque, NM; five grandchildren, Karisa (Josh) Buckwheat, Cole (Chelsey) Richards, Adam (Amy Cisneros) Evans, Kyle Holloway, and Justin Evans; two great grand-babies, Zayne Evans and Samantha Buckwheat who have been the biggest joy of her life in the last 1 ½ years; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Cummings of Newcastle, WY; brother-in-law, Jerry Whitford, of Ashland, NE; aunt, Gladys Pridgeon of Gillette, WY and special survivor who was like a son to her, Todd Holloway.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, William Cummings and Harold Cummings; Harold's wife, Irene Adams Cummings, and many other friends and relatives who meant the world to her.

Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 11, 2008 at McColley's Chapel in Hot Springs.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 12, 2008 at McColley's Chapel of the Hills with Pastor Morris Nelson officiating. Interment will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in Irene's name to benefit the Oelrichs Volunteer Ambulance Service in Oelrichs, SD.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs. Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.