Velma Edna McCollam, 96, passed away April 24, 2017 at the New Horizons Care Center in Lovell WY.

Velma Edna (Talcott) McCollam was born April 23, 1921, one of 6 children to Vivaldo and Lillian (Dryer) Talcott on a farm near Witten, SD. Velma married Howard W. McCollam May 10, 1942, in Valentine, NE. Velma and Howard lived in the Winner, SD, area where Velma was a country school teacher and later a stay-at-home mom for their two boys, William (Bill) and Roger.

In 1959 they moved to Hot Springs, South Dakota, and operated a Mobil Oil service station near Evans Plunge where Velma worked side by side with Howard until Howard purchased the Texaco bulk dealership. In about 1976 Howard accepted a position at Brookside Apartments as maintenance supervisor and Velma assumed the role of night "gatekeeper", allowing people in who forgot their keys or assisting in emergency situations.

Following Howard's death in 1982, Velma stayed on and continued to lock up at night and assist other residents as needed. Velma also worked for several years as an office assistant in the Green Program helping people find jobs. She was also a Senior Companion regularly helping out as many as six confined elderly individual (most younger than she was) at the same time. Velma continued the visitations until she was no longer able to drive and it became too difficult to ride the bus.

After suffering a stroke she moved to Byron, WY, to live with Roger but was soon moved to the nursing home when more care was needed. Her greatest joys were having family around, especially family reunions. She also enjoyed bowling, reading and playing golf with friends.

Velma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Howard, four sisters and one brother.

She is survived by two sons, William (Carol) McCollam and Roger (Myra) McCollam; four grandchildren: Kristina McCollam, Jeffrey (Shannon) McCollam, Vincent (Sandy) McCollam, Michael McCollam, and ten great grandchildren, Rex McCollam-Wiebe, Faber McCollam-Wiebe, Chance (Genea) , Ritch (Liz), Scott , Preston, Brittany, Addy, Mason, Maddie, and four great great grandchildren, Shae, Kynslee, Blently, Sawyer.

Mom is now and forever rejoicing in Heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as told in John: 3:16.

Funeral services will be held Saturday April 29, 2017, 11:00am at The United Churches in Hot Springs. Burial to follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs.
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