Paula S. Tyler, 75, Whitewood, SD, passed away peacefully April 23, 2024, at Rapid City Monument Hospital.
She was born on September 5, 1948, in Chadron, NE, to Arthur and Zola (Hammond) Tyler. Paula was raised in Chadron where she graduated from Chadron High School in 1966. She was an active member of the Baptist Church growing up.
Paula followed her passion of helping people, she became a candy striper at the age of 14 and went on to attend LPN school, graduating in 1974. She went on to get her RN degree, graduating from St. Johns School of Nursing in Rapid City in 1979. Paula made her home in Piedmont with her daughter, Melinda and worked at the Sturgis Hospital most of her nursing career, and taught CNA classes at the Red Cross. Later in her career, Paula enjoyed being a traveling nurse, where she got to see many different states that she wanted to visit. In 1998, she moved to Whitewood, SD and retired in 2011 as a nurse manager for Edgewood Vista in Spearfish.
She loved to sing, singing for the Eagleairs, at the Chadron State College Choir, weddings, funerals, and the church choir. Paula was in the original cast and crew of the Post Playhouse at Fort Robinson, NE, at the very first production in 1965. She truly enjoyed being on stage performing. Being known as a beautiful singer, gave her many opportunities to perform. Paula studied under Richmond Page, which led her to an opportunity to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in Chicago, but she declined as she wanted to stay in South Dakota to raise her daughter.
In her spare time, she enjoyed spending time with the other love of her life, her grandson, Tanner. Paula loved to crochet, going to many craft fairs and selling her items. People always came to find her first so they wouldn’t miss their chance to purchase her scrubbies! She loved taking care of her flower gardens. Paula was a member of the 8-10 Club in Whitewood, and the Whitewood Presbyterian Church.
Paula is survived by her loving daughter: Melinda (Russell) Smiley, Sturgis; her one and only grandson: Tanner Smiley; her brother: Mark Tyler, Chadron, NE; nephew: Chris (Ivonne) Tyler, Lexington, KY; and great nephews: Treyton, and Aiden Tyler, Lexington, KY; along with many cousins.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Art and Zola, her grandparents, Jay and Ethel Hammond, and Lynn and Effie Tyler, along with several aunts and uncles.
May her memory be blessed.
Visitation will be Tuesday, April 30, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at the Whitewood Presbyterian Church, with burial to follow at the Whitewood Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com
