Sylvia Ann Dvorak

Sylvia Ann Dvorak was born Thursday, August 29, 1918 to Mathias “Mike” and Carrie (Trantina) Kokesh on the family farm southeast of Scotland. Sylvia attended Klinkner Country School near the family farm. Her mother Carrie died in 1934, leaving Sylvia to help her father care for the remaining seven children on the family farm. The hardships of the Great Depression and the difficulties of the weather during the “Dirty Thirties” made life on the family farm almost impossible. To help provide for her brothers and sisters, Sylvia left the farm to work as a caretaker for Dr. and Mrs. Traynor in Omaha, Nebraska for several years.  
Sylvia was united in marriage to Edmund Dvorak on April 12, 1937 in Lesterville. They raised four children. They farmed together north of Scotland along with Edmund’s brother, Frank, for 36 years. Sylvia and Edmund retired from farming in 1973 and moved to Scotland. Sylvia loved gardening, quilting and life.  She also valued her many friends.
Sylvia was a member of St. George Catholic Church in Scotland and was very active in the Altar Society and also served as President for many years.  She played integral leadership roles in numerous church functions and operations. As a volunteer, she delivered Meals on Wheels for many years. Sylvia passed away on Friday, November 5, 2010 at the Good Samaritan Society of Scotland, having attained the age of 92 years, 2 months, and 7 days.
She is survived by a son, James and wife Celestine of Scotland; a daughter, Karen Dvoark and fiancé Lynn Ziegler and family of Sioux Falls; a daughter-in-law, Dorothy Dvorak of Parkston; six grandchildren: Michael and Vicki Dvorak and family of Scotland, Charlene and Vince Connelly and family of Sioux Falls, David Dvorak of Scotland, Stacey and Frank Massey and family of Olivet, Robert Dvorak and family of Parkston, and Sharon and Roger Crotten, St. Mountain, Minnesota; and seven great-grandchildren.  
She is also survived by six sisters-in-law: Florence and Agnes Kokesh of  Wagner, Delphie Kokesh of Scotland, Delores Kokesh of Delmont,  Helen Kokesh of Yankton, and Norma Kokesh of Brookings.  
Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband in 1987, two sons: Donald in 1968 and Edward in 1979; a granddaughter, her parents, seven brothers: Donald, Joe, Clayton, Raymond, Ernie, Mike, Edward, and three sisters: Elsie Cap, Gracie Hacecky and Frances Thunker.