Evelyn Lucille “Evie” Bradley, 87, passed away on July 24, 2026, surrounded by family, at Avera Weskota Manor. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Wessington Springs. Burial will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery. Visitation was from 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, also at the church, with a prayer service beginning at 6.
Evie was born on October 22, 1938, to Louis and Alice Deneke. She grew up in Wessington Springs and graduated from Wessington Springs High School. On March 22, 1956, she married the love of her life, Gary Bradley.
Following their marriage, Gary joined the United States Air Force, and together they embraced a life of travel, adventure, and service. During Gary’s 20-year military career, the couple lived in various locations around the world, building lifelong friendships and memories along the way. After his retirement, they returned to Wessington Springs, where they made their home and became active members of the community.
Evie had a remarkable gift for preserving memories. She enjoyed refinishing furniture, painting, photography, crafting, and reading. A frequent visitor to the local library, she loved getting lost in a good book. She lovingly created numerous Creative Memories photo albums filled with treasured moments of her children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. She also loved camping with family and close friends. She and Gary enjoyed traveling, especially when the journey included plenty of opportunities to stop for snacks and garage sales along the way.
Above all else, Evie loved her family. Her greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren, leading them on new adventures, taking them to swimming lessons (only after the daily episode of Days of Our Lives), and spending countless hours enjoying every activity the South Dakota State Fair had to offer.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband of 70 years, Gary Bradley; her children, Mike (Marcine) Bradley, Don (Crystal) Bradley, and Kris Tebay (Brent); her grandchildren, TyRell Bradley, Mickayla Willison (Steve), Seth Bradley, Shane Bradley, Callie Tebay, Blain Tebay (Adriana), Evan Tebay, Anna Tebay, Juanita Eagle, Chantelle Goergen (Brian), Chad Eagle, and Tiffany Kosola; and 17 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Allison; her parents, Alice Anderson and Louis Deneke; her siblings, Sylvia Daggott and her husband, Howard, Dora Bult and her husband, Ed, Cecil Deneke, and Gladys Clemetson; and her beloved granddaughter, Hailey Tebay.
Arrangements are with Nurnberg-Basham Funeral Service.