Collette Krakow

Collette Krakow, 74, passed away peacefully at her home near LaBolt, SD on August 26, 2023.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass. Burial will be at St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery. Father Brian Eckrich will celebrate the Mass.

Collette was born on April 28, 1949, to LuVerne and Hazel (Tucholke) Enquist.  She grew up near Strandburg and graduated from Strandburg High School in 1967.  She attended secretary training in Watertown, SD, and started working at the Big Stone Power Plant when it first opened.  She married Tom VanLith in 1971, and they had one daughter, Kristine.  She married Mike Krakow in 1981 and they had one son, Steven.  She started working at Milbank Mutual which later became State Auto insurance in Milbank.  She worked in the insurance industry for many years.  She was happy to take early retirement and then she found her favorite job which was working part-time at the library in Milbank.  She developed many friendships over the years, and she was regarded as a very kind person who was the first person you would think of when you wanted some advice.  She was dedicated to her children and grandchildren and was very proud of them.  She loved to organize (and re-organize!), scrapbooking, and many trips with Mike to Cancun, Mexico.  She was a proud breast cancer survivor and was a lover of dogs especially her precious Shih tzus.  Her fur babies and grandchildren brought her much happiness as her health declined.

Mike was a dedicated husband and took phenomenal care of her until the very end.  A special thank you to Milbank Hospice for their kindness and support during the last few weeks. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Parkinsons research, the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, or the Watertown Humane Society.

She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Mike of LaBolt; daughter, Kristine-husband Andy and children: Lauren, Jack, and Max of Omaha, NE; son Steven, of Sioux Falls SD.  She is also survived by brother Jeff, wife Dee Dee, and daughter Emmy.  She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers: Doug and Marlin.