Billie Jo Kuck

On December 13, 2024, Billie Jo Kuck passed away surrounded by her husband and 4 daughters.  Billie was born in Grand Junction, Colorado on October 21st, 1941. She was the first born daughter to Woodrow Arthur Patterson and Agnes Marie Reeder-Ricks.  She grew up on a ranch in the Aspen, Colorado area. She graduated in 1959 from Aspen High School.  Later that year, she followed her father to Kadoka, South Dakota where she met her husband, Leonard Patrick Kuck.  They married on May 25, 1963. They raised 4 daughters who gave them 9 grandchildren and presently 4 great grandchildren.  

Billie and Pat resided in many S.D. towns through the years as a result of Pat’s job, including Kadoka, Mobridge, Sioux Falls and landing in Pierre where all 4 children graduated high school. Billie worked for St. Peter and Paul’s church and St. Joseph school as the secretary and bookkeeper for 26 years. Billie was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2002 and survived 21 years through many treatments. Our nickname for her was “the energizer bunny”.  In 2012, Billie and Pat built their dream home on Oahe Lake. Their retirement was spent fishing and boating and enjoying time with family and friends. In 2020 they moved to Mesa, AZ to experience the warmer winters and to be closer to family.

Billie was a devout Catholic, loved living by the lake, being around family, holding babies, playing games with children, reading books, playing card games, and made the best fried walleye and chicken. She had a dry sense of humor even at the end of this life’s journey. 

Billie was preceded in death by her mother, father and 3 siblings, Keith Patterson, Sonja Farnum (John), Betsy Harn (Roy). She is survived by her husband, 4 daughters: Patricia Aubert (Greg), Donnalyn Kuck (Gloria), Cassandra Jablonsky (Russ), and Nicole Lies (Rick), 9 grandchildren, Courtney Kern (Sam), Zane Aubert (Becca), Michael Jablonsky (Rebecca), Wyatt Aubert (Gabie), Kieran Kuck (Mikayla), Andrew Lies (Rachel), Mark Jablonsky (Emily), Jacob Jablonsky, Stephanie Lies,  4 great grandchildren (Zachary, Henry, Leonard and Luke) and many special nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass will be said for Billie in Mesa, AZ on Friday, January 10th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at All Saints Roman Catholic Church. Another funeral Mass and Interment will be held in Pierre S.D., Friday, July 11, 2025 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m.

Memorials in Billie’s honor can be made to Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 210 E. Broadway, Pierre, SD 57501 or to The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation: 383 Main Avenue, 7th Floor Norwalk, CT 06851 https://themmrf.org/ .