Norma "Jean" Drake

Norma “Jean” Drake, age 80, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Avantara Clark.  Memorial service will be at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, April 28, 2023, at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown.  Pastor Steve Biswell will officiate.  

Visitation will be prior to the service on Friday starting at 10:00 a.m.

Burial will be at Tabor Lutheran Cemetery in Strandburg, SD.  

Norma, “Jean” to family and friends was born on July 18, 1942, in Tyler, MN, to Harry and Eunice (Smith) Yantzi.  She grew up around Round Lake, Troy, SD, area and moving to a family farm near South Shore, SD, in 1952. She attended country school and then South Shore where she graduated.  She started her nursing career at Memorial Hospital in Watertown, SD before moving to Minneapolis, St. Paul, MN, area where she continued in the hospital and home health care profession.

On August 29, 1970, she married Thomas Drake in Watertown, SD.  The family moved to Grantsburg, WI, with the boys James and Brian Drake. After the passing of Tom, Jean returned to Watertown, SD, to work and be closer to family. 

Jean is survived by her son, Brian Drake, Hudson, WI, three sisters; Darlene Clark Hemet, CA, Bonnie Stulc, Lake Norden, SD, Melba Gronau, Watertown, SD, one brother in law; Gordon Gronau, Watertown, SD, many nieces and nephews and special friends Dianne J. and Nancy.

She was preceded in death by Husband Tom Drake, Son James Drake, her parents Harry and Eunice Yantzi, infant Brother, Dale Yantzi, and, two brothers in laws, Joseph Clark and George Stulc.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant

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