Debra June "Debby" (Breeding) Towns, age 53, of Olivet, SD, died Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at the Scotland Good Samaritan Center, Scotland, SD after a battle with cancer. Memorial services will be 10:30 AM, Friday, March 5, 2010 at the Salem Reformed Church (707 South 5th Street), Menno, with Rev. Michael Hecht officiating. Burial of her cremated remains will be in the Menno Cemetery. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church. Aisenbrey-Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Menno, is in charge of arrangements. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Carter, Steve Towns, Byron Whaler, and Pat Fines.
Debby was born July 11, 1956 in Merced, CA to Bernard and Mildred (Carter) Breeding. She spent her childhood in Montana and California. She attended Big Timber High School in Big Timber, MT and graduated in May of 1974. Debby liked being around people so she chose a career in the food industry. She worked in several restaurants. She met and married Kirk Towns in July of 1975. Together they worked on ranches in Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska. They rode together a lot during calving season where she helped with all the chores. She also kept her house clean and the doors where always open to anyone who might need to eat or just need a listening ear. Debby cooked for cowboy crews and helped at haying time. She also found time to help break colts and worked at branding time with various chores. She owned several horses and always had stray dogs, cats, and rabbits living in her house.
In 1989, Kirk and Debby moved to Yosemite National Park where they lived and worked for 13 years. She was manager of the Pony Coral where she put the children on the ponies to lead and walk them for pictures and fun. She also worked at the Yosemite Lodge and the Awahnee Hotel in the food service where she was in management as the lead hostess for 9 years.
In June of 2001, Kirk and Debby, moved to Olivet, SD where Debby again chose a career where she could help people. She worked at the Scotland Good Samaritan Center, Scotland, SD for three years and then the Menno-Olivet Care Center for five years until she was forced to retire due to her battle with cancer.
Debby loved horseback riding, ice skating, crocheting, and visiting with her friends. Throughout her life, Debby always chose jobs that involved helping other people. She was an individual who always tried to put the needs of others ahead of her own, especially caring and praying for her family. Above all, Debby lived her life for Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior.
Debby is survived by her husband Kirk of Olivet, SD; Father Bernard Breeding of Big Timber, MT; two step-daughters Vicki Marie (Bobby) Crist of Mt. Lake Terrace, WA and Terri Renee Gustafson of Granite Falls, WA; several grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren; three brothers Charles (Judy) Breeding of Bakersfield, CA, Mike Carter of Libby, MT, and Terry Breeding of Olivet, SD. Brothers and Sisters-in-law Margo (Pat) Fines of Crooks, SD, Sheila (Jerry) Lotton of Sioux Falls, SD, Steven Towns of Sioux Falls, SD, William (Nancy) Towns of Sioux Falls, SD, Michael Towns of Houston, TX and Shannon (Ron) Dake of Sioux Falls, SD.
She was preceded in death by her mother; sisters-in-law Vicky Marie Towns and Diane (Eugene) Jaque; and several nieces and nephews.
