Dixie Umstead

Dixie Lee (Polage) Umstead, age 60, of Howard, SD, died October 1, 2022, at Avera Dougherty Hospice House surrounded by her children and husband after a 20 year long struggle with multiple illnesses and vascular disease ultimately being the cause of death. A private burial will be held Saturday, October 15, 2022 at the Geneva Cemetery. There will be a “Celebration of Life & Memorial” held in Dixie’s honor at the Fairmont Legion Hall (Fairmont, NE). Friends and family are invited to come and celebrate her life by sharing fond memories.

Dixie Lee Polage was born June 8, 1962, in Fairbury, Nebraska, to Gale Polage and Phyllis (Kaenel) Hallman. She attended school regularly until the birth of her eldest daughter and marriage at the age of 16. Dixie continued her education, earning her G.E.D. a short while later. To that union, 5 children were born.

After her divorce and the death of her youngest daughter, Bridgett, Dixie met the love of her life, Bruce Umstead. Together, they raised their 4 children. She and Bruce were partners for 32 years, with him being her caregiver until her death.

She worked many jobs over the years, sometimes two at a time to provide for her family. She enjoyed working with people, nonetheless, and held a special place in heart for those less fortunate. In her spare time, Dixie enjoyed life’s simplicities such as bowling, fishing, camping, gardening, sewing, playing cards, and music (especially classic rock). She found joy in dancing, as she and Bruce would do often at Grand Falls Casino, until her illness prevented her from doing so. Even then, they would watch dancing on TV, and grew fond of The Mollie B. Polka Show. After falling ill, preventing her from working, and even driving, she found extreme joy in being surrounded by her birds. She said they kept her company. Though she loved all of these things, her favorite position was that of being a mother and grandmother of whom she shared her love for gardening, music, cooking, and baking (just to name a few). You could always feel a sense of love and comfort being in her presence as she always gave and loved UNCONDITIONALLY.

Dixie is survived by her 4 children, Jessica (Mark) Shumaker of Howard, SD; Jackie (Brian) Wolfe of Bradshaw, NE; Jeri Dieters (special friend, Marq Raddatz) of Sioux Falls, SD; Bud (Alyssa) Belding of Madison, SD. She will especially be missed by her 11 grandchildren, Braydon, Kyra, and Brea Shumaker; Roman, Slate, and Remedy Wolfe; Bailey, Blake, Clayton, and Caden Dieters; Bentley Belding of whom she loved very much.

Others grateful for sharing her life include her father and step-mother, Gale and Marilyn Polage; siblings, Della (Michael) Crutcher, Terry (Bobbie) Polage; Tracy Polage; Janelle (Marshell) Kahler; in-laws, Richard (Jill) Umstead and Mike (Dawn) Umstead; step sons, Eric Schmidt and family and Josh Vergith; nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Phyllis Hallman; parents in-law, Richard and Margaret Umstead; brother in-law, Charles DeLay; nephew, Kain Verhage; daughter, Bridgett Mae Belding and other beloved friends and family.

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