Michele Ann Raposa, 59, died peacefully on May 1, 2018, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Michele was born at Castle AFB on April 17, 1959, to Humbert Raymond and Mary Yeo Raposa. She graduated from Sturgis Brown High School in 1977, and received her teaching and special education certification from Black Hills State University. She loved teaching in small country schools, teaching in Stoneville, Belvidere and Porcupine before moving to Nisland in 1994.

Her life will be remembered for her love of Jesus Christ and her dedication to children. She served as a special education/elementary teacher on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, a missionary teacher in India, a foster parent to numerous children, and an adoptive mother to three beautiful children: Gabe, Seth, and Kalee, who are her greatest work and accomplishment.

Michele was a talented portrait artist who captured the soul of a person in her detail and realism. She was our family communicator, keeper of all our family’s memories, and connecting us to our past and present. She will be missed beyond words.

Michele was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her two sons, Gabriel and Seth Raposa, and daughter, Kalee Raposa, of Nisland, SD; five siblings: Margaret (Mark) VanDerWerff of Armour, SD; Allen (Denise) Raposa of Kimberly, ID; Maryann (Dave) Knoll of Platte, SD; Richard (Susan) Raposa of Rapid City, SD; and Barbara (Steve) Sachs of Rapid City, SD. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.