Teraza “Tacy” Sophia Praethong (Kitz) Baum was born March 1, 1987 in Nakornsrithammarat, Thailand.

The first seven years of her life were spent in an orphanage, and in 1994, she was adopted from Bangkok, Thailand, by Dennis John and Susan Mary Kitz, and moved to the United States. She attended school in Glen Carbon, IL. Although she was legally blind, she was determined to lead an active life. She attended camp for the blind numerous times. She played flute in her school’s band and marching band. She loved learning about Thai culture, especially traditional Thai dancing, which she learned through lessons at Wat Phrasriratanaram in Florissant, MO. She was a lover of animals – especially cats. She lovingly cared for her disabled brother.

While Tacy was in high school, she attended a Thai Adoptees Reunion in Florida, where she met her future husband, Alexander Baum. She moved to Rapid City, SD in 2007 to be with Alex, and until her death, they did everything together. She was enthusiastically welcomed into Alex’s family when they married on May 22, 2010. She held various jobs in Rapid City – she was a child daycare worker, had been employed at Walmart, and most recently, JCP. She loved Thai food and enjoyed both eating at Thai restaurants and learning how to prepare Thai food at home to share with her family and friends.

She unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 in Rapid City, SD, and was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents. Her beautiful smile and love of life will be missed every day.

Fortunate to have shared her life, Tacy is survived by her adoring husband, Alex Baum; parents Dennis and Susan Kitz of Granite City, IL; brothers Zachary (Mary) Kitz, John-Joseph Kitz, and Gideon Lee Kitz of Illinois; aunts Mary Ann Krippner, Patricia Mary Christendom, and Lee Mary Haronick; parents-in law Reverend Bruce and Pamela Baum of Spearfish, SD; sisters-in-law Alyssa (Scott Ronken) Peters of Chadron, NE; Amanda (Michael) Swartz of Rapid City, SD; Amy (Benjamin de Kock) Baum of Normal, IL; Sayumi Everett of Rapid City, SD; nephews Jonah and Jackson Swartz, Matthew and Carter Peters, and Yuki Everett; nieces Emma Peters and Mathilda de Kock; and many extended family members.

A gofundme account has been established to ease the financial burden of Tacy’s loss.

https://gofund.me/1f1898e4