Kay Lynn Shillingstad Riney went to her heavenly home on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. Kay found immense joy and delight in so many simple things. She loved her family, her work, games and jokes, her South Dakota home and memories and our flag.  Kay loved hard, laughed easily, and hugged powerfully. One of her many cousins said, "Kay Kay is the best hugger." Maya Angelou has a quote that embodied Kay: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." One of Kay's greatest gifts is how fully loved and appreciated she made people feel. Kay made people feel safe, valued, and LOVED. When people would display troublesome behaviors, she would say, "Nothing you can do but love them." That is a gift for all of us to remember.

Kay was the second born daughter of five children born to Glen and Eileen (Dame) Shillingstad. She was raised on a small farm outside of Mobridge, South Dakota. Her dad walked to town and bought the farm in 1944, the year Kay was born. Kay was baptized and confirmed at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Mobridge. She graduated from Mobridge High School in 1962. Kay worked for Bell Telephone in Mobridge shortly after high school. Then she traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and stayed with her aunt and uncle for a brief time before she went to Denton, Texas to be with her older sister Karen. Kay began working with Texas Instruments in 1963.  She spent 13 years commuting from Denton or Argyle to Dallas to work at TI.

Kay married Raymond Allen Riney from Denton, Texas, on October 15, 1968, in Love County, Oklahoma. Raymond was a roper, and they met at a rodeo. They made their home in Argyle, Texas, where they raised their three children Jodi Rae, Raymond "Allen" Riney, Jr., and Perry Glen.

Kay continued her work at Texas Instruments leaving the house before 5 a.m. to get the kids to daycare and commute to north Dallas. In 1976 when she had Perry, she decided to give up that hectic lifestyle and stay home with her family. Raymond spent most of his career as a truck driver who was gone from Sunday to Thursday. Much of the childcare and home care fell to Kay. Kay leaned on her skills learned on the family farm. She took over mowing and yard work, as well as caring for the home and kids.

Kay played that domestic role until she began her career with Peterbilt Motors in 1981. Kay just celebrated her 40th year service anniversary with Peterbilt. She was one of the most devoted and loyal employees. She loved her job and arrived at work at least 30 minutes early daily. She found boundless joy in her co-workers, and they got to experience firsthand the humor and unconditional love she displayed.

Each of her children had a unique and special relationship with their mother. She was their most devoted champion. Kay attended all Jodi's Basketball games in High School and was by far Jodi's biggest fan and loudest in the gym. In 2015 Jodi met Gary Parker at Peterbilt and Kay felt an instant connection.  They married in 2016.  Kay loved to mess with Gary about his Ford pickup as she drove a Chevy.  Kay couldn't wait to swim at the new pool that Jodi and Gary are starting to build.

You can't even begin to count the number of rodeos Kay attended to watch Allen rope.  She herself had never roped but she sure could tell Allen, "You dropped your elbow!" when he didn't do well.  In 1992 Allen met Erica Whittemore whose parents were also from South Dakota.  Kay gained a daughter-n-law in 1999. She was ecstatic to know that Allen had married a girl with South Dakota ties.  She was proud of Allen and family for the life he accomplished.  At times Kay would joke that she would gladly trade Jodi and Allen for Gary and Erica.

Kay loved that Perry had her set up with all the latest technology on her phone and at her home.  She enjoyed his company and their late movie nights together.  Perry introduced his mom to Denton Bible where she spent so many Sunday mornings.  She would look forward to her many shopping trips to Sams and of course their love for Pei Wei.  Kay was proud of the many accomplishments Perry has made throughout his life.

Her grandkids were a very important part of her life. Kay and Raymond spent many hours with their four grandsons Grant and Blake Wilson and Reid and Ryan Riney, babysitting, and attending school and sporting events.  All the grandsons made trips with her back to her beloved South Dakota.  She recently visited Grant's new house in Bowie.  Kay enjoyed playing with Blake's kids, her great-grandchildren. Reid and Ryan loved to rev up their trucks….Kay would belly laugh and say, "I just love those pipes!"

Kay often spoke of retiring to her beloved South Dakota. She loved the prairie skies, the slower pace, and the long, cool summer evenings. She returned to South Dakota at least twice a year for most of her adult life. She was there for the 4th of July parade, rodeo, and hometown gatherings. She loved the American flag and the western way of life. She and her family were also there for Christmas back at the family farm, so her parents and siblings got to know her children and grandchildren. She was also very close to her South Dakota sisters: Karen, Gloria, and Kelly and her one brother Dale.  To all her sweet nieces and nephews, she affectionately became known Aunt Kay Kay. If you asked each of them, they would all have a special story to tell about their beloved Kay Kay.

Kay credited Squirt pop and sunflower seeds with helping keep her awake and alert driving her long drives to and from South Dakota, with her many precious passengers.

Kay made holidays and celebrations special, not only by the preparation, but by the unbridled joy she displayed when she received a gift, ate a special meal, or simply played cards and games with her family. Christmas in Texas was all Family: appetizers, candy, steaks on the open fire, kids, present opening and of course a mean game of 31 with a $5 ante!  She loved to watch others open gifts as much as she loved to open her own.  Each and every gift was special to her, and she was known to cry opening many of them. You knew she wanted to be with you, and she totally enjoyed the experience. Kay was very complimentary making her friends and family feel better. She was a great listener and the first to tell people that you were smart, you looked good, or so many other positive reinforcements that we often are reluctant to express. Kay shared them openly and often. Kay was the friend that would lend you money, the sibling that would take you in, the mother-n-law that made you feel like you were her own child, the grandma that always had time to talk and make you feel special, and she was the parent you could confide in. She was so proud of each of her children and member of her family.

Kay was preceded in death by her husband Raymond Riney, her parents Glen & Eileen Shillingstad, her sister Karen (Shillingstad) Gatewood, and her brother Dale Shillingstad. She is survived by her children Jodi (Riney) and Gary Parker, Allen and Erica Riney, and Perry Riney; grandchildren Grant Wilson, Blake and Jamie Wilson, Reid, and Ryan Riney; great-grandchildren Pepper, ParsLee and Sage Wilson.

Kay and Raymond recently purchased a new home in Denton where Kay cared for Raymond during his final weeks. This year would have been their 53rd wedding anniversary on October 15th. They spent it together in the heavenly realm.

Funeral services for Kay will be held Monday, October 25th, at the Denton Bible Church at 3:00PM. Kay will be cremated and her remains will be laid to rest in the Greenwood Cemetery in Mobridge, South Dakota.

In lieu of flowers the family would like Memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church in Mobridge, SD.