A funeral service for Sylvia (Moe) (Base) Mikkelsen, age 98, formerly of Gregory, was held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 24, 2026 at Union Congregational Church in Gregory, South Dakota, with Pastor Alex Bendig officiating. Music was provided by Jeanie Kotrba, pianist, on several congregational hymns. Interment was at Czech National Cemetery in Tyndall that afternoon. Arrangements were provided by Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home. Sylvia was born September 15, 1927, in Echo, Minnesota, to Iver and Charlesetta (Tripp) Moe. She grew up on the family farm in the White Lake, South Dakota, area and graduated from White Lake High School. She then moved to Tyndall, South Dakota, to teach.
While teaching 4th grade in Tyndall, she met Laddie Base, and they were married in 1949. She completed an associate degree at Southern State Teachers College and later earned a master’s degree in social work.
Sylvia and Laddie made their home in Winner, South Dakota, where she served the State of South Dakota as a social worker for 35 years. Their only child, Janeen, was born in Winner in 1956.
Laddie died in 1978. In 1980, Sylvia met Myrum Mikkelsen at a dance. They married in 1982 and made their home in Gregory, South Dakota, where they enjoyed music, dancing, and travel. They spent several winters in Pharr, Texas, and made many friends there. Myrum died in 2011.
Sylvia loved music and dancing. She played keyboard at dances and community events and brought joy to everyone in the room. Sylvia also loved clothes, shoes, and jewelry.
In Gregory and Winner, Sylvia was active in the Congregational Church, the VFW Auxiliary, P.E.O., the I.O.O.F. (The Rebekahs), and others. She served on boards of directors in both communities. With friends, including Monica Quam, she enjoyed trips to play the penny slots. Sylvia was a fierce bridge and pitch player and spent many afternoons at the senior center playing cards a couple times a week.
In later years she wintered with her daughter in various parts of the U.S. In 2024, she moved to Colorado Springs to live with her daughter and son-in-law full time.
Sylvia passed away September 11, 2026, in Colorado Springs. She is survived by her daughter, Jan Beals (Jim); her sister, Laverne Olson of Faribault, Minnesota; her granddaughter, Jacqui Powell (Dan); her great-granddaughter, Róisín Powell of Colorado Springs, Colorado; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Laddie Base and Myrum Mikkelsen; her parents, Iver and Charlesetta Moe; her sister, Lucille Cudmore; and her granddaughter, Jonell Beals.
