Josie L. (Bates) Fernau, 86, New Underwood, died Saturday Oct. 20, 2007 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Josie was born Oct. 14, 1921 to Frank and Johanna (Malchrowicz) Bates. They lived in Cedar Canyon northwest of Faith, SD. She attended rural schools in that area and for several years attended school in a remodeled granary on their ranch. She attended high school in New Underwood and graduated valedictorian from New Underwood High School in 1943. Immediately upon graduation she taught in a rural school and soon earned a two-year teaching certificate from Black Hills Teachers’ College and after several years, she completed a bachelor’s program via college extension classes and summer school from Black Hills State College. She taught in rural schools in Pennington and Meade counties and for a short while in California. Most of her teaching career was spent at the New Underwood Elementary School and she retired from that district after twenty-five and one half years. Along with teaching school she and her mother owned and operated a ranch south of New Underwood. Oct. 15, 1977, Josie Bates married Melvin G. Fernau of New Underwood. They just celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. Josie was an active member of the New Underwood American Legion Auxiliary, New Underwood Community Church including the Fideles Circle, New Underwood Senior Citizens, Baseline Club and helping her husband care for the New Underwood Cemetery. Her favorite hobby was photography and at every community and family event she was the one that recorded the occasion on film. She will be sorely missed by her family, friends and community as she was involved in all occasions with her friendly, happy, helpful and generous ways. She was a pillar within her community. Josie is survived by her husband, Melvin; stepson Dennis and wife Janet Fernau, all of New Underwood; granddaughter Stephanie and husband David Asman and their children Kyle and Brigham, Salt Lake City, UT; granddaughter Rachelle and husband Scott Roberts and their children Savannah, Cade and Easton, El Paso, TX; one sister, Frances Volmer, New Underwood; one brother, Gerald and wife Bonnie Bates, Rapid City; one niece, Denise (Bates) Mitzel; two nephews, Neil Volmer, New Underwood; Greg and wife Yvonne Bates, Chattanooga, TN and several great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Alfred Bates of Longmont, CO.