PIERRE, SD –

Erlyn Beck, age 80, passed away on November 28, 2023, at the Avera St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, SD.

Memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 1 p.m. at the Isburg Funeral Chapel in Pierre, SD. Visitation will be held at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Private family inurnment at Morningside Cemetery, Ree Heights, SD, will follow at a later date.

Erlyn Mae Beck was born on August 27, 1943, in Miller, SD, to Jesse E. and Martha A. (Brandsma) Beck. She grew up on a ranch near Ree Heights, where she attended school and graduated in 1961. Playing basketball was a highlight of Erlyn’s high school years, and she would often reminisce about the trips they took as a team and the memories that were made.

Erlyn worked most of her life in the Pierre/Fort Pierre area. She worked as an office assistant and bookkeeper for Anderson Contractors, Inc., and Chase Roofing and Sheet Metal, Inc., and also held various positions within the state government in Pierre. Her last position prior to retirement was with the Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

Erlyn and her long-time partner, Wayne “Pete” Pederson shared interests and spent many years together loving and taking care of each other. For a time, they took their camper to Wyoming and both worked construction jobs while seeing the countryside. Another highlight for them was the annual Pederson picnic held in July, where they looked forward to gathering with family.

Erlyn especially enjoyed the outdoors. In addition to their camping trips over the years, she was often found fishing in the Pierre area, hunting, attending horse races, and gardening at her home. She was an avid antique collector as well as an excellent cook and looked forward to preparing turkey and dressing with all the trimmings at holiday time.

Erlyn is survived by: her brother Warren (Janice) Beck of Milbank, SD, and their daughter Dr. Larissa (Charles) Bennis of Brookings, SD, and their two sons Avery Bennis and Julian Bennis, as well as Wayne’s children: Donna Hughes of Pierre, SD, and her children Tammy (Doug) Korturn and Timothy (Nita) Hughes, all of Fort Pierre, SD; and Roger (Lorrie) Pederson of Fort Pierre, SD, and their children Julie (Marlon) Handcock of Brighton, CO, Nikole (Ward) Cheskey of Fort Pierre, SD, and Brady Pederson of Watertown, SD; ten great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Erlyn was preceded in death by her parents, Wayne Pederson in 1999, Randell “Randy” Pederson in 2019, and infant niece Natalie K. Beck.

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