MILLER, SD – Darrell Peterman, 89, of Miller, passed away Saturday, November 23, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Society in Miller, with his loving wife, Elaine, at his side.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 30, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Miller, with Rev Rhonda Wellsandt-Zell officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at the St. Lawrence Cemetery. A visitation will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, on Friday, November 29, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Miller.

Darrell was born on the family farm in Holden Township, Hand County SD, on June 29, 1935, to Harlan and Eva (Wilson) Peterman. He went to grade school in Holden Township for eight years. After grade school, he went to work for Fred and Dwight Chipman on the farm. Later he started working on construction with Fred Sivertsen and George Niederauer running all types of heavy equipment.

In September of 1955, Darrell joined the United States Air Force. He did his basic training in San Antonio Texas, Fire Training in Colorado and ultimately was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force base in Rapid City South Dakota. He received the rank of Airman 1st Class and was responsible for fighting fire, training airmen for firefighting, and was an inspector for the base and the surrounding missile sites. Along with firefighting, he also went through survival courses and EMT training, which he was very proud of, and he was able to put it to use saving countless lives throughout his life. Darrell was also a part of the first on scene fire and rescue crew for the B52D bomber crash at Ellsworth AFB on February 11, 1958. It brought tears to his eyes each time he talked about that experience, having lost 5 people and saving 6. Darrell was honorably discharged from the Air Force in September of 1959.

In 1958, Darrell married Marlee Hunter and had three children, Christina Peterman, Janice Faltersack, and Ray Peterman.

On January 7, 1967, Darrell married Sharon Landeis and from this union, they had two sons, Brian Peterman and Bradley Peterman.

On February 14, 1983, Darrell married Elaine Purrington, and they were still married at the time of his death. They resided in Miller all their lives together. First on a farm between Miller and St. Lawrence where they raised calves, pigs, ducks, peacocks, and many other animals at any given time. Later they sold the farm and Brian and Darrell, with the help of many others, built a new house on the east side of Miller where Darrell and Elaine lived until 2024, when they moved into the Miller nursing home.

Darrell worked in construction for most of his life. Along with heavy equipment, he did many types of carpentry, and most of the time he was doing cement work and masonry as his own business. As he grew older, and his body was not able to handle the rigorous stress of cement work he turned to recycling. He went from site to site and cleaned out tree belts of vehicles, old machinery, and iron of any kind, he thoroughly enjoyed this work and was still doing it well into his mid-eighties and was known as the “iron man” by many.

In his spare time, Darrell loved to hunt, fish, and watch westerns on TV. Some of the best times of his life were spent hunting Prairie Rattlesnakes with his wife, Elaine, and son, Brian, in the Mobridge area of South Dakota. Most of all, the grandkids were able to experience this as well with Grandpa and Grandma, and many memories were made during these times!

Darrell died peacefully with the love of his life Elaine by his side in the Miller nursing home. Darrell loved Elaine, her entire family, Brian, and Bradley with all his heart! While life did not allow Darrell to spend time with Christine, Janice, and Ray, he loved them very much and talked about them often! Christmas time was always especially hard for Darrell as he was always thinking of his children who weren’t with him.

Darrell is survived by his wife, Elaine Peterman; son, Brian (Diego Rodriguez-Sanchez) Peterman; son, Bradley Peterman; stepdaughter, Dawn (Allen) Joy; stepson, Doug (Janice) Purrington; daughter, Christine Peterman; daughter, Janice Faltersack; sister, Mildred Metz; grandchildren: Jalynn (Chad), Jacob, Kara (Dan), Jon (Deidra), Andrew, Jessica (Jason), Kros (Rachel), Larisha (AJ), Amanda (Jeff), Deidra (Andy), Serena (Andy), Sabrina (Craig), Devron (Lacey), and Caleb (Nina); many nieces, nephews, great and great, great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harlan and Eva Peterman; son, Ray Peterman; stepdaughter, Denise Yost; step son-in-law, Dennis Yost; brothers: John, Walter, and Robert Peterman; sisters: Vera Comstock, Thelma Neu, Helen Holtz, and Ruth Gregory; great-grandchildren: Alex Geraets, Hailei Schlechter, Oliver Yost, and Baby Yost (Caleb/Nina).

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Darrell’s arrangements.

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