HOLABIRD, SD – Catherine “Kay” Peterson, 94, of Holabird, passed away Thursday, October 24, 2024, at Highmore Health, Highmore, SD.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Highmore with Monsignor Charles Mangan presiding. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Highmore. A wake and rosary service will be 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at the church with visitation one-hour prior.

Catherine Amaryelis Dancey was born August 2, 1930, at home in Highmore, SD to Sammy and Mary (McCarthy) Dancey. Kay attended Highmore School and Loomis Country School finishing at St. Mary’s Academy in O’Neil, NE where she graduated from high school.

After graduation Kay worked for a time in Pierre, SD, at the ASC office and in Albuquerque, NM. When she returned to South Dakota she and her sister Mona ran the Dancey Station, a restaurant and gas station in Holabird. Kay met Lee Peterson at a bowry dance in Harrold, SD. The two of them started a dance that night which would continue for over 64 years. Dad always said Mom told the best stories. He made sure he would hear them for the rest of his life and help create more with her. They were married in a double wedding ceremony with Kay’s sister Ramona and Clarence Gluhm on April 6, 1953, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Highmore, SD. Their first year of married life was spent in DeGrey, SD. In 1954 they moved to Holabird, SD, to the home where they would live until Lee’s passing. Lee and Kay raised eight children on their ranch: Dancey, Joe, Rock, John “Jack”, Julie, Colin, Ross, and Steve.

Kay’s life was spent cooking and making sure everyone was fed. She knew if your stomach was full, you could tackle anything. Anyone who enjoyed her meals and baking knew there was a lot of wisdom in her thinking, or maybe it was more about the love we knew went into her cooking. She cooked for many years at Highmore Health, Thunderbird Lanes, and the D&K Cafe. In addition, she worked at the Red Owl in Highmore when she first returned to the work force. Lee and Kay also operated the Centennial Cafe and Lounge in Harrold, SD. She was an active school board member during her children’s school years, as well as a Catholic Daughter and member of the Altar Society.

Home was very much where Kay loved to be. She loved her gardening, her flower beds, doing ceramics and all the animals she could fuss over. If she traveled at all it was to do something with one of her children, grandchildren and their families. She loved to be part of everything they were part of, enjoying the activities they enjoyed.

She leaves behind many who are grateful to have had her in their lives: daughter, Julie (Chad) Carroll of Rapid City, SD; sons: Joe Peterson of Deadwood, SD, Rock Peterson of Pierre, SD, Colin Peterson of Martin, SD, Ross (Chrissy) Peterson of Sturgis, SD, and Steve (Lori) Peterson of Holabird, SD; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; sister, Virginia Kusser of Highmore; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Catherine was preceded in death by parents; husband, Lee; two sons, Dancey and John Peterson; and siblings: Bud Dancey, Mary Lou Gregg, and Ramona Gluhm.

Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Catherine’s arrangements.

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