Elaine Peterman
November 4, 1934 ~ July 11, 2025
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Elaine Peterman, 90, of Miller, passed away Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the Community Church of St. Lawrence with Pastor Jim Hofman officiating. Burial will follow at the St. Lawrence Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, followed by a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at the church.
I was born on November 4, 1934, in Wessington, SD, weighing 4 pounds and fitting in a shoe box. My parents were Henry and Pauline (Fastnacht) Moser. I had 5 older brothers, Leroy, Clarence, Richard, Robert, and Eldon. Ten years later, a new baby arrived, a baby sister, Sherry. We lived on the OJ Martin farm South of Vayland, SD. I went to school through the 8th grade at Rose Hill, walking every day with my brothers leading me. One winter, in a blizzard, they covered my face with dish towels and we walked home hand in hand. Half of my 6th grade year, we lived in Medina, ND, as we were taking care of Grandma Moser. During my younger years, I would sneak into the car as my parents rode to town to sell eggs and cream. We did not have toys, so my mom would help me make paper dolls and buildings out of magazines. My brothers and I used to swing in the barn on the hay swing. I also taught myself how to do my hair, first by heating curlers with a Kerosene lamp and then later rolling my hair with socks.
I started going out with James Purrington when I was 16, and he always came over when he was running around with Richy. With permission of my mom, we began dating, and not much long after, James gave me a diamond when he went to join the Marine Corps. While James was home on leave, we were married at St. Lawrence parsonage on October 25, 1952, with Wayne and Ellen Parmely standing up with us. We moved to California on my 18th birthday. We made our home on the Purrington Farm after James was discharged, where we raised their 3 children- Doug, Denise, and Dawn. During this time, we raised milk cows, chickens, and pigs, along with helping other family members with their farming and when James started working in town, I took over running the farm. After selling the livestock, I started a job at the hospital. I often said how proud I was to go to college and get a certificate for dietary management without going to high school. Tragedy struck in September of 1981 when James was killed in a construction accident.
After James died, I planned on staying on the farm, but it didn’t work out with my job. So I purchased a double wide trailer home and moved to Miller. Merle and Joy Dirksen used to pick me up about every evening for happy hour at Lips Cafe and Bar. That’s where I met Darrell; he had been to Miller to visit relatives. Darrell moved back to Miller and bought Fred Bingham’s farm. I moved in with Darrell, and we were married on February 14, 1983. I continued working at the hospital for 25 years as a dietician. We lived on the farm raising calves, pigs, sheep, and peacocks. After 10 years, we sold the farm and built a new house in Miller. Darrell and I then started buying old houses and fixing them up. We owned the Ranch Cafe for several years, where I was the head pie baker until we sold it to our granddaughter, Amanda. We lived in our home in Miller until needing to move into the nursing home in February 2024.
When asking her family about what Elaine will be remembered for, they said:
-Going fishing and camping trips (and having to use a bucket on the boat to go to the bathroom)
-Snake hunting
-Her love for making homemade fudge, chocolate cake, ice cream, chocolate syrup, sour cream raisin or chocolate pies with meringue
-Coloring pages she made for everyone
-Spending the night at her house and playing with all of her dolls and barbies
-Helping her with her Avon business
-Her large collection of knick knacks, collectibles, and dolls
-Bright and flashy clothing and jewelry with her long painted fingernails
-She was always happy to have visitors
-Taking her step-children and grandchildren in as her own and making them feel like they belong. As Brian said, “I felt like she was my mom, not my step-mom.”
-Her sassy comments or one-liners
Family who will greatly miss her are her son, Doug (Janice) Purrington and daughter, Dawn (Allen) Joy; step-sons, Brian (Diego) Peterman, Bradley Peterman; grandchildren: Jalynn (Chad) Schmitz, Jacob Joy, Kara (Dan) Heffner, Jon (Deidra) Deuter, Amanda (Jeff) Geraets, Deidra (Andy) Schlechter, Serena (Andy) Burns, Sabrina (Craig) Heinemann, Devron (Lacey) Yost, and Caleb (Nina) Yost; 29 great grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; sister, Sherry (Larry) Van Zee; sister-in-law: Mildred Metzmany; and many nieces and nephews.
Those who she will greet in heaven are her late husbands: James Purrington and Darrell Peterman; her parents: Henry and Pauline Moser; her daughter and son-in-law: Denise and Dennis Yost; great-grandchildren: Alex Geraets, Hailei Schlechter, Oliver Yost, and Baby Yost (Caleb/Nina); her brothers and sisters-in-law: Leroy (Erma (Woodruff)) Moser, Victor Woodruff, Clarence (Evelyn) Moser, Richard (Ardessa) Moser, Eldon (Norma) Moser, Robert (Ida) Moser, Russell (Marsha) Purrington, Lurabel (Albert) Evans, Luree (Ward) Barnes.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Elaine's arrangements.
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I remember going to Grandma Elaine's when we were little… AND she didn't seem so little 😉 And yes she was always smiling and the sweetest!!! She was always so kind to all of us kids! She was also blessed to have "those Yost kids" 😅 as her grandkids – no others would have loved her more!!!
My sympathies to the families
Sorry for your loss! Thoughts and prayers for you and your family!
Aunt Elaine was the sweetest (and the cutest!) lady and a “dear friend” and “little sister” to my mom and dad. She was always part of my life growing up and then of my family’s visits to South Dakota over the years. Much love to you during this week as you celebrate her life❤️
Dawn and family..
My deepest sympathies to you all 🙏🙏
I have lots of fond memories of spending time with Elaine..She always remembered me when I would see her in Miller!
My Aunt Elaine was fun! Growing up, Uncle James and she hosted the best birthday, Fourth of July, and holiday parties and community get-togethers at their farm. Aunt Elaine was daring, too! She rode motorcycles! Also, she would take her kids and us nieces and nephews trick-or-treating, driving from farm to farm through South Hand, often ending up at Hiland Center for a community potluck and party every Halloween. She understood that childhood can be some of the best days and precious memories of life! She raised three great children, Doug, Denise, and Dawn–my wonderful cousins. Most definitely, Aunt Elaine was a cheerful person. Always positive. She lit up every room she entered. I will miss her smile and kind words the most. She was brave and resilient. She persevered after Uncle James left us and brought Darrell into her life and our family. They were meant for each other–true lovers who married on Valentine's Day. My Aunt Elaine was helpful, and she understood others and their needs. The proof of that was that she was a great saleswoman for Avon. My Aunt Eaine made a difference for family, faith, and community. She will be missed and forever remembered. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
My sincere sympathy to the family of Elaine Peterman..🙏🙏
Ivan's wife, Glenda's mother, was a sister to Elaine's mother (Fastnacht)
Ivan enjoyed many fishing trips and visits with both Elaine & Darell. We are planning to go to the funeral. Our friendship, sympathy and love to her family. God bless you all.
So sorry for your loss.
Having read the obituary in this week's Miller Press, the memories came flooding back of Elaine (Purrington) Peterman. I remember her as Mrs. Purrington as I was good friends with her daughter Denise. I so appreciated that the obituary was written (or maybe dictated) by Elaine herself. What a glorious history of her life in the Hand County area. As I read further, I remember her love of life, her resourcefulness, and the vitality she brought to those around her. The pies….on my…were the best! Sadly, as I read further I was reminded that her daughter Denise is no longer with us as well. That being said, her family brought so much to the community and now I have those memories refreshed once again.