Russel Testerman

Russel Testerman, 84, of Miller and formerly of Wessington, died Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at the Miller Good Samaritan Center after a very short and courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 20 at the First Presbyterian Church, Wessington with Rev. Allen Sager officiating. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery, rural Wessington with Military and Masonic honors. Visitation was held from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Friday, September 19 at Reck Funeral Home, Miller with visitation resuming at 6:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at the church in Wessington.

Russel Dean was born in Wessington on May 3, 1924, the third of nine children born to Freel and Orena (Hale) Testerman. He was raised on various farms in southern Hand County and attended grade school at Prairie View School, Springlake Township. Russel graduated from Wessington High School in 1941. He later married his high school sweetheart, Berniece Moller on June 27, 1942. They moved to Maryland where he worked at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Myrna joined their family, and a short time later Russel joined the Army. He served state side until near the end of WWII, when he was sent to Germany and Czechoslovakia. Their second daughter, Jerry was born the day WWII ended in Europe. Russel was honorably discharged in April of 1946. Russel and Berniece returned to South Dakota and began farming near and later, on the Testerman home place. Their sons, Douglas and Larry joined the family in the early 50’s.

Russel and Berniece enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends over the years. They retired from farming in 1990, but continued to live on the farm until moving to the Miller Plaza in 2000. The last three years were spent at the Courtyard Villa. On September 8th, Russel joined Berniece at the Miller Good Samaritan Center.

Russel was an active member of the Rose Hill Presbyterian Church holding many positions over the years. He was a member of the Wessington Watson-Krauter American Legion Post # 110, where he was Post Commander and later became State Legion Commander from 1987 to 1988. He enjoyed traveling to Legion functions with Berniece and visiting with their many friends around the state. Russel was also an active member in Eastern Star, Masons, and Shriners. He enjoyed riding his cycle in the Westerners Cycle Patrol. He served on many boards in Bates Township and Hand County.

Russel loved to trap, hunt, fish, play cards and visit with family and friends. He especially enjoyed his fishing trips to the River, made possible by his best friend and brother, Phillip. Family was very important to Russel and he held an important place in his grandchildren and great grandchildren’s lives. That fact became very evident when almost all visited him in the last weeks of his life, traveling from as far away as Guatemala and Denver, Colorado.

Russel’s memory will be cherished by his wife of 66 years, Berniece of Miller; daughters, Myrna (Roger) Bertsch of St. Lawrence and Jerry (Terry) Meek of Webster; son, Douglas (JoAnn) Testerman of St. Lawrence; 10 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandson; sisters, Aloa (Roger) Carter of Greensboro, NC and Ella (Richard) Cotton of Miller; brother, Philip (Phyllis) Testerman of Miller; sister-in-laws, Eva Testerman of Seattle, WA and Carolyn Testerman of Del Rapids.

Russel was preceded in death by his parents; son, Larry; great granddaughter, Regan Burkett; brothers, Allen, Donald and Elbert “Duke” Testerman; and sisters, Marion Sears and Wilma Jean Testerman.

Pallbearers were his grandchildren: Randall Bertsch, Kent Bertsch, Suzanne (Bertsch) Keck, Dianne (Bertsch) Neyens, Marty Bertsch, Terrisa (Meek) Fisher, Sarah (Meek) Sadrkhanlou, Andrew Meek, Doyce Testerman, and Bonnie (Testerman) Burkett.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Russel's arrangements.