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Elaine Berry, age 95, of Kadoka, died Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at her residence in Kadoka.

Altena Elaine Smith was born on May 21, 1910, Oacoma, South Dakota, the daughter of Raymond Davis and Anna Grace (Waterbury) Smith. They moved to a claim near Poplar, Montana where her father died of Typhoid Fever. The family was then divided, with her two oldest brothers moving in with their Grandma Smith in Osage, Iowa, two other brothers stayed with their mother, and Elaine went to live with her Uncle Ned and Aunt Grace Scofield. Elaine attended school through high school in Osage. After graduation, she went to Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota for a year and a half, and Mosher Business School in Chicago for a year. She returned to South Dakota in 1929. She lived and worked in Rapid City until her marriage to Paul McLain Berry, youngest son of former Governor Tom Berry. The were married on September 22, 1931 in the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. They lived and ranched north of Norris until Paul’s death in March of 1955. Elaine moved around and helped her children as she was needed. She spent several years in White River, then back to Norris to the ranch. She lived over the years in White River, the ranch at Norris, Kadoka, Pierre, St. Paul, Minnesota, Martin and Spearfish, helping her children and grandchildren. She then moved to Kadoka where she has since resided.

Grateful for having shared her life include two sons Keith Berry and his wife Bunny of Rapid City, and Ray Berry and his wife Gail of Norris; three daughters Beverly Page and her husband Dennis of Interior, Lorena Fanning and her husband Dick of Long Valley, and Coleen Kayras and her husband Mike of Sturgis; fourteen grandchildren; twenty-nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband Paul, Elaine was preceded in death by a granddaughter Sarah Page; her parents; and five brothers Earl Smith, Howard Smith, Clayton Smith, Raymond Smith, and Ralph Barnett.

Visitation was held 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 31, at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Kadoka, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Saturday.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 1, at the Belvidere Presbyterian Church, with Pastor Gary McCubbin officiating.

Interment will be in the Belvidere Cemetery.

A memorial is established to the Presbyterian Church of Kadoka.

Rush Funeral Chapel of Kadoka is in charge of arrangements.

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