Geraldine Mills
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Geraldine's obituary
Geraldine Mae (Wedmore) Mills was born on August 9, 1928, to Jerry (JG) and Bertha (Richter) Wedmore in Chamberlain, SD. Gerri’s growing up years were spent in Chamberlain with summers enjoyed in the Black Hills near Placerville Church Camp with her mother and Auntie Sheen. Gerri developed a deep love for Placerville Church camp, which she attended as a child, served as a camp counselor, attended women’s camp, visited her grandchildren while they were at camp, and returned to as she needed following losses in her life. Being an only child, she dreamt of having conversations and playing with her two brothers who had died in infancy. She spent hours making paper doll clothes from old wallpaper books. This served her well as a mother as she became a talented seamstress creating beautiful clothes for her family and self. She sewed her daughter’s wedding gown, as well as sewing six flower girl dresses for her granddaughter’s wedding. As a child, Gerri tap danced and was a cute little Shirley Temple look-alike complete with ringlets. Gerri was active in school, taking part in her school play as well as playing the clarinet in the band. She was very proud to have four generations of her family graduate from Chamberlain High School.
Gerri attended Yankton College in Yankton, SD, rooming with her best friend Winona Mills. It was through this close friendship that Gerri met her soulmate, future husband, and father of her four children, Burton “Bud” Mills. This tall, handsome, curly haired, blue eyed young blonde Navy sailor caught her eye on Christmas day of 1945 and won her heart in no time. On Christmas Eve of 1946 Bud slipped a diamond on her finger and they were married on July 16, 1947, in the Congregational Chapel at Rapid City, SD. That very important person and best friend, Winona Mills, was now Gerri’s sister-in-law. The first year of their marriage was spent in Newcastle, WY, working with Bud’s brother, Vernard, building power lines and Gerri worked in the Clerk of Courts office. She told us “thanks to your Dad’s patience and encouragement, I learned to cook and to drive a car that year!” In 1948, at the request of Gerri’s dad, they moved back to Chamberlain to help her father, JG Wedmore, in the Hardware Store, seed business, with farming, and raising Registered Hereford cattle. Soon after their first son, Jerry Burton, was born they moved to a rickety little square house “on top of the hill” and began creating what was to become a beautiful home, yard, and place to raise their four children, Jerry Burton, Larry Durrell, Nancy Jo, and Vickie Lynn. This home place began without electricity or running water and had chickens roosting in the only bedroom. Gerri remembered fondly the evening when they finally got electricity. She was more than delighted to listen to the radio while ironing!
Gerri was a member of Eastern Star, P.E.O.’s Chapter AA, Extension Club, and the United Church of Christ where she held many offices and served on the State Board. She often traveled and spoke at other churches in SD. Gerri taught Sunday School for many years and loved working with the children. She was a very supportive 4-H Mother teaching her children skills they still use and appreciate today. Gerri always cultivated a large garden, canning and freezing the produce to keep her family well fed during the winter months.
Gerri worked side by side with her husband, Bud, at the store. She learned to do the bookkeeping and was meticulous about making sure it always balanced out. In July of 1973, her husband Bud was diagnosed with Leukemia. They celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with family and friends at the United Church of Christ in 1977. They enjoyed time with their camper in the Black Hills and Brownsville, Texas with Bud’s brother Vernard and wife Vi, as well as other life-long friends. On May 28th, 1978, just one week short of his 54th birthday, Gerri’s husband passed away. After a particularly cold and snowy winter, Gerri moved to Crawford Drive in Chamberlain. Here she spent many hours enjoying her grandchildren at what they all came to know as “Grandma’s Park”.
Gerri decided to spend a few winter months in Arizona and fell in love with Sun City, eventually purchasing a home there. When she returned to Chamberlain, she took dancing lessons at the Pukwana Ballroom, something she had always desired to do, and met her next husband, George Benson. They enjoyed dancing very much and eventually married. They enjoyed their time in Arizona and the friends they made. George passed away in June of 1984.
Gerri, already familiar with an artist’s paint brush, fell in love with the art of China Painting while in Arizona. She eventually became a teacher at the China Painting club there. In 1992, she married Stuart (Babe) Murphy. They enjoyed the Arizona life, spent many summers traveling in their RV visiting family and friends, made trips to Mexico with their RV group from Sun City, and were adoring grandparents. Babe passed away in 2019.
Gerri moved into The Regency Retirement Assisted Living in Chamberlain, SD, in June of 2013. There she enjoyed the company of others whom she had known all her life and many who she had shared the 4-H mom experience with. She delighted in her family’s frequent visits and attended many Chamberlain School events.
Geraldine Wedmore Mills passed away on April 22, 2023, surrounded by family at The Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Grateful to have shared her life are her children, Jerry Mills and wife, Carmela of Sioux Falls, Larry Mills (and the late Elenore Mills) of Pierre, Nancy Renner and her husband, Al of Chamberlain, and Vickie Mills of Chamberlain; 9 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. Gerri leaves her family with a legacy of love and devotion, kindness to all, and an unfaltering faith in God.
She was preceded in death by the love of her life, husband, and father of her children, Burton Mills, as well as husbands George Benson and Stuart Babe Murphy. Also preceding her in death were her father, Jerry “JG” Wedmore, mother, Bertha Richter Wedmore, two infant brothers, daughter-in-law Elenore Mills and many brothers and sisters-in-law.
In lieu of flowers, Gerri has requested a memorial gift to the United Church of Christ in Chamberlain.
Hickey Funeral Home of Chamberlain, SD is in charge of arrangements
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