Berdena Grace Huston was born September 11, 1931, to Hyltje "Bill" and Sadie (Oldenkamp) Dykema in Okaton, SD. She was the second born of six children, three boys and three girls. Her early years were spent growing up on the family farm in Jones County, northwest of Murdo, SD. She was named after her maternal grandmother, Dena. Her ancestry is 100% Dutch, having four immigrant grandparents from Holland.
She came from a long line of strong, hardy pioneers which served her well in the years ahead. She survived a tornado, a near drowning, and a deadly car accident which left her with a broken collarbone and two fingers damaged so severely they were attached only by the skin. The doctor wanted to amputate both fingers but her father wouldn't allow it. The doctor was more skilled than he realized; she regained full use of both fingers. Later in life, she defeated cervical and breast cancer.
Berdena graduated high school from Okaton, SD, and went on to obtain a teaching certificate from Black Hills Teachers College (now Black Hills State University). She taught school in Jones County until she married.
On June 3, 1953, she eloped to Newcastle, WY, with her future husband, Jack B. Huston, Jr., along with his sister and brother-in-law as witnesses. Her wedding attire consisted of a navy-blue suit. The newlyweds returned to South Dakota to reside on the Huston homestead, located a few miles west of her childhood home. They continued to live there until 1963, when they relocated to the Huston ranch near Red Owl.
Children arrived in quick succession. Margaret Mary was first (1954), born in the car on the way to the hospital in Pierre. Jack B. Huston III was second (1955) and came close to being born on the hospital steps. Exactly ten months later, son William "Bill" joined the family (1956). Three in diapers at once would task any young mother so she gave away her maternity clothes. Little did she know she was just getting started. Thomas "Tom" came along in 1958, Marilyn in 1959, and Sadie in 1961. Shianne broke the tie between the girls and boys in 1966. So naturally, Mom had another boy to balance the genders once more. Robert completed the family in 1969.
Once the children started high school, the family split residency between the ranch and the house in Sturgis. The Huston ranch was sold in May1981, and both Berdena and Jack moved to Sturgis full time.
Jack B. Huston, Jr., passed away on May 5, 1996, at the age of 73. By then, some of the children were on the move. Margaret had moved to Colorado, and Shianne had joined the Air Force. Robert would soon be teaching school in Alaska.
Her hobbies were quilting, playing Go To Hell Rummy, and putting together jigsaw puzzles. No one was more excited than Berdena when her beloved Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50. She was fond of cats but loved nothing more than visits from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Berdena passed away on June 16, 2019, in Sturgis, SD.
She is survived by seven of her eight children; Margaret (Mike) Covey, Jack (Roxie), Bill (Deb), Tom (Kathy), Marilyn (Jeff) Engle, Shianne (Steve Hanson), and Robert (Teresa); thirteen grandchildren, Mike and Becky, Mandy and Erica, Stacey and William with their mother, Shelia, Jennifer, Kelsey, Kyle, and Jason, Walker and Gracey, and Taylor; ten great-grandchildren, Tyler, Ryan, Peyton, Marcus, Allison, Brayden, Ashland, Addison, Jackson, and Cooper. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be missed very much.
She was preceded in death by her husband and her daughter, Sadie.
Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 21, 2019, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel with Pastor Tom Martin officiating. Inurnment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis
A memorial has been established to the Sturgis Ambulance.

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