Clara Beth (Simons) Peterson was born March 19, 1932, on her grandmother, Clara's, birthday to Sam E. and Ada B. (Burditt) Simons in Sturgis, SD. She was raised on the family ranch between Marcus and Plainview. Clara Beth attended the one-room Barada rural school for grades 1-8. She attended high school in Sturgis, where she was an honor student and participated in sports, choir, and Homemakers of America. After graduating in 1950, she attended Black Hills Normal School to obtain her teaching certificate. She taught grades 1-8 for one year at Bench School in rural Meade County.
Clara Beth married her high school sweetheart, Bobby D. Peterson, on June 4, 1951. They lived and raised their 4 children on a ranch near Volunteer. Clara Beth was involved with her children's 4-H Clubs and was a member of the 4-H Leaders Association. She participated in the Volunteer Extension Club and the Meade County Fair Board. She served as a Horticulture/Flower Judge for the Fair for many years. Clara Beth was a Master Gardener and raised a large garden and beautiful flowers every year. She was known for her cooking skills; her bread was a favorite of many.
In 1977, Bobby and Clara Beth moved to Sturgis, where she kept books for their business, Peterson Oil Co. They were avid square and round dancers and card players. Clara Beth especially loved playing Bridge with her sisters and friends.
Clara Beth was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Sturgis since high school. She was also a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the Sturgis Senior Citizens Center.
Clara Beth Peterson, 87, of Sturgis, passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2019, at Sturgis Regional Senior Care.
Clara Beth is survived by her four children, Nancy (Larry) Carpenter, Sturgis, Kevin (Dee) Peterson, Gillette, WY, LuAnn Carlson, Sioux Falls, SD, and Ila (Steve) Kool, Sioux Falls, SD; her ten grandchildren, Amber Carpenter, Annette (Steve) Dourney, Zach (Sharon) Peterson, Krystal (Travis) Schmidt, Andrew Carlson, Jen (Jon) Schreurs, Laura Carlson, Scott (Mandy) Kool, Stuart Kool, and Sam Kool; her fourteen great-grandchildren, Yvette Dourney, Dysen and Bryley Peterson, Jolene, Clair, and Frankee Schmidt, Jayden and Jacey Schreurs, Dylan, Sullivan, Calvin, and Ivy Grinsell, and Henry and Harrison Kool; brother, Walt (Barbara) Simons; sisters, Freda Wilson and Kay Ingalls; and her extraordinary private care assistant, Stacey Knight.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby; parents, Sam and Ada Simons; brothers, William, Wayne, and Vern Simons; sister, Gladys Edwards; brothers-in-law, Emerson Wilson, Howard Ingalls, and Billy Peterson; sister-in-law, Beverly Peterson; and great-grandson, Elijah Grinsell.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 19, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 20, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis with Reverend Paul Henschen officiating. Burial will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery.
Memorials have been established to First Presbyterian Church and the Meade County Fairgrounds Event Center Building Fund.

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