Elma H. McPherson, 92, Sturgis, died Thursday, March 1, 2007, at the Sturgis Regional Senior Care Center.

Following her wishes, her body has been cremated.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 5, 2007, at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis, with Chaplain Charley Conger officiating. A private family burial will take place at a later date on the McPherson Hereford Ranch north of Sturgis. Funeral arrangements are with Kinkade Funeral Chapel.

Elma was born Nov. 28, 1914, in Lead, to Hugo and Maria (Huhta) Hedman. Her parents had come from Finland to the United States in 1910. When Elma attended first-grade, she only spoke Finnish. She was very proud of her Finnish heritage throughout her life. Elma remained home in her eighth-grade year to care for her dying mother. Following her mother's death, Elma helped to raise her brothers and sisters, then later returned to school to complete her eighth-grade education. She worked during WWII at a defense plant in Provo, Utah.

Elma married Joseph McPherson at Miles City, Mont., on July 11, 1950. She worked as a housekeeper for a short time in Deadwood, but spent her life as a ranch wife on their ranch north of Sturgis.

Elma was proud to be a life-long Democrat.

Survivors include her son and his wife, Fred and Rhonda McPherson, Sturgis; three granddaughters, Jessica and her husband, Michael Cooper, Emily and her husband, Charles Douvier, and Lori McPherson; one grandson, Baxter McPherson; and two great-granddaughters, Natalie Douvier and Grace Cooper, all of Sturgis.

Her parents; her husband; three sisters; and two brothers preceded her in death.

A memorial has been established to the Northern Hills Humane Society.