Cheryl Carlson

Funeral services for Cheryl Carlson will be held on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the Grace Lutheran Church in Burke, SD with Pastor Philip Henning, officiating.

Music will be provided by Sydney Fortuna, soloist, accompanied by Randy Sachtjen, organist. Lori Kaupp, Tami Hotz, Kim Davis and Amanda Steffen will be in charge of registration.

Interment was previously held at Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD. Clausen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Cheryl Carlson was born on May 28, 1947. Joining two brothers on a ranch north of Witten, all three went to the Eden School and on to Winner High School. Sandy and Claudine raised her with strong faith and a sense of humor.

After graduating, she attended Stewarts School in Sioux Falls and started her career as a beautician in Gregory. She built a loyal clientele and formed lifelong bonds. Later, she upgraded her title to business owner, opening the Beauty Boutique in Winner.

She married Everett Carlson in 1977. The Carlsons moved onto the family farm south of Burke, just shy of the Nebraska line. She and Everett took on remodeling the farmhouse, Cheri assuming the role of interior design director. In the decades to come, she used her knack for cooking and baking to feed her family, neighbors, the men working cattle, and holiday gatherings.

Her role as a community builder was strong including: Winter Wonderland, Legion Auxiliary, the Stampede Rodeo, Community Club, Red Hats, and 4H; she loved connecting to people. Her pride overflowed when she hosted a style show for South Dakota’s State Centennial and organized events for the class of ‘65, and a seemingly endless amount of fundraisers and benefits for people and groups in Burke.

Pitch was the game of choice, but a deck of cards offered possibilities to Cheri. Everett had his hands full during nightly games of pinochle and rummy.

To say she was an enthusiastic fan of the Cubs is an understatement. Baseball, in general, was a lifelong passion.

The most significant name of all, though, is “friend.” Cheri had a giving, sensitive heart that often appeared tough as nails on the exterior. We saw her lose a bit of her stride when she lost Everett, but friendships kept her strong as she navigated the years after his death. Cheri passed away on September18, 2021, at Ava’s House Hospice, in Sioux Falls, SD.

Cheri was preceded in death by Everett, her parents, and one brother, Joel.

She is survived by her brother Jerry and his wife, Joanna; her sons Kip and Zeb, and close friends Marla, and her son Colton; grandkids Danielle, Taylor, and Drake, as well as their partners, grandkids, and great-grands, as well as cousins, spouses, sisters- and brothers-in-law, cousins, and on and on.