Patsy Hurley, 81, Sturgis, South Dakota, passed away after a short illness on March 3, 2024.
Patsy Glea Ferguson was born on November 15, 1942, in Sturgis, SD, to Paul and Ada (Funk) Ferguson, the youngest of six children.
She grew up on the family ranch south of Enning, learning the value of hard work, getting up early enough to do chores before walking the distance to school (uphill both ways, I am sure) and repeating it all in the evenings. There were bum lambs to feed and cows to bring in for milking, as well as hay to put in the summer. Her big brother would always praise her for making that perfect windrow. Leisure time was spent outside when weather permitted, sometimes sneaking off to the stock dam for a forbidden dip.
Patsy grew up in an era of incredible changes happening in rural Meade County. She loved to read and remembers enjoying books by lamplight. She saw necessities improve from trading in trips to the outhouse for indoor plumbing and finally getting electricity. Their first TV was very memorable.
As most country kids did, she boarded in town when she attended when she attended high school, staying with her aunt, Hallie. She and cousin, Sam had many adventures together.
When she graduated, she married Johnnie “Junior” Hurley, May 19, 1960. Settling in Sturgis, Junior started his own drywall business in 1961. She supported him by doing the books and giving him a hand with the trowel from time to time.
The following year, they started a family and had two daughters. This kept Patsy quite busy until the girls entered school. She then went to work for Bob Lee at Centennial Quarry near Whitewood. She attended Black Hills State College and earned her sociology degree and later her Masters. After that she worked as a social worker at Wingspread Boys Home here in Sturgis, which was an offshoot of the Sky Ranch for Boys. She found this very rewarding and loved working with the kids. In 1977, she joined her husband’s venture in building and operating the Outlaw Inn Motel, now the Super 8 in Sturgis. The motel was sold in 1986 and they both retired. In 1997, they moved to Vale, SD. Patsy liked gardening and sharing the fruits of her labor. She also was a very talented artist and loved painting pictures. She and Junior always enjoyed fishing and camping together. When Junior passed in 2005, she returned to Sturgis to be closer to family.
She is survived by her daughters: Jonni (Dan) Larson of Sturgis, Shawna (Cary) Schmidt of rural Sturgis; four grandchildren: Amanda (John) Owen of Ekalaka, MT, Loren (Melissa) Larson of Sturgis, Taylor Schmidt of Black Hawk, and Teal (Shanea) Schmidt of Rural Sturgis; seven great-grandchildren: Anora Larson, Joby Owen, Rayna Owen, Wesley Larson, Emma Larson, Declan Owen, and Truen Schmidt; and brother: Monte (Rita) Ferguson; and sister: Frankie Baker.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband; one brother, Wiley Ferguson; two sisters, Virginia Hemenway, and Anabel McKenna.
Visitation will be 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel, Sturgis, SD. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 11, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church, Sturgis, with burial to follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.
A memorial has been established.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefinerals.com.
