Beverly J. Dykstra, age 88, died Friday, April 21, 2023, at Avera Flandreau.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM, Thursday, April 27th, 2023 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Brookings, SD.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00PM, with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, April 26th, 2023 at Skroch Funeral Chapel in Flandreau, SD.
Beverly Jeannette Hicks was born February 19, 1935, in Minnehaha County to Benjamin and Alma (Nelson) Hicks. She grew up in the Rowena area and graduated from Brandon Valley High School in 1953.
On November 28, 1953, Beverly married Alvin Dykstra in Sioux Falls, SD. For the next three years, Beverly and Alvin worked for various farmers in the area. They began dairy farming on their own in Rowena in 1956, staying until 1969, when they moved to the farm near Ward, SD. Beverly and Alvin retired from the farm in 1999, then made the move from the country into town in 2002.
Beverly was a farm wife, raising 6 children while helping with various chores. She raised chickens and sold eggs, as well as gardening and canning. She fixed many lunches to take to Alvin while he was working in the field and for all the helpful neighbors during silage time. There was usually homemade bread, cakes and cookies being made in her kitchen. She enjoyed hosting the country neighbor ladies for her birthday party every year. Spending time with her siblings and other members of the Hicks family at family reunions was a favorite way for her to keep in touch with everyone. Beverly was also an avid letter writer and wrote in a diary every day, just like her mother had done. Playing Aggravation and Farkel kept her entertained and in recent years she loved to play Bingo at Edgewood Assisted Living.
Beverly is survived by her six children; Allen Dykstra, Bucklin, KS; Mary Clark, Flandreau; Ronald Dykstra (Dana Porter), Edgemont, SD; Kathy Dykstra (Tom Huston), Sturgis, SD; Brian (Lana) Dykstra, Brookings; and Stephanie (Scott) Smith, Rock Rapids, IA; eight grandchildren; Tami Dail, Travis Dykstra, Jonathan Dykstra, Kaitlyn Dykstra, Austin Dykstra, Ashley Huisman, Shane Smith, and Sierra Smith; several great grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Erma Knutson, Flandreau; and a brother-in-law, and Jim (Mae) Dykstra, Lebanon, MO.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; her parents; three sisters, Helen Mansker, Frances Lutz, Noma Buss; and two brothers, Robert Hicks and Victor Hicks
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation in Beverly’s name to a charity of your choice.
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