Cheryl Lea Hoard was born in Hudson, South Dakota on February 25, 1950 to Glen Ross Hoard and Eunice Joan (Hendricks) Hoard. She was the fifth of eight children in her family. Due to her father’s employment, she spent her early days in various places, but because of her mother’s illness most of her childhood was spent in the Presentation Children’s Home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Sisters were glad to keep her because she was an obedient child and a hard worker.

After the children’s home Cheryl lived in Cottonwood and then Philip, South Dakota. She attended junior high and a year of high school in Philip where she excelled in gymnastics. After the family moved to Murdo, South Dakota she attended Murdo High School graduating with the class of 1968. On January 1, 1968 Cheryl married Michael J. McMillan at Messiah Lutheran Church in Murdo, and to this marriage was born a beloved son, Miles Lloyd, of whom Cheryl was extremely proud. After her husband’s military service, the family moved back to Murdo where they have remained all their life.

In her lifetime Cheryl worked a variety of jobs. As well as being a homemaker and an excellent housekeeper (Cheryl’s house was ALWAYS clean), she cooked in restaurants, worked as a motel maid, and was employed by the local Soil Conservation Service before beginning a 30-year career with the Farm Service Agency. During her years at the FSA she was admired and respected by the ag producers for her intelligence, capability, kindness, and integrity. In this period of her life Cheryl took college courses and earned an Associates Degree from Northern State University. That college degree was a lifelong goal for her and an achievement of which she was immensely proud.

But her goal, truly the dream of Cheryl and her husband always, even from their earliest days together, was to own their own land. This goal was realized when, in March of 1998, they bought the ranch from his parents. Under their management the ranch flourished, and later they were able to add more property to it. No one, NO ONE believed that this would ever happen for them, but with HARD WORK, sacrifice, and perseverance they MADE their dream come true.

Cheryl was a woman of many talents. Everyone who knew her knew that she could, would, and DID work hard. She was a preeminent cook (best sugar cookies ever!), she could rock the crankiest baby to sleep in minutes, and she was an accomplished quilter. But more than this, Cheryl was good to everyone. She too often did without if she could make things better for others; but this selflessness was overshadowed by her constant and compassionate kindness.

Cheryl slipped away from us on January 16, 2021. Left to mourn and miss her are her husband of 53 years, Michael, her son Miles and his wife Deneice; sisters Tari (Arlie) Nelson and Janice (Dick) Dunlap; brothers Bob (Trudy), Glen Jr. (Laura), Jack (Mary), and Tim (Donna); mother-in-law Helen McMillan of Philip; sisters-in-law Kathleen (Virgil) Stickler and Teresa Schweitzer; brother-in-law Casey (Marlene); and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Preceding her into heaven are her parents; grandparents; aunts and uncles; brother Fred; father-in-law Jess McMillan; and so many of her high school classmates.

Cheryl is now with the angels, which is fitting as she was always one of them.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. CST on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Murdo with Pastor Ray Greenseth officiating. The service will be live streamed and can be viewed from this webpage at the start of the service.

Inurnment will take place at a later date at the Murdo Cemetery.

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