Geraldine Susie Terkildsen Allen passed away peacefully in her sleep at the Kadoka Nursing Home on August 3, 2025, at the age of 102. She lived an amazingly long life and enjoyed almost every minute. Geraldine Susie Terkildsen was born at home on the ranch, near Wanamaker, SD, on January 27, 1923, to Anita Brown Terkildsen and Niels Terkildsen, attended by Mrs. Phyllis Jacoby, midwife. Geraldine was the 2nd of 10 children. She attended Wanamaker Grade School, south of the store, riding horses or walking to school. After graduating from the 8th grade, she completed her schooling by attending high school at Pine Ridge Boarding School, where she played basketball and loved making pottery with her teacher Olive Cottier. She and her family successfully survived the Depression, Government Cattle Slaughter (to drive up prices), and dry-land farming.

She met Bud Allen at a barn dance at the Pettyjohn barn, just north of the Badland's Basin Hill. They were married October 31, 1942, in Kadoka, SD, attended by Wayne Weaver and Shirley Bauman.

Geraldine was a multi-talented farm wife. She was the local self-taught beautician and was always happy to donate her skills to the community. She also made and decorated fancy cakes for hundreds of birthdays, weddings, and special occasions. Her talents were truly endless, everything from driving the grain truck at harvest to being the community babysitter.

The family moved “to town” in 1968 and boarded high school students in their home during the week. It was in Kadoka at Grabels' Clothing Store that Geraldine got her first paying job. Geraldine had a lifelong love for sewing and was an accomplished seamstress, making fashionable clothes, beautiful quilts and even a teepee and a covered wagon. Geraldine had her own upholstering business, along with her cake decorating, while also working at the H and H Motel.


Geraldine brought a sense of adventure and fun to all she did in life and was always genuinely interested in others, bringing joy to those around her. She so loved her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. She was perennially cheerful and enjoyed her life to the fullest. In her later years she joined a quilting group at church to make quilts for a local charity. Her favorite past time was playing cards, and she played up until May of this year. Nothing was better than a day full of visiting; serving coffee, cookies and cake.

This is a true celebration of a long and active life that touched many, many people. She will be missed.

Geraldine is survived by four children, Clarence Allen (Darla), Martin, SD, Patsy Larson, Gillette, WY, Janis Allen, Kadoka, SD, and Wilma Tope (Jay), Aladdin, WY; nine grandchildren: Christy Pranger (Doug), Terri Gregg (Jon), Ami Allen, Cody Allen (Stacey). Dan Larson, David Larson, Taven Snyder, Trent Tope (Jordan), and Taresha Tope (Jeremiah Speckels); 17 great-grandchildren and 15 great-great-grandchildren; sister Velma Arment; brothers Lavern Terkildsen (Dianne) and Art Terkildsen; sisters-in-law Tootie Terkildsen and Lou Terkildsen; and many, many loved nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; sisters Dorothy and Verna Mae; brothers Calvin, Slim (Dahlman), Tommy, and Raymond; brothers-in-law Charles Sharp and Marion Arment; sisters-in-law Virginia Terkildsen and Frances Terkildsen; daughter-in-law Nancy Allen; and grandson Torrey Tope.

Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. with prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Friday, August 8, 2025 at the Kadoka Bible Church.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 9, 2025 at the High School Gym in Kadoka with Pastor Jesse Taylor officiating.

Interment will follow at the Kadoka Cemetery.

Cards and memorials may be sent to P.O. Box 55 Kadoka, SD 57543.