Bertha Duerson, 92, of Hot Springs, SD, passed away on December 24, 2015, at the Hospice House in Rapid City, SD.

Bertha was born on April 21, 1923, to Joseph Brewer and Hazel (Hart) Allen at the family homestead south of Pringle, SD. She attended country school and worked at cafes in the Custer and Hot Springs area before she married LeRoy Duerson on January 12, 1952, in Cheyenne, WY. The couple returned to South Dakota and took over the Duerson family ranch in 1960.

In 1995, Bertha and LeRoy retired to Hot Springs where they were active in the Senior Center and the United Churches congregation. The couple resided at Pine Hills Retirement Community since 2011.

Bertha is survived by her husband of 63 years, LeRoy; daughter, Sherrie (Bob) Bosse of Vermillion, SD; brother, Orval Allen of Sutherlin, OR; sister, Josie Baird of Oakland, OR; sister-in-law Marie Underwood of Hot Springs as well as many nieces and nephews.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Genevieve and Charity; six brothers, Charles; Robert; Joe; Fred; Emery and Stan.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, December 30, 2015, at Chamberlain McColley's Funeral Home in Hot Springs with Pastor Clint Walker officiating. Interment will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs.

A memorial has been established in Bertha's name to benefit the Rapid City Regional Hospice House in Rapid City.