OBITUARY FOR JEFFREY A. TENNYSON

Jeffrey Allen Tennyson, born June 23, 1959, to Bernard and Marjorie Tennyson, passed away at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital June 19, 2025. The sixth of seven children, Jeff was a fun-loving person with a winsome smile. He was kind, caring and thoughtful to everyone he met, and could make almost anyone laugh with his sharp wit and sense of humor. Jeffrey, a 1977 graduate of Custer High School, went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree at South Dakota State University in 1981 and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1986.

In 1991, Jeff married Betty Bartee in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. To this union three children were born Joshua, Jessica, and Timothy. In 2005 Jeff married Sandra Erickson, who became not only his wife but his best friend in life and, as he would put it, the brains behind his law practice. As a team, they ran Jeffrey's practice out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming; continuing to do so after moving with the three children to Custer, South Dakota in 2005. Jeffrey was a seasoned and quite successful personal injury attorney losing only a few cases in his 39-year career.

Proceeding Jeff in death were his parents; mother-in-law, Jan Erickson; niece, Jill Tennyson; sisters-in-law Annette Jones and Deidre Bainbridge; and brother-in-law, Blaine Foss.  He is survived by his wife, Sandra Erickson of Custer; son, Joshua of Casper, WY; daughter, Jessica Tennyson (Matt Williams) of Mammoth Lakes, CA; son, Timothy (Meghan) of Rapid City, SD; three grandchildren Evelyn, Jackson Jeffrey, and Calliope Tennyson; brothers Patrick (Tammy), Michael (Bonnie) and Timothy; sisters Jeanne Foss, Colleen (Dan) Clapper and Sue Tennyson; father-in-law, Dean Erickson; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their children.

We will dearly miss our Jeff. As one niece put it, "Jeff always made you laugh, greeting you with a warm hug and big smile. He looked like he was up to something about 90% of the time" – and he probably was.

The family will host a Celebration of Life on Friday, July 18th, starting at 2:00 p.m. at 12470 Willow Creek Road, Custer. Condolences may be sent to Sandra Erickson, 25254 Ridgeview Road, Custer, SD 57730, or in care of Chamberlain McColley's Funeral Homes in Custer.