Benjamin “Ben” Sherwood, 94

Benjamin “Ben” Sherwood, 94, of Wood, South Dakota passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center in Winner.

Funeral service were held on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 1 p.m. at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery. Benjamin James “Ben” Sherwood was born on May 14th, 1923, to John and Nellie (Weeda) Sherwood on their homestead in Mellette County, north of Wood, South Dakota. He went to be with the Lord on March 31st, 2018 at the age of 94 years 10 ½ months in Winner.

Ben was raised on the family’s homestead, the youngest of seven children. There were four older brothers, Edwin, Irvin, Evertt and Howard and two sisters, Margaret and Arlene. Ben attended Springview, a rural school near the homestead, and there he graduated from the eighth grade. Ben had many fond memories of country life. He told stories of breaking horses, feeding cattle, and using horses to work the land while he was growing up.

Ben married Adelyne Maria Jackson on March 17, 1950 in Pierre, South Dakota. To this union, six children were born, two sons Cleveland James (Jim) and Benjamin Bradley and four daughters Joyce Marie, Jayne Ellen, Mona Lynn, and Sandra Lee.

He continued ranching as they raised their children in the Wood area. Through his life he also had various other jobs which included working construction when Highway 44 was being built, building dams, and worked with Donovan Construction when they built the Wood Community Hall. In addition, he was a policeman for the city of Wood. He always had a deep passion for raising cattle, and in later years, he raised bulls as a hobby in which he took great pride. He also enjoyed a good game of cards. He had spent many good times playing cribbage with local men at Piper’s Station. Ben wouldn’t turn down a good game of poker.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Nellie, Brothers; Edwin, Irvin, Evertt, and Howard, sisters, Margaret Johnson and Arlene Vesley, sons Cleveland James and Benjamin Bradley, grandson Ben Almand, son-in-law Ralph Longcor, and two great-grandchildren.

Ben is survived by his daughters Joyce Colombe of Rapid City, SD, Jayne Longcor of Valentine, NE, Mona (John) Massingale of Wood, SD, and Sandye(Dave) Goad of Ralston, OK, seventeen grandchildren and thirty one great-grandchildren.

He will be missed by many family and friends.