Aletha "Pinky" Beard, 83, of Redfield, SD died Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield. Her funeral will be Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Redfield. Reverend Stephen Perry will officiate. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield. Visitation will be Friday from 1-8:00 p.m. with the family present from 5-7:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Aletha was born June 26, 1925 in Ashton, SD to Russell and Esther (Sparling) Nelson. She graduated from Athol High School in 1943. After graduation she lived in Seattle, WA for several years. After returning to South Dakota she met and married Harvey Beard on March 30, 1951 in Redfield. They farmed near Tulare where they raised sheep and cattle. She also worked in Redfield for many years. They sold the farm in 1992 and moved into Redfield. Pinky and Harvey spent many winters in Apache Junction, AZ where they met many new and friendly people from all over the country.

Pinky was a member of the United Methodist Church, American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary and Good Sam's Camping Club. Camping all over the country was one of their highlights of their life for many years.

Pinky was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is survived by her husband Harvey of Redfield, her daughter Sandra (Jeff) Wagner of Redfield, and two sons: Loren (Suzanne) Beard of Harrisburg, SD and Brian (Cindy) Beard of Aberdeen, SD. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Amber (Steve Spade) Wagner, Brodie (Jon) Sorlie, Shaleen Allen, Jamie and Kayla Beard and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters: Gladys and Mildred, her granddaughter Courtney Wagner and two nephews Daniel and Lee Snyder.