Pleasant Ridge Cemetery

Located on the northeast edge of town, Pleasant Ridge Cemetery offers a peaceful final resting place for those who lived in the Armour area. Pleasant Ridge is a private cemetery managed by a local board of directors who oversee its operation.

History

Pleasant Ridge was incorporated on July 6, 1889. The articles were filed in Pierre, the state capitol, and provided for perpetual existence with authorized capital stock of $1,000. Those signing the articles of incorporation were Charles E. Huston, George W. Lumley, Philander B. Burton, David M. Henderson and John S. Bean. In May 1890, a 10-acre tract was platted by C.E. Huston, surveyor, who was assisted by D.M. Henderson and John S. Bean. The lot corners were marked by red cedar stakes driven level with the ground. This tract was named Pleasant Ridge Cemetery by John S. Bean, who also served as the first president of the corporation.

An additional three acres (lying adjacent to the original 10 acres) was platted in July 1908 along the west and south. In 1960, another tract was platted directly west of the previous 13 acres. This addition was paid for by Charles P. Crutchett. The James Berry home and acreage surrounding Pleasant Ridge was purchased in September 1926 from Mrs. James Berry for $4,000 and was used as a home for the cemetery sexton.

Ladies Cemetery Association

The Pleasant Ridge corporation carried on for some time with donated labor and money from donations, which was used to buy mowers, drill a tubular well and fence the grounds. The need for an annual income was evident and the Ladies Cemetery Association was formed to care for, beautify and otherwise improve the cemetery. Articles of incorporation for the Ladies Cemetery Association were issued May 2, 1918. The directors were Lulu B. Wanzer, Frances A. Carmody, Lillian A. Scholes, Mary Carlon, Abbie J. Morgan, Nellie R. Henderson and Minnie Rabern. Lulu Wanzer was its first president.

Membership in this group was fixed at $1 and soon grew to include women from surrounding communities The main source of income was from an annual dinner and supper served on Memorial Day in the larges empty building available in Armour. Sometimes, the dinners were held on the first floor of the Sietebak building, which later became Wudel Chevrolet. The event was also held in the Johnson House, a three-story hotel, which was located across the street from the Sietebak building, or in the building located on the corner south of the Fullerton Lumber Co., which was lost to fire many years ago.

Money from the dinners was used to make many improvements such as building a tool house, a wrought iron fence along the south with a large south gate, an entrance gate to the north and cement sidewalk along the entire south side of the cemetery property. In the earlier days, lot owners used to take care of their own lots and it was a common sight to see four or five ladies with hoes, rakes and spades wearing their garden gloves and bonnets to work on their lots.

The Cemetery Today

The Pleasant Ridge landscape is populated by many species of trees such as horse chestnut, catalpa, evergreens, elm, maple and various flowering shrubs. A part-time caretaker is charged with mowing and tree trimming. Each year, a fund drive is held to generate donations for the permanent care of the property.

Board of Directors

Grave spaces are $100, with 50 percent of the fee deposited for perpetual care. To purchase a grave space, contact Carter Wiese at (605) 724-2129.

Cemetery Directory

A map and directory of grave sites is located at the north entrance to the cemetery. The information is also available online.

Other Genealogy Resources

Douglas County Genealogy -- Part of the SDGenWeb Project
The SDGenWeb Archives
The South Dakota Tombstone Transcription Project