Mrs. Barbara Peltz

Barbara Elizabeth (Franklin) Peltz, 79 of Newcastle, passed away Saturday September 25, 2010 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. She was born February 11, 1931 at the Davis Family homestead, north of Newcastle, to George Francis and Mary Jane (Davis) Franklin.

She began her education at Burns School, where she walked two miles each way with her big brother, Kenneth. From 3rd grade on she attended school in Newcastle, and in 1949 graduated from Newcastle High School. She then attended Black Hills Teachers College (now BHSU) and began her long and illustrious career as an elementary teacher.

In July 1953 she married Bernard Sedustine in Rapid City. To this union two children were born, a daughter, Berna Dee, in 1954, and a son, Benny Lee, in 1955. For a few years she taught all grades in several country schools in South Dakota and Wyoming, though she spent most of her early teaching years in the Rapid Valley Schools. In 1969 her husband Bernard passed away.

She continued teaching in Rapid City, and in December 1979 she married Robert (Bob) Peltz and they moved back to Newcastle. A few years later, Bob passed away. Barb stayed in Newcastle, teaching at Gertrude Burns Elementary and enjoying being with her folks and family. She retired from teaching in 1991, a career that she truly loved.

Shortly before retiring, in 1989, Barb met Jerold Baird, a returning native of Newcastle. This fall they were celebrating 21 wonderful years together.

Barb was very active in her community. She was a member of the Methodist Church, where she often played piano, the Concert Association, Delta Kappa Gamma, AARP, the Red Hat Society, VFW Auxiliary, the Bridge club "Odds and Ends", delivered Meals on Wheels, and volunteered her piano talents at the Manor and Mondell Heights. In addition to these and other activities, she was always willing to help anyone in need.

She lived life to the fullest. She was honest, generous, kind, determined, and optimistic. She loved life, music, children, and her hometown. She has touched the lives of thousands and we will remember her with love and joy.

Survivors include: daughter Bernie (Mark) Warren, Iowa; son Benny Sedustine, South Dakota; special friend Jerold Baird, Newcastle; brother, Kenneth (Peggy) Franklin, Newcastle; sister Georgia Lawrence (Willie), Newcastle; five grandchildren, Makila (Hallet) Lors (Ben), Iowa; Brittany Hallett, Arizona; Lindsey Hallett, Kansas; Brett Sedustine, Wyoming; Stacy (Sedustine) Graff (Ryan), South Dakota; four great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, many former students, and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, one sister, Shirley Rae Franklin (Carlton), one nephew, Kevin Franklin, and step children Susan (Peltz) Kenney, and Gary Peltz.

Services will include two visitations, the first 5-7 pm on Thursday, September 30, at the Worden Funeral Home, and the second from 9-10 am on Friday, October 1st, at the First United Methodist Church in Newcastle. The funeral will be held at 10 am on Friday October 1, at the First United Methodist Church in Newcastle, with burial and fellowship immediately following.

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