Claude Allen Berry, Jr. was born March 11, 1926, in Mitchell, South Dakota, the son of Claude Allen Berry, Sr. and Edna Ruth Bedford.
He grew up on his parents’ ranch on Pass Creek, where he received his education at the rural school nearby, and his mother was the teacher.
He began his high school education in Wanblee, at a boarding school, then took a year off before, attending Kadoka High School, graduating in 1944.
Allen worked in Rapid City at the Ford Garage, then cutting posts at Custer with Loyd VanderMay. In the summer of 1950, he helped his sister Thelma and her husband Leslie Handcock during harvest, and met a hired girl by the name of Betty Kaltenbach.
On February 8, 1951, Allen married Betty Kaltenbach, in Kadoka, South Dakota; and to this union were born four children, Carla, Barbara, James, and John. They made their home on the Pass Creek Ranch, near his parents’ home.
In 1994, they moved to the north end of the ranch. On June 1, 2014, they moved into Kadoka, where they have since resided.
Ranching was Allen’s passion, and took pride in the care he gave to all his animals. Allen enjoyed hunting in his younger days, and loved the camaraderie of the hunt.
He loved his semis, John Deere Tractors, and Ford Pickups. Any machinery Allen had, he was meticulous about keeping them clean. He would keep wax and a rag in every piece of equipment.
Allen was on the Washabaugh County School Board while his kids were in school, received his 50-year Mason pin from the Mt. Moriah Lodge, a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Long Valley, and a current member of Concordia Lutheran Church of Kadoka.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, four children 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one sister Thelma Handcock of Rapid City; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Allen was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter Kimberly Lamb; a great-granddaughter Evelyn Molnar; and two sisters Margaret Davis and Ruth Ahlyne Berry as an infant.
Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Friday, October 17, at the Presbyterian Church in Kadoka, and one hour preceding the services at the church on Saturday.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 18, at the Presbyterian Church in Kadoka, with Pastor Gus Craven and Pastor Duane Neugebauer officiating.
Interment will be at the Kadoka Cemetery.
A memorial is established to the Kadoka and Long Valley Volunteer Fire Departments.