Georgianna Perso, 94, of Brookings, died Friday, March 17, 2017, at the United Living Community, in Brookings. A Celebration of Her Life will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at GracePoint Wesleyan Church, in Brookings. Visitation with family will be held one hour prior to the service at the Church.
Georgianna M. Delong was born on Aug. 29, 1922 in Huron, the daughter of George and Muriel (Brown) Delong. She grew up in St. Lawrence,until her family moved to a farm near Volga, where she graduated from Volga High School in 1940. She was united in marriage to Ralph Perso on March 10, 1942 in Brookings, SD. The couple farmed north of Brookings until 1955 when they sold the farm and moved to Brookings. She began working at South Dakota State University before joining Ralph in their business ventures, which included Perso Realty. She earned her brokers license in 1968. Following Ralph’s death in 1974, she continued to own and operate Perso Realty Inc. until merging with Best Choice Real Estate in 1998, where she worked until her retirement in 2008. The joy of her life was working with the Brookings community and helping many families buy and sell their home.
Georgianna took great pride in being active in the Brookings community and in the real estate industry. She took a hands on approach to bettering both. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Brookings where she served on the Administrative Board, was a trustee and served as president of the Board of Trustees, as well as the secretary of the Women’s Society of Christian Service and served on many committees within the church. She was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star since 1945, where she served as Worthy Matron in 1950; the Christian Business and Professional Women, in Brookings, where she served as finance chairperson; the Brookings Chamber of Commerce, serving as Director in 1978, and held other various positions including vice president, was the first woman to serve as president of the Chamber in 1980, and was involved on various other committees; a charter member of Altrusa Club, serving as the treasurer, director and a current member; The South Dakota Singles and Brookings Solo club, where she helped organize clubs in the 1970s; a member of National Guard Citizens Committee in Brookings; and the Business and Professional Women, serving as president and district president. Through her company she also promoted a fingerprinting clinic for children in Brookings in 1983, where 1,550 children were fingerprinted. Professionally, she was involved in numerous organizations including the East Central South Dakota Board of Realtors, serving as President in 1978 and was awarded Realtor of the Year in 1977; the Realtors National Marketing Institute, serving as state membership chairwoman; she created the Dakota Certified Residential Specialist, and served as South and North Dakota Chapter president; the State Director of South Dakota Association of Realtors; the National Realtors Associates, serving as executive director in 1979; and held memberships with South Dakota Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.
In her spare time, she enjoyed sewing, and was known for her pot holders and dish towels; square dancing, playing cards and attending Jackrabbit athletic events with her family and friends.
Grateful for having shared her life are her four daughters, Janeane (Dean) Bartels, of Brookings, Joann (Allan) Perso-Vostad, of Brookings, Janette (Don) Quail, of Sioux Falls and June (Mike) Redmond, of Brookings, SD; one granddaughter, Dawn (Dale) Werning, Forney, Texas; eight grandsons, Josh (Lori) Bartels, of Sioux Falls, Jeramie (Kami) Bartels, of Brookings, Christopher (Jess) Quail, of Sioux Falls, Zach (Brandi) Bartels, of Brookings, Zeb (Cheryl) Bartels, of Toronto, Nick (Alicia) Redmond, of Brandon, Matthew Quail, of St. Paul, Minn., and Drew Redmond, of Brookings; 22 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ralph and sisters, Virginia Delong and Evelyn Leyson.
