Henry Pepin

Chronicle Staff

Published: Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

Henry “Hank” Joseph Pepin was born June 10, 1921, at Custer, S.D., to Odilon & Blanche (LaFrancois) Pepin. He moved to a homestead with his family at 5. He grew up on the ranch northwest of Custer. He loved riding horseback and did some rodeoing. He helped different ranchers on cattle drives moving them from winter to summer pasture and back. He also broke horses for people and spent a winter in the Union Center, S.D., area breaking horses. In November 1950 he married Aileen Barnes, the love of his life, daughter of the late Keaster and Vivian Barnes. Hank and Aileen worked the family ranch with his parents. Hank also worked in the timber where he skidded logs, cut posts and worked as a "cat skinner" for Davidson Logging. Following his dream, Hank traded ranches in 1986 and the family moved to the Belle Fourche, S.D., area. Now he had a larger place where he continued to enjoy raising quality Hereford cattle and riding his sorrel horses. Hank, of St. Onge, S.D., died at his ranch on Thursday, March 12, 2009, at home with his family. He was 87. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and an infant daughter. Survivors include his wife, Aileen Pepin of St. Onge; children, Lela (Larry) Larson of Custer, Lynn (Les) Reindl of Black Hawk, S.D., Wendell (Geri) Pepin of Rapid City,  Jim Pepin of St. Onge, Maxine (Stan) Crandell of Sterling, Colo., Sue (Joe) Sawyer of Haxtun, Colo., Tom Pepin of St. Onge, Ray (Anita) Pepin of Belle Fourche,  and Barb (Ken) Irwin of Custer; 14 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; three neices; a nephew; and a sister-in-law. His family is abiding by Hank's request of cremation and no services. A memorial has been established to Hospice of the Northern Hills.