Elloween "Gert" Boyles

Elloween “Gert” Boyles, age 94, of Yankton, South Dakota, died on Sunday, July 19, 2026 after a brief illness at the Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center in Canton, South Dakota.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, on Monday, July 27, 2026 at Christ Episcopal Church in Yankton with Father Mike Newago officiating. Burial will be at the Yankton City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 2:00 PM, on Monday at Christ Episcopal Church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home in Yankton. The service will be livestreamed at https://server.attend.live/static/event/Z6mzJ

Memorials may be directed to Christ Episcopal Church at 517 Douglas Ave. in Yankton or Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health Services at 3111 Shirley Bridge Ave. in Yankton.

Gert was born November 24, 1931 in Howard, SD to Esther and Harley Riden. Raised on a farm in Miner County, she and her younger brother Larry, enjoyed a full life of farm and town. Upon graduation from Howard High School, Gert went into nursing training at Sioux Valley School of Nursing, and then moved to Yankton and worked as a nurse at the Human Services Center. When living in Yankton, she was introduced to her future husband Edwin “Wally” Boyles. Gert and Wally were married on April 18, 1954. This 61-year marriage produced four children Vicki, Jerry, Fred, Kate. Wally passed away in 2015.

Gert was an active part of her Yankton community. She was a member of Christ Church Episcopal for 74 years, 50 year member of Girl Scouts, life member of Legion Auxiliary, and PEO, DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), board member of Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health, and many church organizations and committees in the community. One of Gert’s was special projects was the heading up of the $150,000 restoration of the stain glass windows at Christ Church.

Surviving family members include Victoria Beacom, Gerald Jerry Boyles, Frederick (Vicky) Boyles, Katherine (Dan) Erickson, sisters-in-law: Joan Riden, Maryann Anderson, and Betty Kerns. Grandchildren and great grandchildren are: Jake, Franny, Harper, Connor Beacom, Carey, Victor Morales, Colin Emily Nellie Beacom, Kara, Jason, Ellie Jax Grenier, Stephany, Paul, Rhyleigh, Rhyder, Rhylynn Zack, Chris Stewart, Grace Long, Anthony, Autumn, Emery Long.

Preceding her in death is her husband, Wally Boyles; parents, Harley and Esther Riden; in-laws, Louis and Alvina Boyles; brother, Larry Riden; sister in-law, Lois and Charlie Peterson; brothers-in-law, John Boyles, Roger Kerns, Darrell Anderson.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to family of Christ Church, Lewis & Clark Behavior Health, family and many caring friends in Yankton. She loved living here with you all.