Pamela Sue Ekberg

Pamela Sue Ekberg was born March 28, 1949 in Winner, SD to Albin and Laurene (Storms) Ekberg of Hamill, SD. She was baptized April 15, 1949 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hamill and confirmed May 4, 1958. Pam grew up on her parents' farm west of Hamill. She was the second of four children in her family with brothers--Douglas, Chad, and Lance.

Pam attended grade school in Hamill in a two-room, three-story country school at Roseland School District No. 3. She did so well academically that the teacher advanced her from 1st grade to 3rd grade. During high school, she stayed in several homes with people who took in students from the country. Pam graduated from Winner High School in 1966. She graduated from SDSU-Brookings in 1969, with a Bachelor of Science and Family Relations Degree. Having taken summer classes, she finished by the age of 20.

Pam married Chuck Leonard on December 21, 1968. They met and married at the SDSU Newman Center. Their marriage ended six years later.

Pam took a job in inner-city St. Paul, Minnesota as a pre-school teacher at Wilder Day Care Center. Next, she was employed for seven years as Director of Day Care at Como Community Child Care on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

Pam met Ron Todd in St. Paul through square dancing and followed him to San Francisco, California. Pam and Ron married in Reno, Nevada on March 30, 1985. Through a temporary agency, Pam was sent right away to KPIX, the #1 TV station in San Francisco. She worked as a temp-secretary in accounting, then full-time in accounts payable, and finally full-time in creative services department where she was responsible for welcoming guests for interviews.

Pam earned a Master of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy at San Jose State University, graduating on December 20, 1985. Pam and Ron moved to Kaysville, Utah. Pam interned and began her OT career at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden for two years. In July 1987, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where she continued as an OT for a head-injury program. Later moving to Providence Hospital working with acute care, rehab care, and burn care.

Their son, Eric, was born in Anchorage in 1988. In November, 1990, Pam and Eric moved to Rapid City. Eric has always been her #1 priority. She worked at Midwest Children's Center, which led her to working for West River area school districts through an outreach program. In 1995, she began working at Black Hills Workshop and retired in 2016. Pam was known for her innovative ideas in adapting equipment for persons with special needs.

Pam sang in the choir at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral. She was a leader of the Rosary and a great promoter of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. She attended daily Mass whenever she could. She enjoyed horseback riding, her house cats, and gardening,

Pam died on April 29, 2025 at the age of 76 from end-stages of MS which she dealt with for over 50 years.

She is survived by her son, Eric Todd, Rapid City; brothers and sisters-in-law: Chad & Suzi Ekberg, Gillette, WY; Lance & Doris Ekberg, Hamill, SD; Linda Ekberg, Mitchell, SD; and treasured nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Doug Ekberg; nephew, John Ekberg; and niece, Lisa Van Dame.

Pamela Sue Ekberg, 76, of Rapid City, formerly of Hamill, passed away on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital. Friends and family are invited to a visitation at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, May 2 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral. The Rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. with a Christian Funeral Mass being celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, at Roseland Cemetery in Hamill, SD.