Dr. Jack Berry

Dates

Obituary

Dr. Jack Berry, 94, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Avera Brady Health and Rehab under hospice in Mitchell. Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM Monday, December 1, at First United Methodist Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

A livestream of Jack's funeral service can be viewed at: https://www.downtownfirstumc.com/worship-using-technology

Jack Thomas Berry was born in St. Paul, MN, to Arthur and Muriel Berry on July 6th, 1931. He had two older brothers, Clayton and Douglas.

Jack married Shirley Macy in Vermillion in 1953; they were married for 40 years. Jack married Jeanne (Earl) Benson in 1995. They were married for 30 years.

In his youth, he moved with his family throughout SD and MN until they settled in Mitchell, SD, in 1941. He graduated from Mitchell High School in 1949 and was a member of several championship state teams in basketball and football with teammates who remained friends all his life.

Jack attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD, for pre-med and then for ‘two-year’ medical school, receiving a BS in medicine in 1953/1954. He completed his MD degree at the University of Southern California (USC) Medical School in Los Angeles, CA, in 1956. While living there, they welcomed their first child, Scott Harrison, in 1956. They moved to St Paul, MN, to complete his internship year at Anchor Hospital. He then served two years at Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City, SD, on the OB-GYN service and delivered over 600 babies. While stationed there, another son, Spencer Douglas, and daughter, Lisa Lenore, were born.

Jack practiced medicine privately in Albert Lea, MN, for 2 years. The family moved back to Mitchell, where he practiced for forty-five plus years as a board-certified specialist in Family Practice at the Mitchell Clinic and subsequent clinics in Mitchell, Howard, Salem, and DeSmet. Always wanting to improve the medical care in the area, he was instrumental in starting the first Coronary Care Unit (CCU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Methodist Hospital in the 1970s. He did the first laparoscopic surgery and inserted the first cardiac pacemakers in Mitchell in the 1970s. He delivered around three thousand (3000) babies during his medical career. He served in various roles in the SD Medical Association, Methodist Hospital, St Joseph/Prince of Peace Hospital, and USD School of Medicine, including training 2nd year medical students during their preceptorship. He was recognized for over 50 years of practice and dedication to SD medicine in 2004.

He was pleased to have his two sons, Scott and Spencer, son-in-law, Brad, and two of his grandsons: Dan and Nate, also attend USD School of Medicine and serve in the medical field.

While medicine consumed much of his time, he enjoyed many interests with family and friends, including fishing “on the river” in Canada, Minnesota, and Alaska. He enjoyed watersports, especially teaching others to waterski, and was never tired of pulling skiers and tubers on vacation. He enjoyed playing golf regularly. Jack was an avid hunter for whatever was in season, including pheasants, ducks, grouse, deer, antelope, and turkey. Jack also enjoyed camping in his camper in nature, whether on a hunting trip, enjoying a river or lake, and often pulled a boat along. Jack became a licensed pilot with multi-engine and instrumental ratings and enjoyed over 1500 hours of flying over the continental US and Canada. His love of learning allowed him to persevere to learn technology and use his iPhone to text children and grandchildren, use Siri to look up things, FaceTime on his iPad, and use his Apple watch.

Jack served the Mitchell community in a variety of ways, including as the team physician for MHS and DWU basketball and football teams for 20 years, as well as cheering them on as an avid fan. He was an associate professor at the USD Medical School and served on various boards for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, YMCA, DWU, First United Methodist Church, Rotary Club, Mitchell Area Airport Commission, and James Valley Community Center. Jack cherished time with family, whether playing golf, fishing, hunting, or watching grandchildren play hockey, basketball, baseball, football, and run cross country. Spending time with his great-grandchildren always delighted him, although distance (and COVID restrictions) prevented this as often as desired.

Jack and Jeanne enjoyed musical theatre, bird watching, and wildlife watching on their many drives. In the early years of their marriage, they enjoyed trips to the Caribbean and cruises, as well as camping in SD.

Jack is survived by his wife, Jeanne Berry; sons, Dr Scott (Pam) Berry of Aberdeen, SD, and Dr. Spencer (Marilyn) Berry of Fargo, ND; daughter, Lisa (Dr Brad Paulson) of Sioux Falls, SD; stepdaughter, Angela Sullivan of Wichita, KS; grandchildren and great grandchildren: Matthew and Stephanie Berry ( Amira, Gabriel, Gunnar Berry); TJ Berry and Rea Retterath; Elizabeth and Jareb Raan (Daxton, Alexa, Farrah, Elliot); Tina and Chris Spieker (Jack, Corbin, Isabella); Collin and Crystal Berry (Michael, Ezekiel, Samuel); Daniel and Meridith Paulson (Noah, Joshua, Micah); Ryan and Sidney Berry (Onyx, Axel); Nate and Arin Paulson (London and Miles); Andrew and Jeanny Berry (Aiden, Riley); Robert and Cristen Berry (Amelia, James); Scott and Rebekah Paulson; Kaleb Prewett along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Clayton (Nettie, Nadia) Berry, and Douglas (Mamie) Berry.

Please direct memorials to Mitchell Area Charitable Foundation at 601 N. Main St, Mitchell, SD 57301 or First United Methodist Church Tech Fund at 310 N Rowley St, Mitchell, SD 57301.

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