Beulah Ione (Petro) McKay was born on October 26, 1919 on the family ranch at Rumford, SD. She was the 4 ^th daughter and 5 ^th child of Anna (Adams) Petro and Charles Petro. She passed away on November 19, 2019 at the age of 100 years and 23 days at the Regional Hospice Care in Rapid City, SD.

She attended schools in Edgemont, SD, graduating from Edgemont High School in 1937, then left for Hot Springs, SD, to live with her sister Alta Mae Biever and where she took a job at the local dime store. She caught the eye of handsome Larry McKay at the local roller-skating rink one weekend and after a brief courtship they were married in 1940. They lived in Hot Springs and Rapid City with Larry joining the US Navy in early 1944. After Larry's military service, they then worked then together in the family business in Hot Springs until 1957, when they moved to Lead, SD, and opened McKay Jewelers. Beulah and Larry also operated businesses in Flagstaff, AZ and Rapid City. They moved to Spearfish, SD in the early 1980's where they worked side by side in a clock and engraving business, making Spearfish home for the next 35 years, with Beulah retiring in her late 80's.

Her favorite thing in life was in the raising her three children, Mickey, Denny and Ann. Her child raising philosophy was "Love them unconditionally" and "Keep them between the ditches."  She also loved to cook and bake. She is renowned for her crispy fried chicken, chicken gravy and mashed potatoes with sweet corn, her succulent baked turkeys with bread stuffing at Thanksgiving.  Her "Grammie B" homemade rolls are legendary, as were her blueberry, apple, peach and lemon meringue pies. Her best concoctions though were her "Texas" chocolate sheet and red velvet cakes that she made for all the birthdays of all of her kids, and grand kids. It was all about feeding as hospitality and love. She loved being a business woman and dealing with the public when she wasn't home keeping a very tidy house.

She loved Christmas and was the consummate Christmas time decorator for the businesses and home. Her family loved the Santas, angels, Hummel Nativity figurines and colored lights on her Christmas trees. She also loved and adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Every child's main goal was to become taller than their 5 foot tall grandmother.  Beulah also sang in the church choir, belonged to PEO, read books and newspapers daily and was a big fan of Realtors for Kids. Pink was favorite color. She became fiercely independent. She believed everyone should vote and love each other.

She is survived by her children, Denny and Kim McKay, Ann McKay Thompson and special friend, Frank Farrar; grandchildren, Dr. Robyn McKay McAvoy (Michael), Dr. Jennifer McKay White (Ty), Dr. Kimberlee McKay Solares (Andrew),  Jeremy McKay, Dr.  Murray Thompson (Jen), McLean Thompson Kerver, JD (Michael), Kim Cockrum and Matt Cockrum (Chad), Ryan Smith (Laurie), Stephanie Slaba (Bruce), Lexie Smith, Heather (Larry) and Tyler McKay; her great-grandchildren include, Marlena McAvoy,  CJ and Gwynie White, Luke and Maren Solares, Connor, Liam, Campbell and Reagan McKay, Caden and Gabi Thompson and Delaney and Raleigh Slaba. She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters and brother; husband Larry, and son, Mickey.

There will be a celebration of life service on Friday November 22, 2019 at 10:00 AM at All Angel's Episcopal Church in Spearfish SD with internment at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis SD at 12:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends consider donating to the Lead Opera House or Realtors for Kids. Memorials can be sent to Denny McKay 7015 Townsend Street, Summerset SD 57718.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com