Obituary of Richard Herbert Somers

Richard Herbert Somers, age 58 of Yankton, SD passed away early Thursday, October 03, 2013 at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD. Private family services were held Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD with Rev. Rick Jensen officiating. Burial of his cremated remains will be in the Miramar National Cemetery, San Diego, CA. Richard was born as a military son on January 17, 1955 in San Diego, CA to Mr. Phillips who was a commander in the military. His career took him away from his three sons and had to put them up for adoption when Richard was seven years old. He was adopted by Peter and Velma (Place) Somers of San Diego, CA until they divorced. As a young man, he took care of his ailing mother, Velma, until her death in Lemon Grove, CA. He met his soon to be wife, Renee Peterka and was married on April 1, 1988 in Las Vegas, NV before moving back to South Dakota. He was a member of the Antioch Baptist Church and served in the U.S. Air Force from May 15, 1972 to May 14, 1976. He worked as a sergeant of security, a laborer at a lumber company in San Diego, Alumax and Mount Marty College/Convent for many years. He also worked for Fullertons as a delivery driver and did road construction until he started to get very ill and had to medically retire. Richard loved WWE Wrestling and auto racing. His favorite football team was the Chargers and baseball team, the Padres. He also loved video games and computer games. He is survived by his sons, Christopher (Serena) Somers of Kankakee, IL and Geoffrey Somers of Yankton, SD; daughter, Felicia Somers of Kankakee, IL; one grandchild; step-mother, Pauline Somers of Oceanside, CA; his ex-wife, Renee Somers of Yankton, SD; and foster sister, Anita of San Diego, CA. He was preceded in death by his mom, Velma Somers, father, Peter Somers, father-in-law, Ronald Peterka, and brother-in-law, Kenneth Peterka.