Gerald "Jerry" Anderson
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Gerald G. "Jerry" Anderson passed away on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at the Jenkin's Living Center, Watertown, SD. A private family burial will be held on May 8, 2021, at Greenwood Cemetery, Brookings, SD, for Jerry and his wife, Charmaine, who passed away on November 16, 2020.
Jerry was born July 3, 1931, on the family farm north of Bryant, SD. He was the son of Orsted and Lucile Anderson. He joined a family of an older sister, Verona and two brothers, John and Gene. During his youth on the farm, his time was spent helping with the chores and fieldwork plus harassing his siblings. His school years were at the Bryant School, graduating from high school in 1949. To earn money for college, he worked as a carpenter. College took him to SDSU where he joined ROTC for 2 years. College is where he met his first wife, Delores "Dody" Lemert. They were married in June 1953, following his college graduation, and to this union 2 sons were born, Jerry and David. During his junior year, he joined the advanced ROTC program. Following college, his service to his country started with basic training at Ft. Benning, GA, then on to Ft. Dix, NJ. He was in the color guard that appeared on the Phil Silvers Show. Following his army enlistment and being commissioned a First Lieutenant, he accepted a position with the JC Penney Company, which was the only company he was employed with throughout his career, which consisted of department manager, assistant manager and store manager. His career took Jerry and his family to Saginaw, MI, Flint, MI, Aberdeen, SD, Rochester, MN, Houghton, MI, Beloit, WI, Williston, ND, and Ishpeming, MI. Dody passed away in June 1987.
In his retirement, he got re-acquainted with his high school friend, Charmaine Carlson Starman. They were married March 1990. Their years together were spent between Watertown, Lake Kampeska and winters in Arizona. Travels took them to many states, Canada, and Europe.
Jerry is survived by his son, David of Grand Junction, Co; daughter-in-law, Rebecca Blanc of Denver, CO; grandson, Jackson, (medical school) of Miami, FL; step daughters, Danette (Don) Marquiss of Omaha, NE and Mary Langille of Malvern, IA; and step-son, Steven (Dorothy) Starman of Omaha, NE; 10 step-grandchildren and 14 step- great-grandchildren.
Jerry was preceded in death by Dody and Charmaine; his son Jerry; his parents, Orsted and Lucile; his sister, Verona; his brothers, Donald (died at birth), John and Gene; and step-son-in-law, Christopher Langille.
Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant, SD.
www.crawford-osthus.com