H. Gerald “Jerry” Bly

January 7, 1939 ~ March 25, 2013

H. Gerald Bly, 74, Garretson, died Monday, March 25, 2013, at the Avera Dougherty Hospice Home in Sioux Falls.

Public visitation will be held Friday, March 29, 2013, from 4:30 to 6:30pm, at Heartland Funeral Home, Brandon, with family present from 4:30 until 5:30pm. Funeral services will begin at 10:30am, Saturday, March 30, 2013, at Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, with Pastors Kirk Flaa and Bill Mitchell officiating. Interment will follow at Swedona Covenant Cemetery, rural Brandon.

H. Gerald Bly was born January 7, 1939, in Luverne, MN, to Helge and Edith (Harvey) Bly. Jerry was the youngest of five boys and grew up on the family farm near Garretson and graduated from Garretson High School in 1957 where he and his brother Marvin, proudly played football for the Blue Dragons. He then attended and graduated from SDSU in 1962 with a degree in Animal Science. He soon took a position with the USDA as a loan officer in the Farm/Home Administration. He also met the love of his life, Bonnie Wehde, whom he married October 24, 1964. Jerry’s position took them all around South Dakota for the next thirty years. In 1981, the family moved back to Garretson, to his grandparents’ farm that he purchased and began farming. In 1994, upon the adoption of computers in the work place, Jerry retired from the Farmer’s Home Administration.

Jerry was known by most as a hard working man. Bonnie described him more as an extremely honest man but in a quiet way! His passion was animals and raising livestock; mostly calves and sheep. Chores and hard work such as pulling weeds came first; then the fun. Some of the fondest memories of his children were the camping and family trips around South Dakota and across the US. They went to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington, DC, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks; all in their camper. He also liked being outdoors to hunt pheasants and deer as well as fish. Not on the “River” but rather in Splitrock Creek or someone’s dugout. Nothing special. Just spending time outside with his family. Jerry also loved to spend time with his grandkids, especially coloring.

Jerry was devoted to his Lord and Savior. In 1992, he and Bonnie became members of Abiding Savior Free Lutheran church where he served on the Building Committee, Trustee Committee and as an usher. He was also involved in many Bible studies and small groups.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Bonnie, Garretson; two children, Anthony (Karla) Bly, Garretson and Kristi (Tim) Toennies, Cresbard; and four grandchildren, Hannah & Myra Toennies and Matthew & Katie Bly; and two brothers, Vernon (Arlene) Bly, NC, and Roger (Evelyn) Bly, Centerville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Helge and Edith; two brothers and their wives, Maurice (Joyce) Bly and Marvin (Delores) Bly; and one more sister-in-law, Edwarda Bly.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.

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