Obituary of Gerald Crofutt

Parkston – Gerald Crofutt, 79, went to his heavenly home Monday, January 21 at Avera St. Benedict Hospital in Parkston. A private family service will be held with burial following at the Delmont City Cemetery.

Gerald Crofutt was born April 2, 1939 to Ezra and Marie (Becthold) Crofutt on the family farm north of Wagner, SD. He grew up on the farm and attended a one room country school near there through the 8th grade. In 1957, he joined the United States Air Force and attended training at Lackland Air Force Base before being transferred to Roswell, NM. In 1968, he was transferred to Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire. On one of the many travels Jerry went on with a military buddy, he stopped in Goshen, NY where he met his buddy's cousin, Ruth Ann House. It was love at first sight. On June 27, 1959, the couple was married at the Methodist Church in Monroe, NY. While in New Hampshire, 3 children were born, Melinda, Gerald Jr. and Mary. In 1963, Jerry was transferred to Andrews Air Force Base but Ruth stayed in New York to have their 4th child, Dennis. Jerry was assigned to the 89th Military Wing which was tasked with flying dignitarys to their destinations. In 1966, he was assigned to the White House staff as a member of the ground crew on President Johnson's aircraft. In July, 1969, he was sent for a one year tour in Vietnam. Upon returning home in July, 1970, Jerry was stationed at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey and finally transerred to Grand Forks, ND where he retired in April, 1977 after serving his country for 20 years. In 1980, he was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith at Zion Lutheran Church in Delmont, SD. In 1990, he transferred to Emmaus Lutheran Church in Tripp where he served as a trustee, elder and usher as well as attending many lifelite bible study courses. In his retirement years, he enjoyed woodworking so he attended Mitchell Area Vo-Tech for carpentry. He also enjoyed fishing, cross stitch, working on computers and computer photo shop enhancement, traveling to Texas during the winter months and making many new friends.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Ruth of Parkston; 4 children: Melinda Ray Gjovic of Grifton, NC; Gerald Jr. (Denice) Crofutt of Somerville, AL; Mary Ellen Bushway of Belleville, IL and Dennis (Miki) Crofutt of Quantico, VA; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, Dale and James, a grandchild; a great-grandchild; and a brother-in-law.