Jerry Blinn West

Jerry Blinn West, age 80, of Ashton, SD passed away on Thursday, August 20, 2020, at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen, SD after an extended battle with cancer.  Jerry’s funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at the Redfield United Methodist Church in Redfield, SD. Pastor Adrian Timmons will officiate.

Visitation will be on Tuesday at Hyke Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.

The church does require masks to be worn and social distancing guidelines followed.  The funeral service will be live-streamed to Hyke Funeral Home’s website under Jerry’s obituary, for those unable to attend.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Hyke Funeral Home of Redfield. (www.hykefuneralhome.com)

A private burial service will be held at the Ashton Cemetery in Ashton at a later date.

Jerry was born on September 30, 1939, to Don and Edna (Kragenbrink) West, in Ashton, SD.  After attending Jenner Country School south of Ashton for grades 1 through 8, he then attended one year of high school at Redfield High School.  He then relocated with his family to Colville, WA and completed his high school education at Colville High School.  Following high school, he moved back to South Dakota and pursued his college education through Huron College in Huron, SD for two years.  Jerry was united in marriage to Dianne Taylor on January 8, 1967.  The couple made their home on the family farm located east of Ashton.  Jerry loved the farm life and he worked closely with his relatives, Leland and Lucille Strahl to become an established farm operation in the Ashton area.  Early in his farming career he also raised cattle and pigs.  Through the years of farming, F&W farms was created and remained until his retirement. 

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Redfield, SD.  Prior to this and upon its existence, he was a past member of the Ashton United Methodist Church.  Jerry enjoyed spending time with his family.  He especially enjoyed following the activities in which his grandchildren participated in from sporting events to school programs.  His grandchildren were his pride and joy.  He continuously shared stories and talked about his grandson’s academic accomplishments.  Until his illness, Jerry would enjoy morning coffee each day with fellow friends and neighbors at Sludge’s business in Ashton.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and trap shooting as these were his greatest past-time hobbies.  He also participated in bowling leagues and tournaments in his earlier years and later participated in dart leagues.  He was a long-term member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, James Valley Sportsman Club as well as the Tri-County Good Sam Camping Club.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Dianne, of 53 years; his children: Cynthia (Terry) Hoppe of Sioux Falls, SD, Roger West of Redfield; and Karen (Steve) Stahlke of Watertown, SD; his grandchildren: Austin, Evan and Emily Stahlke of Watertown, SD; and his sister Judy Embleton of Marysville, WA.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother and father-in-law, Francis and Harriet Taylor; and his brother-in-law Tom Embleton.