Ronald James Erkes, age 82, died on Sunday, September 16, 2018 at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls SD with burial to follow at Hills of Rest Cemetery in Sioux Falls, SD. His family will be present to greet friends for a visitation on Friday at George Boom Funeral Home & Crematory in Sioux Falls from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association, First Lutheran Church, or Project CAR. Ronald James Erkes was born on March 5, 1936 in Sheldon, Iowa to Jacob Henry and Angeline Henrietta (Van Dyke) Erkes. He attended grade school in Spencer, IA, then Junior High and High School in Canton, SD before graduating from Sheldon High School in 1954. Following high school Ronald continued his education at Central Tech Institute in Kansas City Missouri where he studied electronics. Ronald then moved to Denver Colorado where he worked for Martin Missile until 1958 when he was drafted into the United States Army. Ronald was united in marriage with Janice Stene on September 30, 1961 in Beresford, SD. Ronald and Janice made their home in Sioux Falls, SD where Ronald worked at KELO TV for 11 years in their Engineering Department. In 1972 Ronald began his 26-year career with US West Communications, retiring in 1998. Ronald was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, where he took part in Project Car, church maintenance, and audio broadcasting. He was active in helping with the Boy Scouts for over 17 years; and enjoyed teaching computer classes at the Center for Active Generations. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Janice Erkes, Sioux Falls SD; one son, Stephen Erkes and his wife, Janet of Waukesha, WI; one daughter, Sara Erkes-Bond and her husband, John Bond of Sioux Falls, SD; four grandchildren, two great grandchildren; and a host of additional relatives and friends. Ronald was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Angeline Erkes.