Gerald Krogh, 80, of Winner, SD passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022 at the Bennett County Nursing Home in Martin, SD.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022 at 2 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Winner, SD. Burial will be held at a later date.
Gerald (Jerry) Lewis Krogh was born on March 5, 1942 in Prosser, Wash., to Lewis and Myrth (Carpenter) Krogh. He passed away quietly in his sleep on Nov. 2, 2022 at the Bennett County Nursing Home in Martin, SD.
Jerry is best known for his love of horses. His father was a ditch rider for the open irrigation systems of the Yakima Valley in Washington state and Jerry rode the ditch banks on his pony from an early age. He owned and trained horses until the last few years of his life, when his health did not permit him to continue.
Jerry was drafted into the military and served in the Air Force from Feb. 4, 1964 to Aug. 2, 1968 when he was honorably discharged. He achieved the rank of sergeant. He served in Guam, loading bombs to fly to Vietnam.
Jerry fell in love with South Dakota while stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. He continued to make his home in the Rapid City area for the next 19 years. During that time he worked for Duane Smith, (Smitty) breaking horses and leading trail rides at Palmer Gulch Camp Ground. He also served as an ambulance driver during the Rapid City flood of 1972.
Jerry’s attachment to cars led to him earn a degree in Auto Body Repair. He was able to utilize his artistic nature restoring vehicles.
On May 22, 1987, Jerry married Ruth Egleston Tracy in Colome, SD. He became a loving father to his three step children, Raymond, Rachel and Darrell Tracy. The family lived in Mission, SD and then moved back to Jerry’s home town of Grandview, WA.
Jerry became a Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator for the city of Grandview, WA during the 1990s.
He rose to the level of assistant head operator in 1997.
They returned to South Dakota in 1999 and lived in the Lake Andes area prior to moving to Buffalo, SD in 2008. Jerry enjoyed helping area ranchers in the summer and began a new career as a leather craftsman.
Due to Jerry’s declining health, the couple moved to Winner, SD in June, 2016 to be closer to family and medical care.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lewis, his mother, Myrth, One sister, Betty (Krogh) Heim, brothers in law, Ken Heim, Lloyd Akins, Bob Forman and Fred Egleston.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth (Egleston, Tracy) Krogh, three children, Raymond (Sherrie) Tracy, Pierre, SD, Rachel (Jon) Ravnaas, Ruso, ND, and Darrell (Teri) Tracy, Winner, SD. One sister, Myrna (Krogh) Akins, 5 grandchildren, Heather (Ryan) Sandvig, Shannon (David) Newman, Tori Frey (Miles) Melius, Blake Tracy and Destiny Tracy. As well as numerous nieces and nephews. Also holding a special place in Jerry’s heart were AnnieKate and Jake Burghduff.
Jerry always said the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man. He was a friend to all he knew.
Loading ...