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James Frances “Jim” Kjerstad

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James Frances “Jim” Kjerstad

Birth	:	24 Jun 1936 Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	7 Apr 2010 Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Wall Cemetery, Wall, Pennington County, USA
Coordinate	:	43.9848862, -102.2381668
Description	:	James Frances Kjerstad was born June 24, 1936 at Hot Springs, South Dakota to Melvin and Clarice Kjerstad. Other than spending a few years in Washington State while his father built ships for World War II he grew up on the family farm north of Quinn along with his sister Dorothy. Jim graduated from Quinn High School in 1954 and attended South Dakota State University in Brookings receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture in 1958. While attending SDSU he met Mary Cowan and soon after graduation they married and moved back to West River. Following college Jim... Read More	James Frances Kjerstad was born June 24, 1936 at Hot Springs, South Dakota to Melvin and Clarice Kjerstad. Other than spending a few years in Washington State while his father built ships for World War II he grew up on the family farm north of Quinn along with his sister Dorothy. Jim graduated from Quinn High School in 1954 and attended South Dakota State University in Brookings receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture in 1958. While attending SDSU he met Mary Cowan and soon after graduation they married and moved back to West River. Following college Jim worked for the Soil and Water Conservation District i Jim moved his family back to the farm north of Quinn and went into partnership with his father Melvin. They ran a small herd of cattle and farmed wheat. While on the farm Jim implemented several land conservation projects which also included the construction of the first 9 hole golf course in the area named the Circle K Ranch Golf course. Jim was an active participant in many local organizations including: the United Methodist Church, Toast Masters, the Masonic Lodge, the Elks Club, the Eastern Pennington Soil and Water Conservation, the Wall Chamber of Commerce, Wall Cemetery Board and the Jaycee's. In 1966, he won the nomination he received from the Jaycee's for the South Dakota State Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year. Jim always had the talent to recognize the needs of his fellow farmers, ranchers and community members so he obtained his insurance license and opened Kjerstad Insurance Agency in 1963. Recognizing another need he later obtained his real estate broker's license and formed Kjerstad Associates Inc. Jim always credited his desire to hold public office to the leadership skills he obtained through the Jaycee organization. Jim served on the Wall City Council for 12 years and also served a term as President while being active in the South Dakota Municipal League. With the encouragement of many of the farmers and ranchers in Eastern Pennington County Jim ran for Pennington County Commissioner and was elected to serve 4 terms. Jim was always willing to take on bureaucracy and tell it like it was. His dedicated leadership produced many benefits to the agriculture community and he fought tirelessly for the rural community on many issues such as prairie dogs, clean water projects, weed and pest control, roads, cattle guards, and the Pennington County Fair Board. During his time on the Commission one of the projects that he was the most proud of was the building of the Event Center at the Central States Fair Grounds which was recently renamed in his honor. It was designed to house many events such as horse shows, rodeos, livestock events, go-kart racing, bike racing, trade shows and projects for the young people and the young at heart. Jim always enjoyed being a builder in the community. Whether it be a city park, curb and gutter project, county road improvement, a new jail, or building a public building he wanted to serve the best interest for the people. Jim was honored to serve on the "Save Ellsworth Task Force" which was beneficial to the entire region. He was also extremely honored to receive a Lifetime achievement award from the Wall-Badlands area Chamber of Commerce in 2008 and the Aggie of the Year from the Ag & Natural Resources Committee of the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce in 2009. In one of the rare occasions when Mary was able to get Jim to take a vacation they traveled to Norway to see the country of their ancestry. They traveled with friends and an alumni group from SDSU which made the trip even more memorable. The other favorite family vacation spot has been in the south eastern part of the United States visiting his daughter and her family. The entire family became fans of the Auburn University football team because of his oldest granddaughter played piccolo in the Auburn marching band. All very proud to have been a part of his life include his wife Mary of 52 years; two daughters – Julie and husband James Getting- Shalimar, Florida and Jill Parker - Rapid City; Five grandchildren Ashley, Brenton and Lynsey Getting all currently attending Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, Abbie Clark graduate of Black Hill State University and Laney Clark currently attending the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. His sister Dorothy Denke, nephews Mike, Pat, Mark and Paul Denke, niece LeAnn "Denke" King and families. This list would not be complete without including all his many friends and relatives he has shared a cup of coffee and donut with over the years at the Wall Drug Store. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Clarice Kjerstad, granddaughter Kelsey Getting and brother-in-law Leroy Denke. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services. Memorial services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 10, at the Wall Community Center, with Pastor Sheri Fadley and Father Mike Hight officiating. Private family interment will be in the Wall Cemetery. A memorial has been established. Jim Kjerstad seldom gets out of the hospital bed installed in his home. But on the first and third Tuesday of each month, his wife, Mary, and their daughters, Jill Parker and Julie, help him climb out of bed and into a wheelchair. They load him into a car and make a difficult journey to the Pennington County Courthouse. There, the cancer-ridden Kjerstad takes his seat on the county commission, just as he has done since 1995. He sits through three- and four-hour meetings, and though his voice is growing weaker, he still asks informed questions, particularly about budget matters. After the meeting, Kjerstad is helped back into the car and driven home to his hospital bed. Kjerstad, 73, was diagnosed with lung cancer late in 2008, but he has missed very few meetings since, despite the ravaging effects of the cancer and chemotherapy treatments. He collapsed at the end of a commission meeting last fall but refused an ambulance ride to the hospital. Kjerstad's wife said she has tried to talk him out of going to some of the meetings, but to no avail. "A normal person would not have been there," she said. "He is extremely dedicated to what he does." Commission Chairman Ethan Schmidt agrees. "It just shows how much he cares for the county," Schmidt said. Longtime Pennington County Commissioner Jim Kjerstad died early Wednesday morning after a long battle with lung cancer. Kjerstad was diagnosed with lung cancer late in 2008, but continued to attend county commission meetings, including the March 16 meeting. Kjerstad, 73, won election to the Pennington County Commission in 1994 and had served continuously on that board since 1995. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Wall Community Center.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is James Frances “Jim” Kjerstad's memorial?
James Frances “Jim” Kjerstad's memorial is located at: Wall Cemetery, Wall, Pennington County, USA.
When did James Frances “Jim” Kjerstad death?
James Frances “Jim” Kjerstad death on 7 Apr 2010 in Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the James Frances “Jim” Kjerstad's memorial?
Latitude: 43.9848862
Longitude: -102.2381668

Family Members:

Parent

Melvin Kjerstad

(1909 - 1993)

Clarice J. Ike Kjerstad

(1909 - 1998)

Siblings

Dorothy Jean Kjerstad Denke

(1932 - 2017)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Wall Cemetery
Wall, Pennington County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9848862, -102.2381668

2. Mount Hope Cemetery
Quinn, Pennington County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9949989, -102.1147003

3. Saint Pauls Lutheran Cemetery
Quinn, Pennington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1678009, -102.1074982

4. Cottonwood Cemetery
Cottonwood, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9789009, -101.9088974

5. Owanka Cemetery
Pennington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0217018, -102.6031036

6. Creighton Cemetery
Creighton, Pennington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2556000, -102.1968994

7. Scenic Cemetery
Scenic, Pennington County, USA
Coordinate: 43.8074989, -102.5658035

8. Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Pennington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2832985, -102.1680984

9. Lakeside Cemetery
Meade County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1754400, -102.5880100

10. Bull Bear Family Cemetery
Oglala Lakota County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6674926, -102.2148822

11. Grindstone Burials
Grindstone, Haakon County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1580300, -101.8563000

12. Interior Cemetery
Interior, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 43.7199480, -101.9777710

13. Saint Barbara Catholic Cemetery
Oglala Lakota County, USA
Coordinate: 43.6144000, -102.2711400

14. Elm Springs Cemetery
Elm Springs, Meade County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3056200, -102.5283100

15. Old Iowa Settlement Cemetery
Pennington County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9949989, -102.8000031

16. Hilland Cemetery
Hilland, Haakon County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2853012, -101.8561020

17. Masonic Cemetery
Philip, Haakon County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0488560, -101.6573100

18. New Underwood Cemetery
New Underwood, Pennington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0970192, -102.8247604

19. Dowling Cemetery
Haakon County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3838997, -101.9811020

20. Wyckoff Cemetery
Philip, Haakon County, USA
Coordinate: 44.0384400, -101.6265700

21. Folsom Cemetery
Hermosa, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 43.7905860, -102.8045750

22. Larsen Cemetery
Pennington County, USA
Coordinate: 43.9655991, -102.8783035

23. Wellsburg Union Cemetery
Haakon County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3718987, -101.8399963

24. Viewfield Cemetery
Viewfield, Meade County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1925011, -102.8497009