Jerry Lee Stenerson, 76, of Buffalo, SD passed away with his family present and along his side at the Monument Health hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota on May 6, at 5:15 PM. Services will be held at the Ladner Lutheran Church on Saturday, May 15 at 2:00 PM. Burial will be immediately following the service at the Ladner Cemetery.  Per request of the family, the services will be informal and casual, and will be conducted through sharing scripture, stories, and memories of Jerry.

Jerry Lee Stenerson was born on June 12th 1944 in a log cabin in Camp Crook, South Dakota to his parents Edson and Anna Stenerson. He attended grade school at Ladner, South Dakota through the 8th grade and then continued his high school education in Buffalo, South Dakota. After high school Jerry attended Vo Tech in Denver, CO for mechanics. After his schooling he went to Hardin, MT and stayed with Paul and Mary Stenerson and worked as a mechanic. While living in Montana Jerry was notified by Selective Service that he was being called by the Army to serve his country. He went to basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, MO and advanced training for mechanics and military police in Fort Hood, TX. He was shipped to Vietnam where he served his country as a member of the motor pool for Alpha Company 720th MP Battalion, stationed in Long Ben Army base in Vietnam, going on a lot of convoys. His time served in the Army was from 1965 – 1967. Medals received during his time in the Army include: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. Jerry was also awarded the Sharpshooter medal for the M14, and the Marksman medal for the 45mm.

Just prior to joining the military Jerry had met the love of his life, Linda Rae Germann, at the Bullock Hall in South Dakota at a card party and dated for a couple of years. Before leaving for Vietnam, Jerry and Linda got engaged to be married. Upon discharge and returning from Vietnam Jerry and Linda were married on September 30th 1967 at the Bowman Lutheran Church. After marriage Jerry and Linda made their home in Bowman, ND and he worked at Larry's Mobile Station as a mechanic and later worked at John Deere. On September 14th 1969, Jerry and Linda welcomed their first child, Jeremy Arlen into the world and 10 and ½ months later welcomed their second child Jason Wade into the world on August 6th 1970, completing their family. Also while in Bowman, Jerry worked for Lorenz Motors as a transmission technician and also specialized as a snowmobile mechanic after attending school in Duluth, MN.

In 1974, Jerry's father Edson Stenerson approached him and asked him if he would take over the ranch and move to Ladner, South Dakota. He agreed, and after finding a house for sale in the local news paper located south of Rhame, they moved it to Ladner and got the ball rolling. They moved the house to a homestead location a mile south east of Ladner formerly known as the Rodney place. The water well was still in working order and this is where Jerry and Linda would continue their journey together building their ranch one building at a time, starting with just a house and a stack of bales that served as an outhouse until they got plumbing. Often, Jerry and Linda would tear down old buildings, and used the lumber they salvaged to build new.

Jerry, a 3rd generation sheep shearer, sheared sheep in the Spring and headed up the sheep shearing and booked the shearing dates for the crew for many years. Shearing sheep was 2nd nature for Jerry. It was mentioned more than once that Jerry made shearing look effortless and smooth. Earning him the nickname "Smoooooth". The crew Jerry sheared with was like a 2nd family. During his career he won numerous county fair 1st place trophies. One of the most memorable sheep shearing contests he was in was the during the Tri-state Sheep Days in Belle Fourche, SD. Among the contestants was a national sheep shearing champion. Jerry, who consistently sheared each sheep within a minute, easily beat the reigning champion. A couple months later the reigning national shearing champion entered the Harding County Fair seeking retribution… Jerry beat him again, winning 1st place! Jerry's sheep shearing career was also highlighted by shearing along side two of his brothers, Karl, and Joe, and also through teaching his son, Jason, who also sheared alongside Jerry. Jerry was also known as a great, and patient teacher, having given many pointers and taught numerous others how to shear. After 40 years of shearing sheep professionally, Jerry retired at the age of 60, hanging up his hand piece.

While running the farm and ranch Jerry also did a lot of mechanic work for others and was able to repair all of his own equipment. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to neighbors whose equipment had broken down. He also enjoyed teaching mechanics every Friday at the Painter elementary school.
Jerry enjoyed watching his sons grow up and turn into respectable men, and was proud of their achievements in life. Often, as young sons often do, his boys would ask him for help… one of Jerry's best pieces of advice that he would often give both of his sons was: "If you can't do it, how do you expect me to."

Jerry also adored his grandsons, Trae, and Jae. He taught them a lot, and through his grandchildren, Jerry was able to relive a lot of his childhood by participating and mentoring each of the boys through their ever changing interests in life.

Jerry was Linda's rock in life for 53.5 years and a very loving and understanding companion. Jerry's patience and dry, sarcastic wit, and sense of humor were his calling cards and will be greatly missed.

Jerry was preceded in death by his grandson Jae Luis Stenerson, his brother David Leroy Stenerson, and his parents Edson and Anna Stenerson. Also preceding his death were his in-laws, Ray and Ellen Germann.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Linda Rae Stenerson, his sons Jeremy Arlen and Jason Wade (Autumn) Stenerson, grandsons Trae Luis (Ashley Aymar), Jae Tyler (Jaclyn Bergum). He is survived by his siblings, Edson "Mickey" Stenerson, Karl Stenerson (Leslie), Karen (Sherman) Rouna, Robert (Dawn) Stenerson, Myrna (Robbie) Gumpenburger, Diana Grey (Alvin), Leanna Short (Nathan), Joe (Cheri) Stenerson, and in-laws Larry (Claudia) Germann, Joyce (Gary) Hestekin, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jerry often went above and beyond for his family and friends. He was an incredible man who touched the lives of many people of all ages. He was a rock for his wife, Linda, and was a hero to his sons. He often made the impossible look easy and effortless.

The way he worked was not an effort, it was an art.

He was an incredible man, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend.

He will be missed.