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12/28/2011 - Jerry M. Ferley
Jerry M. Ferley, 64, of Oelrichs passed away Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. He was born June 27th, 1947, in Pierre, South Dakota, to Glenn and Esther Ferley.
The family moved to Philip when Jerry was three years old to begin the family business “Ferley Jewelers”. After moving to Philip, he dreamed of being a cowboy. Tex Stark helped him begin fulfilling this dream by teaching Jerry how to break horses. This aspiration grew, which led him to ranch work. By the time he was in 7th grade, he spent his summers working for Philip area ranchers including Walt and Margret Sandal, the grandparents of his future son-in-law Paul. He also worked for Shorty and Dorothy Nixon.
During his high school years he enjoyed participating in FFA, football, tumbling, and high school rodeo. He qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo in 1964 and 1965, competing in bare back and steer wrestling, which led to the first date with his future wife. He was also a member of the Lutheran Church. Jerry graduated from Philip High School in 1965. After graduation, he worked on a large cattle ranch in Wyoming called the Matador Cattle Company. He was the last of the cowboys hired to work it as open range. He had lasting memories of the Percheron-cross horses here, some of which ProRodeo founders purchased for stock. He always enjoyed the fact that he got to work cattle on horses that were also used at rodeos for bucking stock.
He then returned home to Philip where he worked on the Bernard Stout Ranch until drafted into the Army in 1966. He spent 1967-1968 fighting in Vietnam. After returning from Vietnam, he used his GI Bill to attend Farrier’s College in Sturgis, SD. Then he found himself alongside Roger Peterson, working for Jack Mason on the river breaks north of Philip, presiding at Honeymoon Hollow. Jerry married LeeAnn Putnam on August 9th of 1969. He worked at the SDSU Experimental Farm in Cottonwood for the next year and also broke horses during this time.
In the fall of 1970, he dropped LeeAnn off at her family ranch in Oelrichs en route to Castle Rock, CO, to pursue a farrier business. Two months later his father-in-law asked him to return to Oelrichs to help run the family ranch where he remained for the rest of his life. Shortly after returning to the ranch, he hit the rodeo trail on weekends riding saddle broncs at community rodeos.
He also enjoyed team roping, flying (his father-in-law, Don Putnam, taught him to fly so they could coyote hunt together), ranching, teaching his kids the ranching way of life, and visiting/meeting many friends and neighbors. He never forgot a face or a name. He also helped to organize the first roping club in Oelrichs, was a member and a president of the Oelrichs Rodeo Association, he belonged to the Elks Club in Chadron NE, was a member and a commander of the Forney/Swigert American Legion, and also belonged to the VFW in Hot Springs, SD. Jerry was a true cowboy.
His father-in-law often shared the following statement in reference to Jerry, “He could do a full day’s work on a horse that most people could not even saddle.”
Jerry and LeeAnn became foster parents in 1973 to Speedy Allen and Lori (Dee) Allen/Dryden. They added to the family starting with Shane in 1974, Casey in 1975, Shanna in 1978, and Chad in 1980. Jerry was very proud of all his kids and their accomplishments.
He was proud of Dee’s resilience and her gift to always see the good in everyone, Shane’s interest and ability in aviation, Casey’s aspiration to fulfill the family’s ranching tradition, Shanna’s skill for nurturing kids as a teacher, and Chad following in his footsteps riding saddle broncs with such great success.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents Glenn and Esther Ferley, his foster son Speedy, and his father-in-law Donald Putnam.
Survivors include:
Wife: LeeAnn Ferley of Oelrichs, SD.
Sons: Shane Ferley and Suzanne of Wichita, KS; Casey Ferley and Amy of Oelrichs, SD; Chad Ferley and Jessica of Oelrichs, SD.
Daughters: Shanna Sandal and Paul of Box Elder, SD.
Foster Daughter: Dee Dryden of Rapid City, SD.
11 grandchildren including Trey, Christina, Amelie, Aiden, and Macy (Shane and Suzanne), Ian (Casey and Amy), Morgan and Paiden (Shanna and Paul), Teagan (Chad and Jessica), and Ty and Grant (Dee and Butch Dryden).
He was also a special grandpa (Gramps) to his nieces Jada and T’lea and others including McKenzie, Zane, Cody, and Colton.
Brothers: Steve Ferley and BethAnn of Rapid City, SD; Dan Ferley and Lana of Loveland, CO.
Sisters-in-law: Donna Sue Willey and Howard of Harrison, NE; Pam Ireland and Jerry of Miami, OK.
11 nieces and nephews.
At his request, he was cremated.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be Wednesday, December 28, 2011 from 2:00-5:00 PM at the American Legion Hall in Hot Springs, SD.
A memorial has been established for the Oelrichs Rodeo Association.
Edstrom & Rooks Funeral Service at Serenity Springs in Rapid City, SD is in charge of the arrangements.
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