William Gerriets, 73, Webster, died Dec. 5, 2024, at Bethesda Home, Webster.
Memorial services will be May 3, 11 a.m. at Fiksdal Funeral Service, Webster.
William “Bill” Gerriets was born April 17, 1951, in Colorado Springs, CO to Lewis and Gladys (Hempel) Gerriets. In 1952, they moved back to Webster, where he began his elementary education. He transferred to the South Dakota School for the Deaf, Sioux Falls in 1963 where he participated in basketball, track and cross country. He was confirmed at Ephphatha Chapel of East Side Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls in 1969 and graduated high school in 1970. He completed a course in graphic arts at North Dakota School of Science, Wahpeton, ND in 1972. He worked for a print shop in Pierre before beginning a 28-year career at Northern State University, Aberdeen in the power plant. He retired in November 2007 and returned to live in Webster.
He enjoyed hunting and building and flying model airplanes. He was a licensed amateur radio operator, KB0TYX. He researched his family’s genealogy as far as 1821 documented with photos of his ancestors. In retirement he began growing roses and sharing them.
Survivors include his siblings Ted and Dawn Gerriets, Cochrane, Alberta; Richard and Bonita Gerriets, Sioux Falls; Steve and Carla Gerriets, Omaha, NE; Lois and Donald Kirkegaard, Sturgis; sister-in-law, Ann Gerriets, Waubay; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Dale Gerriets and one nephew.