Gerald D. Dede, age 103, of Watertown, SD, formerly of Bryant, SD, passed away on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at a care center in Clark, SD. Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 5, 2025, at Cornerstone Church in Watertown. Rev. Janie Rew-Werling and Rev. Craig Werling will officiate.
Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Friday. There will be a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the chapel in Watertown.
Burial will be at a later date at Our Redeemer Lutheran Cemetery in Bryant, SD. Military honors will be conducted at the church following the memorial service by Frank H. Adams Post #750 of the VFW, American Legion Post #37, Bryant, and the Military Funeral Honors Team of the SD Army National Guard. Honorary urnbearers will be all of Gerald’s family and friends, American Legion Post #37, Bryant, SD, Frank H. Adams Post #750 of the VFW, and his Avantara Clark family. Active urnbearers will be Brock Greenfield, Blake Greenfield, Laci Sosa, and Mike Aadland.
Gerald was born on Oct. 19, 1922, to Henry and Emma (Schamens) Dede. Attending a country school near Bryant, he was often asked to do solos for his own and other rural schools in the area on special occasions, a secret not often shared later on!
After graduating from Bryant High School in 1942, he attended welding school in Sioux City, Iowa, before traveling to California to work in the shipyards. In February, 1943, he joined the Army and after being trained in chemical warfare, was stationed in Casablanca and Tunis, Africa. Later he was sent to Italy where he was attached to the 15th Air Force Base. In December of 1945, he received a good conduct medal and honorable discharge, thankful that the Army never had to make use of chemical warfare during WWII.
When Gerald returned home, he married Ardell Olson (Hayti) on June 27, 1947, and began farming, first south and later east of Bryant. His only child, Lana, was born four years later.
Gerald was community minded. He served as a board member of the Bryant Our Redeemer Church, the Farmers’ Elevator, and Cleveland Township. He also was an FSA committee man, a former commander and current lifetime member (75+ years) of the Bryant American Legion Post 37, and also a member of the Watertown VFW.
In 1993, Gerald and Ardell retired from farming. They remained on the farm until 2007 when they moved to Watertown, where they acquired many kind neighborhood friends and found a great “family” at Hosanna Church.
After his wife of 75 years passed away (and by the way, he drove to the nursing home daily for 18 months to be with her), he moved to Stoneybrook and later on to Avantara in Clark. It was almost immediately his name became DEDE and a very caring staff was quick to visit, laugh with, and care for his every need. He loved company, card playing, bingo, giving candy to caretakers, and watching the Lone Ranger!
Highlights in his life were his loving wife and helpmate, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, his daughter, son-in-law, serving his country in WWII and being one of the first members on the Midwest Honor Flight, going on trips to places such as Hawaii, Branson, Canary Islands, having his 100th birthday commemorated by former Governor Noem, and being presented with a 75-year membership Legion plaque from his Bryant post friends.
Grateful for having shared his life are his daughter, Lana (Don) Greenfield, Doland; his grandchildren, Laci Sosa and Blake (Amber) Greenfield, Rapid City, and Brock (Kelli) Greenfield of Pierre; great-grandchildren Brielle, Shayla, and Gavin, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his wife, parents, all siblings, and other relatives and friends.
Gerald’s family and friends rejoice in his 103 years of stories, humor, love, and kindness to others of all ages.
Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti
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