Jerome N. Hochhalter
Jerome Hochhalter, 90, of Aberdeen, SD died Friday, April 14, 2023, at Prairie Heights Healthcare in Aberdeen.
Jerome Hochhalter was born July 20, 1932, near Theodore, SD, to Helmuth and Ella Hochhalter. He was baptized at Theodore Lutheran Church and confirmed in Bowdle, SD. He graduated from Northwestern Lutheran Academy in Mobridge, SD, in 1951.
In 1951, the family moved to a farm near Columbia, SD. In 1955, he entered the service and married Luella Krege. He was stationed in Kansas. Jerome was discharged from the service in 1957. They moved back to South Dakota and lived on a farm near Barnard and later moved to Columbia. Luella passed away in 1984.
Jerome was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, where he held several offices. He also sang in the choir. He coached his daughters’ softball teams for many years, which he really enjoyed. Later, he loved following his grandchildren’s sports and activities.
In 1986, he married Ruth Hoffman of Aberdeen. He retired from farming in 1988 and they made their home in Aberdeen. Jerome and Ruth traveled throughout the United States. A highlight for Jerome was fishing in Alaska. He and Ruth also traveled to Germany with some of Jerome’s siblings and their spouses. They were snowbirds to Arizona for many years. In their retirement, you could find Jerome doing tie blankets, putting yarn on hangers, and doing puzzles. He loved to play cards and watch the Twins and WWF on TV. The last few years he was at Prairie Heights.
Grateful for having shared Jerome’s life are: wife Ruth Hochhalter; children: Cal Hochhalter, Ken (Isabel) Hochhalter, Sheri (Dan)Larson, Vic Hochhalter, Twyla (John) Maines; stepchildren: Marilyn (Terry)Kline, and Peggy (Jim) Thorpe; grandchildren: Bradley (Melinda) Hochhalter, KC Hochhalter, Jenel Hochhalter-White, Derek (Abbey) Larson, Andrew (Nicole)Larson, Corey (Madi) Maines, Sarah Maines, Kevin Maines, Bo Hochhalter, Kayla Hochhalter; step grandchildren: Ryan (Stephanie) Kline, Eric (Kami) Kline, Heather (Jason) Grebner, Crystal Thorpe, Dusty (Kassy) Thorpe, and Maggie(Luke) Bruns; great-grandchildren: Nathaniel, Diana, Savanah, Jaden Hochhalter, Presley, Ember, Trent, Tyler and Tristan White, Braxton, Baylor, Parker, Owen, and Madelyn Larson, Emmitt and Evelyn Maines, Addyson, Emery and Bryce Hochhalter, and Tyelynn Hochhalter; step-great-grandchildren: Abbie and Grace Kline, Adam (Sunny) Kline, Hope and Lydia Kline, Dan, Matthew, Lillian and Joseph Grebner, Kenton, Maeve and Rayne Thorpe, and Beckett, Kohen, Paxon and Boston Bruns; siblings: LaVon (Daryl) Cole, Derry Hochhalter and Joyce Hamack
Preceding Jerome in death are parents Helmuth & Ella Hochhalter; first wife Luella Hochhalter; sister: Darlene Kolb, son Kevin Hochhalter, grandson Allen, step great-grandchild, Laila Bruns, and siblings-in-law Vernon Kolb, Harley Hamack and Audrey Hochhalter.