September 20, 2008

Merrill Springer

GREGORY - Funeral services for Merrill Springer, 80, of Gregory will be held on Tuesday morning, September 23, at the United Methodist Church in Gregory, SD, beginning at 10:30 AM. A prayer service will be held on Monday evening at the church beginning at 7:30 PM. Burial will be at the I.O.O.F Cemetery with military honors.

Merrill Carl Springer was born to Carl Claus Springer and Lula Mae Shaffer-Springer on Nov. 10, 1927 on their prairie homestead. He spent his early boyhood years helping his parents on the family farm north of Dixon, South Dakota (which presently supports the 4th and 5th generation). He would later raise his own family on that same homestead. He enlisted into the Army in March of 1946 during the end of WWII and served at Ft. Eustace, Virginia. After serving a brief period he returned to the farm to help his parents. In January 1952 he was drafted into the service during the Korean conflict and served at Ft. Richardson, Alaska.

After his discharge in 1952, he returned to the farm which he loved, where he and his wife Norma (Meyer) Springer, whom he married on August 6, 1950, raised their four children. In 1984, Merrill and Norma moved to Gregory. He continued working at the farm with his son, Marshall, taking great pride in his Hereford cattle. For several years, he helped Norma with the greenhouse and they sold Christmas trees over the holidays.

Merrill was active in the American Legion, served 14 years on the Gregory School board, and was active in his church and community. Some of his enjoyments included: playing cards, country music, following his Atlanta Braves baseball team, watching football and the Gregory Gorillas, going to rodeos and taking many bus trips throughout the United States, Mexico, Alaska, and Canada. He was baptized in the Trinity Lutheran Church of Dixon where he attended until moving to Gregory and joined the United Methodist Church. He believed in hard work and good work ethics. He loved his family and always wanted the best for them. He was surrounded by that same family when he passed on September 19, 2008 at the Gregory Avera Healthcare Center after a lengthy illness.

He is survived by his wife, Norma Springer, Gregory, SD; three daughters, Sammi (Bob) Kenzy, Rapid City, SD, Mardi (John) Sargent, Gregory, SD, Ronelle (Gary) Benson, Piedmont, SD; one son, Marshall (Colleen) Springer, Gregory, SD; four granddaughters, Kim, Lindsey, Ashley, Karley; four grandsons, Chris, James, Travis, Dillon; 5 great-grandchildren, Zach, Alex, Savannah, Ava, & anticipated arrival of Gracie Mae; one brother, Verlyn (Marie) Springer, Gregory, SD; one uncle, Lyle (Betty) Shaffer, Gregory, SD, many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Marcellene Springer.

Merrill C Springer