May 31, 1924 - Oct. 16, 2009

Former resident Gerald M. "Weary" Wilber, 85, of Ferney, S.D., died Oct. 16, 2009, at his daughter's home in Groton, S.D.

A visitation was Monday at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home in Aberdeen, S.D. Private inurnment at Riverside Cemetery in Aberdeen.

Weary was born May 31, 1924, in Aberdeen to Vernon T. and Frances Delilah (Jarrett) Wilber. He attended school in Aberdeen.

In June 1941, he entered the U.S. Navy; he was honorably discharged in December 1945.

He married Lorraine Hoeft in Custer, S.D., on July 17, 1953. He worked at the Army base in Igloo, S.D., until 1965, when he was transferred to Fort Richardson. He lived in Eagle River and worked at Fort Richardson until his retirement in 1979.

He then moved back to South Dakota and was a longtime Ferney resident. He resided at Gellhaus Carehaus and later moved to his daughter's home.

Weary was an avid hunter, fisherman, bowler, card player and reader. He also will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, his devilish smile and his one-liners.

Grateful for having shared Weary's life are his children, Timothy Wilber of Sauk Rapids, Minn., Douglas (Mary) Wilber of Wasilla; John (Suzanne) Wilber of Jacksonville, N.C.; and Lorinda (Shawn) Millim of Groton; grandchildren, Jennifer, Jared, Elizabeth, Zachary, Benjamin, Catherine, Rebecka, Rachel, McKiley, Michaila and Daltyn; great-grandchildren, Kaleb and Peyton; and his sister, Donna (Al) Roehr of Sacramento, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lorraine in 2005; and his brother, Douglas.