Ernst H. Gerlich, 91, Sturgis, died Sunday, August 12, 2012 at the Belle Fourche Long Term Care Center.

Visitation will be 8 a.m. until time of services on Thursday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, August 16, 2012 at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Pastor Will Olsen officiating. Burial follows at the Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.

A memorial has been established.

Ernst was born December 29, 1920 at Bockau, Germany, to Heinrich and Martha (Klein) Gerlich. He was born, educated, raised, married and had two children while living in Germany. He married Irma Martha Rudolph at Tnning, Germany on June 21, 1947. In June of 1952, the family moved to Alliance, NE, where they farmed. In 1966, they moved to Deadwood, SD, where Ernst worked at Homestake. They moved to Sturgis in 1980.

Ernst enjoyed fishing, trips to Deadwood for a little fun, and he was a member of the Rushmore German Club. He volunteered many years at Summerfest.

Survivors include his son, Karl (Betty) Gerlich, Omaha, NE; daughters, Regina Gerlich, St. Onge, Diana (Mike) Leveque, Sturgis; sister, Elisabeth Wollschlaeger, Germany; also grandchildren, Karen, Daniel, Meredith, Travis and Brittany; great grandchildren, Paige, Mariah, Kayla, Nivek, Zac, Seth and a little girl soon to arrive.

He was preceded in death by his wife Irma, brother, Alfred and sisters Lydia, Else, and Martha.

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