Jerry Lee Chaffee, 69, Sturgis, died Thursday, February 18, 2010, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Visitation will be Monday from noon until 5:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel. A service of remembrance will be held Monday at 7:00 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. A private burial will follow at the Chaffee Family Ranch Cemetery.

Jerry was born December 8, 1940, in Sturgis, the only child of Vinal and Edith (Oliver) Chaffee. He grew up on the family ranch in Union Center and attended grade school on the ranch. He graduated from Sturgis High School in 1959.

Jerry married Louise Baumann in Sturgis on April 20, 1960. They lived in Union Center for five years before moving to Sturgis.

Jerry was a certified real estate appraiser. He also established Chaffee Bail Bonds in 1965. He continued those businesses until his death. Jerry partnered with Mike Bradley in the Oasis, Fireside, and Gunners bars in Sturgis. He was a long time real estate investment partner with Keith Smit. He was also a partner with Fred McFarland in Western Land Brokers for many years.

Jerry was very active in the community, and was a member of the St. Francis of Assisi Church, Knights of Columbus, South Dakota Professional Appraisers Association, Elks Lodge, Sturgis Area Business Alliance, and South Dakota Buckaroos.

His survivors include his wife, Louise; one son, Kirk and his special friend, Helen Usera, and his family, son Jeremy Chaffee and Jeremy's son, Mason, daughter Megan (Zac Bell) and their children Kaiden Kirk and Brooklynn; two daughters, Kim (Dan) Heisinger and their daughters, Katie (Clint) Walker and Kellie Heisinger, and Kerry (Shaun) Skinner, and their daughters, Amanda and Sarah, all of Sturgis; step grandchildren, Wendy (Charlie) Fox, Randy (Kaycee) Heisinger, Angie (Marty) Stover, Rachel Heisinger; mother-in-law, Evallyn Wolf, Belle Fourche; sisters-in-law, JoAnn (Don) Barnett, Denver, Bonnie Baumann Harrison, Rapid City; and cousin, Sharon Chaffee Herron, Union Center.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials have been established to the Sturgis Kiwanis Food Bank and Union Center Community Center.