Gerald Loyd "Jerry" Griffith was born June 18, 1943, at the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, KS, to Loyd and Violet Griffith. He attended first through eighth grades at Longfellow school then attended and graduated from Westport High School in Kansas City, MO, in 1955. He went to Iowa State College in Ames, IA, where he graduated. He taught junior high school for a while. Then he came to South Dakota in 1964, and stayed with his sister, Sharon, and worked for Boeing Aircraft when they were putting in the missile sites at Union Center.
He married Patty Wuich in 1969 in Las Vegas. To that union, two children were born, DeeDee and Darren. Jerry worked for Pacific Mutual Insurance Co. in Kansas City, MO, and a few years later got transferred to Phoenix, AZ, to work in the branch there. After his retirement his life was filled doing wonderful things with his children, grandchildren, and other people. He loved to travel to various countries. He always enjoyed coming to the ranch in South Dakota and joining in the ranch activities including horseback riding. You never saw him without a smile on his face.  He loved to attend the games and activities his family was in. Jerry never complained and was always optimistic and full of jokes.
His faith was everything and he was a proud servant of our Lord and always enjoyed life. Jerry passed away peacefully on June 9, 2019, in Brooksdale Senior Living Center in Scottsdale, AZ.
In addition to his children, Jerry's life will be treasured by his friends and grandchildren whom he adored: Justin, Mya, Lainey, Skylar, and Mason. He is also survived by his children, DeeDee (Kurt) Nortman and Darren (Katy) Griffith; sister, Sharon (Duane) Keffeler; along with numerous cousins.
Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 30, 2019, at Union Center Community Baptist Church in Union Center, SD, with visitation starting at 12:30 p.m. Interment will be at White Owl Cemetery.
A memorial has been established to the Union Center Community Baptist Church in Union Center, SD.

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