Jerald Mentele

Jerald Francis Mentele, 78, of Epiphany, South Dakota passed away December 17 at Diamond Care Center, Bridgewater, South Dakota. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, December 21, 2019, at the Epiphany Catholic Church. Inurnment will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be 6-7 PM, Friday, at the church, with a scripture wake service at 7.

Jerald was born at home December 25, 1940 to Peter and Rosa (Arens) Mentele.  Growing up on a farm, he was no stranger to hard work; and this work ethic continued for the entirety of his life.  Although his work was very important, he was most proud of his family.

He attended St. Mary School in Epiphany, South Dakota and graduated from St. Agatha in Howard, South Dakota.  He attended SDSU for two years before joining the Air Force in February of 1963.  Assigned to Lackland Air Force Base for basic training and after special training at Sheppard in Wichita Falls, Texas and Offutt in Omaha he was sent to March Air Force Base in Riverside, California where he met his wife, Beverly Wanamaker. 

Jerald and Beverly were married in Epiphany, South Dakota on June 30, 1966. They had five children, Barbara, David, Steven, Stephanie and Danielle. That bond lasted until October 15, 1975 when Beverly passed away.  On June 10, 1978 he married Holly Parsons and they had three children, Jeremy, Nicole and Naomi.

Jerald pursued a construction career, first with his uncle Joe Mentele; then on his own.  In 1984 he established J. H. Earthmoving, Inc., providing earthmoving, graveling and township maintenance services until his retirement in 2018.

He is survived by his wife, Holly, children, David Mentele, Steve (Erica) Mentele, Stephanie (Matthew) Anderson, Danielle (Michael) Anderson, Jeremy (Amy) Mentele, Nicole (Benjamin) Petrik and Naomi (Daniel) Cavalieri and 22 wonderful grandchildren; siblings, Theresa Minion, Francis (Dalleen) Mentele, Dorothy Berg, Carl (Deborah) Mentele and Deborah Mentele.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Rosa Mentele, his wife Beverly, daughter Barbara Kaufmann, brother John (Jack), and infant grandson Patrick Mentele.

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