Harley Gale Jamison, age 72, of Volga, SD, passed away peacefully Tuesday, May 12, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD of natural causes.
A Graveside Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2020, at 2 p.m. at the Arlington City Cemetery in Arlington, South Dakota. Eidsness Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Harley was born April 23, 1948, in Mitchell, SD to Harland and Sylva (Pence) Jamison of Letcher, SD. Harley attended his 12 years of school at Letcher Public School. He participated in many activities including sports, music, theatre, and plenty of mischief. He was active in his church and community. After graduating from high school Harley headed off to SDSU in Brookings, SD.
This was during the Vietnam War and lots of his friends had either been drafted or they enlisted. Harley saw the handwriting on the wall after a couple of years, so he dropped out of college and enlisted in the Army in 1969. His 28th day in Nam Harley was injured as several soldiers jumped out of a helicopter and one stepped on a mine. Harley was hit with shrapnel on the left side of his face and body and was left with partial loss of hearing.
After some time in an Army hospital, he was dismissed but elected to stay overseas versus coming home on furlough.
He stayed awhile longer overseas so that he would be finished with his tour when he hit the ground in the U.S. Harley was honorably discharged in October. He returned to SDSU to continue his education.
After finishing college, Harley became the manager of Jamison’s Clothing in Arlington, SD. Harley enjoyed being a clothier. He met a whole new community of people. After closing the clothing store, Harley became a rural mail carrier, first in Arlington and then in Estelline.
Harley and Sharon Rowbotham Josephsen married in June of 1986 and remained in the area where Sharon was teaching and going to graduate school, and Harley continued to deliver mail. After their retirements, both Harley and Sharon went to Real Estate school and became realtors. Harley was happy he could meet more new people and talk and talk.
Harley enjoyed many things in life, talking on the top of his list, his horse Buster and riding with his best buddy, Joe, pheasant hunting with Buster and his nephews, keeping the most manicured lawn in town, going to town with his dad, and dancing and singing.
There are people who leave legacies of items they have patented, books they have written, races they have won or mountains they have climbed. The legacy that Harley leaves to his family and friends is the genuine love he had for them and their lives. Those who knew him best feel his life ended too quickly but those same people know it was best for him. “Thank you, God, for taking him home to meet some new people.”
Harley is survived by his wife, Sharon and her children Shawna Heck and son, Riley of Mitchell, SD: Eric Josephson and his children Taylor and Hayden of Sioux Falls, SD: a sister, Gretchen Strombeck (Perry) of Rapid City, SD: several nieces, nephews, cousins and their families, 3 sisters-in-law, and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harland and Sylva Jamison, 3 brothers, Maurice, Bob, and Bill Jamison, and a niece, Sandy (Jamison) Lewis
Memorials may be directed to the Edgar L. Herrick Legion Post 42
Thoughts, condolences, and memories can be sent to:
Sharon Jamison
PO box 583
Volga, SD 57071
