Jerome Schweitzer Belle Fourche

June 3, 1924 – May 12, 2018

Posted

Jerome Schweitzer, 93, of Belle Fourche and formerly of Parker died May 12, 2018, at the Belle Fourche Healthcare Community.

Jerome John Schweitzer was born on June 3, 1924, in Turner County, near Freeman, to John and Bertha Schweitzer.  He graduated eighth grade in 1939 from District 99 School in Salem TWP.  Jerome was a farm laborer for 15 years. He worked for Walt Bones, where he was talented enough to teach his horse to ride in the back of his pickup traveling from job to job. He went to work for House of Reinhart Wholesale Warehouse in Sioux Falls for 16 months.

He married Joyce Erickson on June 30, 1954. To this union, four children were born. In 1956 he went into farming for himself near Brookings, until retiring in 1981. Jerome and Joyce moved to Parker in 1987. During this time, Jerome spent many hours making his own harnesses and wagons from scratch to fit his Breyer horses. He replicated many items from what he used to farm with as a young man. They moved to Belle Fourche in 2007.

 Survivors include a son, Gary Schweitzer and partner, Diane of Benson, Arizona; three daughters, Pam (Dale) Olson of Whitewood, Deb (Leonard) Burtzlaff of Whitewood and Val Fowler of Belle Fourche; nine grandchildren, eight greatg-randchildren and several nieces and nephews.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Bertha; his brothers, Leonard, Sylvester and Ray Schweitzer; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Schweitzer and LaVonne Schweitzer and his wife, Joyce.

 Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, May 18 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church in Belle Fourche with Monsignor Michael Woster as celebrant.  Interment will follow at Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche.

An online guest book is available at klinefuneralchapel.com.