Alan Jerome Jerry Freese, 79, Rapid City, was born on March 9, 1931, to Gilbert and Mary Ellen (Cleary) Freese in Pierre, SD. He passed away on September 6, 2010, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

On February 5, 1951, he married Therese Ryan in Sioux Falls, SD, and from this union eight children were born. Jerry and Therese were married 52 years until her passing. He was a devoted husband and father, the proud grandfather of 22 and great grandfather of 25 (and more on the way).

Jerry founded Rushmore News in 1956 and the company he created has employed three generations of his children and grandchildren. Jerry started the company with 22 accounts, two trucks, and a 600 foot warehouse and it has grown to 16 trucks and a 20,000 foot warehouse servicing 320 accounts. Rushmore News distributes magazines and books to all of Western South Dakota and over half of Wyoming. Jerry always liked to say If you purchased a magazine in a store, we put it there.

Jerry is survived by one son Michael (Carol) Freese, 4 daughters; Mary (Jim) Kent, Kate (John) Gordon, Laura (Steve) Wagner, Nancy Scott, all of Rapid City; 22 grandchildren, and 25 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Therese in 2003, sons Daniel, John, and Phillip, his parents, one brother, and two sisters.

The pallbearers will be Jerrys oldest grandsons from each of his children's families. John Gordon V, Paul Wagner, Ryan Kent, Andrew Freese, Nate Scott, and Adam Freese. The other 16 grandchildren will be honorary pallbearers.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 8, at St. Therese Church, with a Christian wake service at 7 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, September 9, at the church, with the Rev. William Zandri officiating.

Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery.

A memorial has been established at Church of St. Therese of the Little Flower.