YANKTON- Ernest J. "Jim" Brewster, 96, formerly of Rapid City passed away on Thursday, October 24, 2013 in Yankton, SD. Jim was born on a homestead in Platte County, thirteen miles from Glendo, Wyoming on June 12, 1917. He graduated from Laramie High School in Laramie, WY and continued on to attend the University of Wyoming while working at the Monolith Cement Co. until he entered military service at Ft. Frances E. Warren (now Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming) June 5, 1941. Jim was married to Helen Marion Tharp on June 12, 1942 in Hanford, CA. They were married 58 years. Jim graduated from aerial gunnery school at Las Vegas, and armament technical school at Lowry AFB, CO. He was accepted into the aviation cadet program and attended Cadet School in Boca Raton, FL and at Yale University, graduating July 14, 1943. He was then commissioned as a second lieutenant on July 15, 1943. Jim served in the Air Force for 28 years, including postings in Tennessee, Colorado, Oklahoma, the Mariana Islands, England, Turkey, and Germany. He served as commander of the munitions maintenance squadron at Ellsworth AFB from 1966-1968. His last duty station was as Chief of Nuclear Weapons for Strategic Air Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska. He retired from military service June 1, 1969. Jim and his family moved to the Flathead Valley in Montana and lived there 20 years. He formed a construction company and built and remodeled homes. In 1990 he and Marion moved to Rapid City to be closer to family. Jim enjoyed hunting and fly fishing, watching the Denver Broncos and the St. Louis Cardinals. He was also actively involved in the Westside Kiwanis Club, American Legion, Retired Officers Association, Military Order of the World Wars and was very active with Westminster Presbyterian Church. Jim is survived by his daughter, Barbara (Lee) Lindquist, Yankton; sister, Mabel Shiftlet, Spanish Fork, UT; grandchildren, Adrianne (James) Powers and Kevin Lindquist; great granddaughters, Madisen and Falyn Powers, and other family and friends. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, eight brothers and sisters, his wife, Marion, and daughter, Ruth. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 1, 2013 at Westminster Presbyterian Church with Pastor Bob Jacobs officiating. Visitation will be for one hour prior to services. Interment with full military honors by the Ellsworth Air Force Base Honor Guard and the VFW Post 1273 will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.