Rapid City, SD – We mourn the loss of our beloved father, Gerald Wayne Salmen who went to his heavenly home February 19, 2024.  He was born August 14, 1929 in Sebeka, Minnesota to parents Waino and Vieno Salmen. Gerald grew up surrounded by family and friends in the Finnish community.

After high school, Gerald moved to the big city of Minneapolis and joined the Woolworth Corp until the Air Force called Gerald to Biloxi, MS and then to the Korean conflict.  While in Biloxi, he married Irene Vivian Koski, his high school sweetheart.  They celebrated 71 years of marriage.   After the Air Force, Gerald returned to Woolworth and they spent the next several years moving with the company and the young family grew.  The family grew to 6 daughters and 1 son and they settled in Huron, SD.  The happy family of 9 owned and operated the Ben Franklin store, a snack stand at the state fair, regional greenhouses, and a pet business.  In 1976 the family moved to the Black Hills.  In Rapid City Gerald continued his career in insurance and finance.   Gerald had a sense of adventure and an active lifestyle.  He lived a memorable life and shared his memoirs in a book to be shared with future generations.  He liked to stay busy and built a home in the Black Hills.  He used the pine from the land and collected all the rocks for the fireplace and landscaping.  When that project was completed he moved on to car restoration by rebuilding a Hupmobile and then restoring vintage jeeps.  He was an avid reader and a faithful member of Calvary Lutheran Church.

Proceeding him in passing was his beautiful wife Irene in January of 2022, his brother Rodney Salmen, and 2 sons in law, Tim Kalahar and Greg Mumm.

Left to mourn his loss are his children Vivian (David) Marben, Eden Prairie MN, Vicky Kalahar, Woodbury MN, Gayle (Steve) Cutshall, Rapid City, Cheryl Hofer, Spearfish, Rhonda Mumm, Rapid City, Wayne (Dotty) Salmen, California and Sandy (Paul) Shillingstad, Rapid City.  His sister Carol (Dick) Meyer, Ohio, his Sister-in-law Elsie Salmen of Minnesota, and their extended family.  16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will begin at 12:30 pm at the Calvary Lutheran Church on Monday, February 26 with the Funeral Service starting at 1:30 pm.

Burial will be held at 9:00 am on Tuesday, February 17 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.

Arrangements with Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.