RAPID CITY- Jerauldine "Jerry" Yvonne Walenta, 82, passed away on January 29, 2017 in Rapid City, SD.

She was born on April 7, 1935 to Edmund E. and Frances V. (Yusko) McGill in Dupree, SD.  She attended grade school in Dupree by riding her horse several miles.  One cold winter day while in the first grade her horse slipped on the ice and Jerry broke her tailbone.  When it was time for high school, she left the ranch to room and board with the Smiths.  While in high school she was deemed "best typist."  She graduated from Eagle Butte High School in Eagle Butte, SD in 1953.   She then attended the National School of Business (now NAU) in Rapid City and graduated in 1954. She began her career as a bookkeeper with Northwest Warehouse and several other business in Rapid City.

She met and dated Jerome  "Jerry" C. Walenta for several years.  They married in 1958. She and Jerry began their "landlording" career early, running her in-laws' cabin and trailer court in Black Hawk, SD.  Soon after she and Jerry began their own rental property and management business.  They had four children, Diane, Lisa, Renee, and John.  Being a mother was her number one priority.  She kept busy being a Brownie leader, Cub Scout leader, both Boy and Girl Scout leader, was an active member of the PTA, and spent a great deal of time carpooling her children and their many friends to make sure they got to school functions, little league games, the YMCA, or wherever else they needed to be.

After her children were raised she later found great joy and love in her grandchildren.  She shared greatly in the lives of her local grandchildren: Cassie, Alexander, Jason, Judy, and Marcus here in Rapid City. She happily babysat, transported them to school, school dances, and sporting events and had lots of sleepovers. She attended as many events as she possibly could.  Later came the birth of her youngest grandson, Ethan who was born in Peoria, IL. She and Jerry enjoyed traveling to Peoria and Kentucky to visit son John and his family.  She always tried to imprint on all of them the importance of receiving an education.

As much as she loved her children and grandchildren, she also took great pride in making the community a better place.  She served on the board for the North Rapid Civic Association. In addition, she helped start Operation Weed and Seed, a federally funded community revitalization program.

The Catholic faith was always very important to her.  She was active in St. John's Parish and continued when it became St. Therese, the Little Flower.  She was a member of The Catholic Daughters and received her 50-year pin in May of 2015.

For the last eleven years she and Jerry decided to become guardians and have raised their oldest great-grandchild Thaiden Brewer.  She took great pride in taking care of him and his dog Bullet.  She always said raising Thaiden kept her young.

In the little spare time that she had she enjoyed going to TOPS (Taking off Pounds Sensibly) meetings, cross-stitch, and tending to her beautiful flowers in the summer.

Jerry will be remembered for her constant concern for others.  She always made sure everyone was taken care of before herself.  Her home was always open to anyone who needed a bite to eat, a heartfelt visit and hug or bed to sleep in.  She was famous within her family for her home-made carrot cake.  It was amazing!  Jerry was generous and caring beyond measure.  She was loving, compassionate and kind but more than that she was humble and full of grace.  She devoted her entire life to taking care of others and did so without complaint.

Jerauldine is survived by her loving husband of 59 years Jerry, daughters Diane (Terry) Salway, Lisa (Dale) Brewer, and Renee (Brian) Shroyer all of Rapid City, and son John (Deanna) Walenta of Peoria, IL.  Grandchildren Cassie Brewer, Jason (Sara) Brewer, Judith Brewer of Rapid City, Alexander Salway of Rapid City, Marcus (Erin) Salway of Douglas, Wyoming and Ethan Walenta of Peoria, Illinois also survive her.  Eleven great-grandchildren also survive her.  She is also survived by her sisters, Jacqueline "Jackie" Roberts of Phoenix, AZ, Frances Heilman of Chadron, Ne and brother, Lincoln (Bill) McGill of Lantry, SD.

She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Hazel Calio and brother Michael who died in infancy.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at St. Therese, Little Flower on Thursday, February 2, 2017 with a Christian Wake Service to follow at 7:00 p.m.

Christian Funeral Mass will be offered at 11:00 a.m. on Friday February 3, 2017 at St. Therese, the Little Flower with Rev. Kerry Prendivlle presiding. Lunch to follow.  Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to the St. Therese Parish or to the Humane Society of the Black Hills.