Gerald Valentine Holzer

Gerald Valentine Holzer had a number of highlights in his life and one of them was helping build the U.S. Highway 12 Bridge across the Oahe at Mobridge. He had gone into construction work after graduating from high school.

Later, he joined the military and served in Alaska. He was proud to serve his country and that too, was a highlight. A couple years ago he battled cancer and according to the doctors in Rochester, Minn., he won. But this last winter while in Arizona, he was again diagnosed with cancer and this time he lost the battle. Gerald died Wednesday, May 17, 2006, at his home in Rapid City at he age of 68. By coincidence, it was two years ago almost to the day that his wife Helen died of cancer. She died on a May 13.

"He was a good person, so kind-hearted. He was the kind who would give someone the shirt off his back," his sister-in-law Virginia Holzer said. "His kids adored him and his two daughters cared for him during his illness. He was so good about seeing his mother, Rose, who is a resident of the Good Samaritan Center in Selby, and he was so looking forward to seeing a granddaughter graduate from a Rapid City high school in June. He was so proud of their accomplishments."

Gerald was born Feb. 14, 1938, to Frank and Rose (Aberle) Holzer and grew up on the family farm north of Trail City.

After his discharge from military service, he moved to Deadwood, where he met and married Helen Phillips. For a time he worked for Boeing in Seattle, but moved back to the Black Hills to raise his young family.

After many years working for the Homestake Gold Mine, he and Helen decided to go trucking, working for East West Trucking out of Piedmont.

Survivors include his mother, Rose, of the Good Samaritan Center in Selby; two sons, Donnie Holzer of Pittsfield, Mass., and Rodney Holzer of Springfield; two daughters, Tammie Streckfuss of Watertown and Lana Ulmer of Rapid City; three brothers, Kenny Holzer and wife Virginia of Mobridge, David Holzer of Denver, Colo., and Frankie Holzer of Trail City; one sister, Carol Schweitzer of Aberdeen; 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife Helen, he was preceded in death by his daughter Patty and his father, Frank.