Gerald Allen Ackerman, age 79, of Hills, Minnesota, died Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
A public visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, with the family present at the Community Reformed Church of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Nov. 17, at Eastside Cemetery near Steen, Minnesota. A memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at the Community Reformed Church of Sioux Falls, with Rev. Clyde Teel officiating.
Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills, Minnesota, is in charge of services.
Gerald (Jerry) Allen Ackerman was born Aug. 10, 1946, in Luverne, Minnesota, the son of Henry and Gertrude (Van Hill) Ackerman. He was raised on a family farm near Beaver Creek, Minnesota. He graduated from Beaver Creek High School in 1964.
He was united in marriage to Betty J. Wassenaar on Sept. 10, 1965, at the Steen Reformed Church. On Nov. 16, 1965, Gerald entered the U. S. Army and served his country faithfully in Vietnam. He received his honorable discharge on Nov. 28, 1968, and returned home to his wife, Betty, in Valley Springs, South Dakota.
He began working as an appliance and a TV service technician at Max Pasley Dist. for several years. In 1990 he began working as a regional service manager for Maytag. In 1998 he and Betty moved to Florida where he worked as a service manager for Fields Appliance. In 2013 they moved to a home in Hills, Minnesota. Jerry officially retired in 2022.
Jerry enjoyed playing fastpitch softball for the Valley Springs Town Team, golfing, fishing, woodworking and attending H-BC High School sporting events. He especially enjoyed following his 19 grandchildren’s activities. He was proud to be a Veteran and of his military service. He served many roles in the churches that he and Betty attended over the years, and his faith in his Lord, Jesus Christ, was the foundation of his life.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Betty Ackerman of Hills, Minnesota; four children, Laurie Kraayenbrink of Sibley, Iowa, LeAnn (Denny) Olhausen of Alta, Iowa, Lonny (Jodi) Ackerman of Brandon, South Dakota, LaVonne (Jason) Dyer of St. Michael, Minnesota, and their other special daughter/niece, Jill (Jim) Reindl of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 19 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; four siblings, Joann Bos of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Judy DeRuyter of Tucson, Arizona, Marv (Karen) Ackerman of Valley Springs, South Dakota, and Connie (Randy) Bakker of Brandon, South Dakota; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Gertrude Ackerman; son-in-law, Mike Kraayenbrink; brother, Pete Ackerman; Betty’s twin sister Beverly Wassenaar; a nephew, Steven Ackerman, and many other beloved family members.
