Gerald "Jerry" Hanten

Gerald J. Hanten, age 79, of Webster, SD passed away peacefully on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2021, after a courageous battle with Interstitial Lung Disease.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, November 19, 2021, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Webster. Military interment will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Watertown.

Visitation will be on Thursday from 5:00-7:00 P.M., followed by a rosary service at Christ the King Catholic Church in Webster.

Memorials may be directed to any of the following of your choice:

-Salvation Army

621 4th Street SE

Watertown, SD 57201

-Wounded Warrior Project

PO Box 758516

Topeka, KS 66675-8516

-American Legion

700 N. Pennsylvania St.

Indianapolis, IN 46206

Gerald “Jerry” Hanten was born in Watertown, SD, on May 9, 1942, to Albert and Margaret (Tholl) Hanten. He attended Garfield School for two years, Immaculate Conception Grade School, and graduated from Watertown High School in 1960.

Following high school, Jerry worked at Schweigers and Bill's D.S. in Watertown for several years. He also worked with his father at General Sales and Service Brake Shop.

He enlisted in the South Dakota National Guard in 1964 and served in the Army National Guard for twenty-two years. During this time, he moved to Webster. In 1969, he married Carol Dalton of Henry, SD, and also began full-time employment with the Army National Guard. In June 1972, he was called into duty to help in the Rapid City Flood.

Jerry started his own starter and alternator repair shop (Hanten's Repair) in 1972 and worked at this part-time until he retired from the National Guard in May 1985. Hanten’s Repair then became his full-time and lifelong passion until November 2021.

He was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church in Webster, as well as the Watertown Elks Club, Herbert McKennettAmerican Legion Post #40, Lake Area Pistol Club, and National Rifleman's Association.

Jerry loved fishing and giving his family tours of the local lakes. He enjoyed hunting deer, pheasants, geese, turkey, and ducks. Jerry loved to fix things and was even diagnosing car problems from his hospital bed. He always had a story to share or a joke to tell. He loved to be around people, and loved to see them laugh! He had a strong work ethic, but he always put his family first. His children and grandchildren were his greatest source of happiness.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Carol, of Webster, SD; his daughter, Jenny (Richard) Konechne of Hartford, SD; two sons, Cody (Sarah) of Groton, SD, and Ben (Brook) of Yankton, SD; ten grandchildren, Preston, Kyle, Sawyer, and Ashton Konechne; Alexis, Caleb, Teagan, and Gavin Hanten; Jane and Jill Hanten; two sisters-in-law, Carol Hanten of River Falls, WI, and Carroll Hanten of Pierre, SD; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his wife’s family, Sharon (Quenton) Sonnenfeld, Golden, CO; Marlin (Barb) Dalton, Amherst, NH; Kenneth (Marilynn) Dalton, Littleton, CO; Lowell (Barbara) Dalton, Clark, SD; Donna (Steve) Johnson, Watertown, SD; and Angela Dalton, Sioux Falls, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his three brothers Jack, Dick, and Robert, as well as his father-in-law John Dalton, mother-in-law Ann Dalton, sister-in-law Martha Hanten, and brothers-in-law Keith Dalton and Duane Dalton.