James Dean Lebert

James (Jim) Dean Lebert, age 76, passed away at his home on September 1, 2024, in Aurora, CO. Jim was born on February 1, 1948, in Winner, SD, to Roy and Dema (Christiansen) Lebert, Jim was the youngest of eight children. He grew up on the family farm south of Dallas, SD, and attended country school at Sunnyview School, a one-room country school where his mother, Dema, was the sole teacher for all eight grades. Jim graduated from Gregory High School in 1966, boarding in town during the week. His father had passed away in 1959 and his mother was tragically killed in a car accident the summer after his graduation. Jim attended Huron College in the fall before joining the US Marine Corps during the height of the Vietnam War. He honorably served his two-year military commitment in Okinawa, working as a cook.
Following his military service, Jim moved to the Denver, CO, area as had several high school friends and worked construction. He married Karen Polly and they later divorced. He started a sandwich truck business selling lunches at construction sites, then drove for Yellow Cab for a number of years. After a long career, Jim retired from Swift Transportation and later worked part-time delivering medical parcels.
Like all of the family, Jim worked hard on the farm, milking cows, raking and stacking hay and driving truck for the combiners. He played baseball during summers and participated in football and wrestling while in high school. Jim was a really good pool player, too, learning to play at the pool hall in Gregory while in high school and playing a lot even after moving to Colorado. He loved to golf, taking up the game after moving to Denver. This sport also proved to be an effective "physical therapy" in helping him recover from a devastating car accident six years ago.
Jim enjoyed going to the Denver Stock Show with family and friends each year. Although living a distance away from most of us, Jim was intentional about staying in touch. He called frequently and rarely missed wishing you a happy birthday with an early morning phone call. He seemed to take pride in being the first to say, "Happy Birthday!" We all will miss those calls.
Jim is survived by his sister Kathryn Winter, brother-in-law Harold Winter, 27 nieces and nephews, and numerous great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Dema Lebert; siblings Faye Beck, Arlene Graesser, Bill Lebert, Marie Spurling, Jean Steffen, Lou Lebert; and in-laws Max Beck, Walt Graesser, Ed Spurling, Dick Steffen, and Kay Lebert, along with six nieces and nephews.
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Memorial services for Jim Lebert, age 76, of Aurora, CO, were held at Prairie View Gospel Barn, Gregory, SD, on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 2:00 pm with Pastor Keith Cline officiating.
Scripture Reading Psalm 8 was read by Doug Steffen.
Congregational Hymns were "How Deep the Father's Love" and "Victory in Jesus."
Military honors were given by the National Honors Team.
Inurnment was in the IOOF Cemetery, Gregory, SD.