James Charles "Jim" Merges

James "Jim" Merges, age 87, of Colman, passed away on Monday, July 3, 2023, at the Flandreau Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at St. Peter Parish in Colman with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 P.M. on Friday at Skroch Funeral Chapel in Colman with a Liturgical Prayer Service beginning at 7 P.M.
Jim was born to Charles and Barbara (Klink) Merges on December 6, 1935, in Dell Rapids SD. He grew up on a farm with his parents and two sisters, Dolores and Elaine. Jim was a lifelong member of St. Peter Catholic Church in Colman, SD, and assisted in building the new church.
Jim attended Allen Country School through his elementary years and graduated from Colman High School in 1953. He also joined the Army National Guard in 1953. Jim followed in his dad's footsteps and continued farming with his sons throughout his life.
Jim met the love of his life, Betty in 1957, at a dance at the Dell Rapids Pavilion. They dated for three years and were married on May 3, 1960. Jim and Betty were blessed with a son, Ken in April of 1961.
During the Berlin Crisis, Jim's National Guard Unit was called to duty. Jim, Betty, and infant son Ken relocated to Fort Sill, OK in the fall of 1961. While there, Jim and Betty were blessed with their daughter, Kathy in March of 1962.
Jim's dad was severely burned while preparing for spring planting, therefore Jim was granted an honorable discharge from the service. He and his young family then made the trek from OK to SD so Jim could take over the responsibilities of the farm.
In October of 1963, Jim and Betty received another blessing, their second son, Roger. In April of 1966, Jim and Betty received perhaps their most special blessing, their second daughter, Susan.
Jim was a Board Member of the Colman Farmers Co-op and very active in the NFO. He taught his children so many life lessons - especially so in his strong faith. He was a man of firm belief with God and the Catholic Church at the forefront of all.
Jim and Betty celebrated 63 years of marriage this last May. They traveled to McAllen, Texas every winter from 1984 through 2020 - making many lifelong friends. This was a trip Jim looked forward to every year.
Jim enjoyed many past - times, hobbies, and special interests throughout his life including hunting, fishing, bowling, grandchildren, and great-children. Most of all, Jim very much loved his wife Betty & "the farm" and farming.
In Jim's "Retirement", he continued to do whatever was needed to help out on the farm and worked for Skroch Funeral Chapel starting in 1994. Up until just a few short weeks prior to Jim's journey to Heaven, he continued to "farm" and assist at Skroch Funeral Chapel - doing whatever was needed to help.
Jim loved life and lived his life with discipline. He was the life of every party and is most likely doing the same in his heavenly home. He had a sense of humor that his family will always treasure.
Survivors include his loving wife, Betty; sisters, Dolores Merges of Dell Rapids and Elaine List of Yankton; brother-in-Law, Omar Hinricher of Colorado; sister-in-law, Rosie McCarthy of Minnesota; son, Ken Merges (Gale) of Colman, SD; daughter, Kathy Cernoch (Richard) of LaGrange, TX; son, Roger Merges (Brenda) of Colman, SD; daughter, Susan Merges of Sioux Falls, SD; five granddaughters: Alica Haroldson (Britt), Carly Clare (Dominique), Kelsey Merges, Katie Pape (Nich), Kelli Robinson (Zach); great-grandchildren: Donovan, Bodie, Everest, Simmone, Van, Shaw, Farrah, and Townes and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Barbara Merges; father and mother-in-law, John and Martha Groos, sisters-in-law, Bernice Heinricher, Lois Heim, and Dorothy Groos; and brothers-in-law, Joe Heim, John McCarthy, and Bob List.