Gerald "Jerry" Nichols, 63, died Tuesday at the Royal C. Johnson Veteran's Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

Gerald was born October 31, 1944 in Newburyport, MA to Freeman and Mildred (Munro) Nichols. He grew up in East Sullivan, NH and graduated from Keene High School in 1962 where he participated in track and field and baseball. Jerry entered the US Army on September 13, 1962 at Fort Hamilton, NY. After his discharge on July 13, 1965 he resided in Florida until moving to Lake Havasu City, AZ in 1971. Jerry married JoAnn Anderson Babcock on June 23, 1979 in Las Vegas, NV and they lived in Mesa, AZ until they moved to Flandreau, SD in 1992. Jerry was employed by Loiseau Construction as a heavy equipment operator until retiring in November 2006. He was a member of the International Operating Engineers and Operating Engineers Local #428 for 20 years and the Mesa Moose Lodge. Jerry loved camping, fishing, yard work, music, birds, sports, cooking his famous chili and his kitty, Dakotah.

He is survived by his wife, JoAnn; three stepchildren, Jim (Rita) Babcock, Kenai, AK, Janet Babcock, Sioux Falls, Laurie (Kerry) Thomas, Flandreau; numerous step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews; one sister, Nikki Gonzalez, Tucson; two brothers, Bill (Nancy) Nichols, Tucson, Jim (Judy) Nichols, Pinetop, AZ; one brother-in-law, Larry Anderson, Flandreau; and one sister-in-law, Barbara Anderson (Erik Ferguson), Brandon, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Freeman Nichols, Jr.; one sister, Cheryl Ann Gline; and a stepson, Charles Dean Babcock.

Funeral services will be 10:30 am Saturday at the Second Presbyterian Church with burial in Union Cemetery. Visitation begins at 2:00 pm Friday with a 7:00 pm prayer service at Skroch Funeral Chapel.