George Turner lived long and well

George O. Turner, 95, died May 11, 2024, at his home on Lake Oahe near New Evarts with beloved family members.

George was born March 21, 1929, in Selby, SD to Othiol and Ruby (Ray) Turner. Their home was in the country several miles south of Glenham, where his family farmed. He lived with his parents and two sisters, Betty Jeanne and Virginia. They attended a country school to which George regularly rode his horse, Gypsy, getting there earlier than anyone so he could start the fire and have it warm by the time the other students and teacher showed up in the morning. Times were tough in the '30's, but made much harder when his mother died of a kidney disease when George was just 11. For a time, Othiol moved his family to Idaho where he found work, but they came back to the farm and George graduated from high school in Glenham. His grandparents, George W. Turner (the Farmer Wrestler, who became the SD wrestling champion) and his wife Erma, were instrumental in George's childhood.

During the Korean War, George wanted to see the world beyond the prairies and enlisted in the US Air Force. He trained in San Antonio, TX and IL and then was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, WA. He was an engine mechanic for B-36 bombers. George was a team leader and led a crew of men, obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.

It was during his time in Spokane that he met Eleanor Miner, a city girl who said she fell in love with him because of his kindness and good looks. They married there in 1954, then he brought her back to the SD farm. She didn't know what she was in for as she'd never even laid eyes on the state or met any of George's family. Despite the inevitable hard times, they continued to farm, had 6 children and were happily married until Eleanor died too soon.

By the time George retired from farming in 2001, they had built a home on Lake Oahe, three miles from where he grew up, where both of them lived to the end of their lives, as they had dreamed of doing for years.

Together they had enjoyed traveling, playing golf, dancing, hosting their large family at their home and playing cards.

In 2009, George married Shirlie Rinehart of Mobridge and they lived together until her death in 2014.

George wrote a memoir in which he referred to his six children as a "herd of thoroughbreds". He is survived by all of them: Steve Turner (Roxane) of Clearwater, KS; Kim Turner (Michael O'Bleness) of Oracle, AZ; Pat Turner (DeLinda) of Belle Fourche, SD; Fran Rinehart (Jeff) of Blackhawk, SD; Catherine Turner (Brad Coleman) of Parker, CO; and Kurt Turner (Loraine) of Brookings, SD, as well as 13 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild.

George was preceded in death by his wives, his parents, his sisters Betty Jeanne Johnson (West) and Virginia "Ginger" Dwight (Don), and one grandson.

A mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, May 24 at 11:00am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mobridge. Burial will be July 5 at 1:30pm, to coordinate with a pre-planned family reunion in the Black Hills, at Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge, with military honors. He will be buried alongside Eleanor.

The Turner children are grateful for all the support they've been given and want to give a special thank you to Betty Seick, who gave him much happiness in his last 10 years.