Sioux Falls, SD
Jerry L. Sodemann, age 73, was born on August 20, 1942 in Luverne, MN to Lloyd and Bonnie (Gertz) Sodemann. He moved with his family to Worthington, MN and there began his seventh grade of school and went on to graduate from Worthington High School.
Jerry married Peggy Deuth, and together they had one son, Stephen Sodemann. He and Peggy later divorced. Years later, he married Mary Ann Sather and they had a daughter, Nicole Sodemann. This marriage was later dissolved.
On September 23, 1998, Jerry was united in marriage to Diana (Simonsen) Hofer in Sturgis, SD. They lived in Viborg, SD for a number of years before moving to Sioux Falls.
Jerry had a passion for fast cars and owned a lot of them over his lifetime. He also loved being on the open road as a long distance truck driver. He owned a number of his own tractors and trailers and leased with different companies over the years. He could tell you the best and fastest route to drive for just about any destination. Jerry was also a cowboy at heart and lived out his dream of being a cowboy riding horses as a youth all over Luverne playing Cowboys and Indians. Jerry’s love for horses continued as he grew up and showed many horses, even winning “the World in Show: with his favorite Palomino horse, Rusty Gold Bars. He enjoyed traveling with the horses and riding in numerous parades with teams of horses pulling wagons and throwing Sather’s Candy to all kids anxiously waiting in the street. Jerry rode into the sunset on his last ride in life on the third day of May, 2016.
Left behind to cherish his memory is his son, Stephen (Carmen) Sodemann; sister, Margaret Hartog of Worthington, MN; brother, William Sodemann of Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren, Jerry R. Sodemann, Jessica L. Sodemann, and Ryan B. Sodemann; nephews, David (Coleen) Sodemann, Eric Sodemann, Daniel (Shelly) Hartog, and Charles (Cheryl) Hartog, and nieces, Holly (Sanchez) Guerrero, Amy Hartog Mick, and Julie (Scott) Hoffman. Jerry would have been a great grandfather to Lucas Sodemann, who is expected to come into this world very soon.
Jerry was preceded in death by his loving wife, Diana; his father and mother; brother, James; grandparents, Otto and Dorothy Sodemann; grandmother, Margaret Gertz, and his beautiful infant daughter, Nicole.
A time of gathering with family and friends will be held on Friday, May 6, 2016, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington, MN. Burial will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2016, at 10:00 a.m., at the Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne, MN.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorials.
Benson Funeral Home in Worthington is in charge of the arrangements.
