Vernon E. Just

Vernon E. Just, age 100, of Tripp, passed away Friday, August 6, 2021 at the Good Samaritan Society of Tyndall.

His memorial service will be at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, August 11th at the Emmaus Lutheran Church of Tripp. Burial will be in the Grace Hill Cemetery with military honors by the Tripp American Legion and the South Dakota National Guard.

Visitation will be 5:00 - 7:00 PM, Tuesday, August 10th, at the Emmaus Lutheran Church, with a 7:00 PM prayer service.

Vernon Emil Just, was born June 16, 1921 at Wood Lake, MN to Emil and Marie (Plath) Just. He attended school and graduated from St. John parochial and high school in 1938. He farmed and worked at the grain elevator feed mill in Wood Lake until he enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942.

The service sent him to Montana State College and Airplane Mechanic School to work on the B-17s and B-29s and then on to Tinian Island until his discharge in 1946. He then enrolled in the University of Minnesota animal nutrition program, but later was offered a good position with a grain elevator.

On October 3, 1948 he was united in marriage to Gloria Frohrip. After seven years and five children, he loaded up the 1956 Chevy station wagon and moved to Tripp, South Dakota after he purchased a grain elevator with a feed mill.

Vern was a member of the American Legion for 77 years. He was a member of the Volunteer Fire Department for 30 years. He was active in his church. He loved participating in many sports including bowling, fishing, billiards, dancing and playing cards. But his true passion came with golf.

He and Gloria purchased a home in Apache Wells in Mesa, AZ in 1984 where they continued to spend winters for 30 years. He and Gloria sold their homes and moved to Sioux Falls in 2015 and recently to Tyndall, SD. Vern will be remembered for always leaving a place better than when he arrived.

We are thankful for the over 150 who attended his 100th birthday party. He loved seeing and visiting with all of you.

Grateful for having shared his life with his wife for over 72 years, Gloria; four daughters, Cleo (Bob) Lephart, Marietta, GA, Kay (Larry) Jerke, Mitchell, SD, Becky (Jim) Friman, Tripp, SD, and Rachel (Bob) Heisinger, Tripp, SD; one son, Bob (Karen) Just, Tripp, SD; 13 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Richard; his brothers, Harold and Les; and sisters, Alice, Leona and Elvera.