Glenn Wesley Kjerstad passed away May 27, at the age of 79, after living a rewarding life. He was born on July 15, 1945, the second oldest of four boys to George and Evelyn (McDaniel) Kjerstad. He grew up on a farm 10 miles Northeast of Quinn and attended grades 1 through 8 at Hidden Valley Country School. He then went to Wall High School and graduated in 1963. Glenn loved sports and participated in baseball, football, basketball, and track. He took pride in being able to say that he had pitched a no hit, no run, baseball game and was also the first recorded athlete at WHS to long jump over 20 feet.

In 1964, Glenn was in an automobile accident and sustained a neck injury which resulted in him having partial paralysis; he used a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. After his injury, he spent some time at home working to regain strength and to become independent. He then attended college in Kansas where he met his wife Marti and they were married in 1971. Glenn received a BA in Psychology and then went on to get his MA in Rehabilitation Counseling. In college, he played wheelchair football and did well at Disabled Pool Tournaments. In 1972, he started working for the State of Kansas in Topeka. While living in Topeka, they had two children, Greg and Denea.

In December of 1981, Glenn, Marti, and kids moved to Wall. This was the start of a new life for him as he switched roles with Marti and became a househusband. Chelsea was a later addition to the family to make it complete. Glenn felt that he was very lucky to be able to spend time with his kids, watching them grow up. People in the Wall area were always good to him and he enjoyed being able to do some volunteer work. He was a Boy Scout leader, Sunday School teacher, did billing for the Ambulance Service, helped coach youth baseball, and was a member of the Booster Club. He was able to get youth baseball started again and played an important part in getting girls volleyball started. He enjoyed watching local kids grow up and watching them in sports. He also liked to wheel around Wall, picking up trash and talking to people. Glenn and his dad were very close and spent time hunting deer, antelope, and coyotes. They also spent lots of time hunting rocks and working with rocks, cutting and polishing them for belt buckles, bolo ties, and jewelry. In 2012, he and Marti moved to Rapid City. Glenn joined the Elks Lodge and Moose Lodge. In the summers, he sprayed weeds on the sidewalks and driveways for the 75 homes in our Homeowners Association. He built several patio benches with used deck wood. In winter, he worked with his stamp and coin collections and enjoyed playing cards.

Family meant a lot to him, and he felt that he was so lucky to get a great wife and have three loving kids. He was totally grateful for his wife of 54 years who helped him though several surgeries and was there when he needed extra help later in life. Because of his nerve damage and age, he gradually started losing strength to do the things he enjoyed.

Survivors include his wife Marti and three children: son Greg (Sherrie), and daughters Denea (Brandon), and Chelsea (Ron). He has six grandchildren of whom he is quite proud: Cash, Ireland, Teagen, Italy, Silas, and Delloen. Glenn is also survived by his three brothers, Don (Monica), Gary, and Bruce (Karen) and their families; two sisters-in-law, five brothers-in-law and families; three aunts: Barbara (Larry) Byrne, Dorothy Fortune, and Bev McDaniel; and numerous Kjerstad and McDaniel cousins.

Glenn was preceded in death by his parents George and Evelyn Kjerstad; his father and mother-in-law; his grandparents; one brother-in-law; and many McDaniel and Kjerstad aunts, uncles, and cousins.

It was among Glenn's wishes to have no funeral services. His family will gather in the near future to celebrate Glenn's life.

"Remember the good times. You all made me a happy man."