Ernest Diedrich Hamer, age 83, of White, SD, passed away due to complications with liver cancer in the Emergency Room at the Brookings Hospital on Friday, December 15, 2023.  Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, December 28th, 2023, at the White United Methodist Church with burial at Greenwood Cemetery in Brookings, SD.  Visitation will be from 12:00 P.M. until the time of the funeral on Thursday at the church.  Eidsness Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Ernest was born on September 8, 1940, to Wilhelm and Marie (Kruger) Hamer in Lake Benton, MN.  He was baptized on June 27, 1943, at the Methodist church in Lake Benton, MN.  Ernest grew up on the family farm near Lake Benton and attended country grade school.  He attended Morris High School for one year before entering the United States Army.  While he was in the service, he received his GED.  Ernest honorably served his country from July 6, 1961, to June 21, 1963.  When he returned home, he tried construction for a short time before returning back to farming.

Ernest married Janice Keller on October 6, 1972.  The couple lived on an acreage outside of Lake Benton before moving on to a farm outside of White. Ernie worked the fields with corn, beans, oats, barley and sunflowers with alfalfa for the horses.  He primarily raised swine/hogs until pseudorabies attacked and spread throughout the farm.  Ernest worked at Ford Tractor in Brookings as a mechanic for two years, thereafter Ernie took to the road cross-country driving his semi-truck throughout the rest of his working career.  He was a member of Legion Post 88 in White, where he faithfully volunteered his time for his community and fellow men at arms.  Ernie was also a member of the United Methodist Church in White and would help out whenever needed.   He had several hobbies too which included going to tractor pulls with his collection of Allis-Chalmer tractors and going to farm actions.  He enjoyed gardening with his wife Janice, woodworking, solving puzzles in the winter, fishing with his friends, and playing card games.  Ernie also enjoyed listening to country western music, polka music and watching old western shows and movies.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Janice Hamer; son, John (Dali) of Clarksville, TN; daughter, Mischel Anderson of Sioux Falls; Five Grandchildren; Bradly Hamer of Michigan; Jason Hamer of Clarksville, TN; Morgan Terveen (Tayden Vandenberg) of Emery, SD; Rylee Terveen of Emery, SD, and Justice Anderson of Sioux Falls, SD; and a Great-Grandson; Caelyn Terveen of Emery; brother, Earl (Shirley) Hamer of Brookings; sisters-in-law, Donna Thurow (Brandon) and Viola Keller (Arlington) and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, brothers; August, Herbert Sr., Carl, and Bill; and sister; Gladys, all from his immediate family, along with various in-laws, a niece and nephews as well.      'God be with you 'till we meet again'