Jerald Weldon Stephens passed away March 21, 2021 at Avera St. Mary’s in Pierre, South Dakota. Visitation will be from 9:00 – 10:00am, Saturday, March 27, 2021 at Feigum Funeral home with Funeral Services at 10:00am. Burial will follow at the Onida Cemetery.

Jerald Weldon Stephens was born to Charlie & Lillian Stephens in Goodlett, Texas on January 18, 1942. He and his family moved to Onida, South Dakota in the spring of 1949 on April Fool’s Day. There, he finished the first grade and completed eighth grade at North Summit School in Sully County. He then attended the Onida High School where he graduated in 1960. Weldon, as he was called throughout childhood and his adult years, lettered in Football, Basketball and Track each of his four years of high school. He was a very good athlete, with a state record for the high jump in 1960.

Upon graduating from High School, Weldon attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, South Dakota, graduating in 1964 with a degree in Education and Coaching. He went on to teach and coach three sports in New Effington, South Dakota before returning to Northern State to acquire his Master’s Degree in Education Administration.

While teaching in New Effington, Weldon met and married Carol Jean (Laing) Streich, a widow with a young son, Theron, whom he adopted as his own. Weldon and Carol were blessed four years later with another son, Travis.

After obtaining his Master’s Degree, Weldon became a secondary high school principal at Grand Duel High School for one year before moving to Akeley, Minnesota where he served as principal for eleven years before retiring from education.

Weldon went into private business for a few years before moving back to Texas where he continued in private business plus real estate.

He moved back to Onida in 1993 whereupon he bought his family farm and the Mosiman Hotel, which he operated as the Wheatland Inn until his son, Theron, took over in 2018.

He is survived by his brothers, Charles (Sandy) Stephens; Dennis Stephens; sisters Cheryl (Lee) Savell; and Dena (John) Johnston; sons Theron (Kelli) Stephens; and Travis (Sheila) Stephens; grandchildren Ashley Stephens, Carly Stephens & Kolton Stephens; step-grandson Justin Davey; and great-grandchildren Vienna Stephens, Kason Pineo, and Kline Stephens; many loved ones and friends.

Weldon was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie & Lillian and one sister, Judy.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent in Weldon’s name to Sully County Historical Society at PO Box 121, Agar, SD, 57520.

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