GERALD L. ‘JERRY’ ALLEN

GERALD L. ‘JERRY’ ALLEN
Oct. 5, 1934–Feb. 2, 2021
Gerald L. “Jerry” Allen of Rapid City, S.D., passed away Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021.
Jerry was born in Oklahoma City, Okla., to Arthur L. Allen and Thelma L. Piatt. He graduated from Southeast High School, Oklahoma City, and graduated University of Oklahoma in 1959; he was a member of Delta Sigma Phi.
Jerry was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, 28th Bomb Wing, Strategic Air Command, and served in the Vietnam War. Most of his career he was a navigator bombardier on a B-52 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Commendation Medal, and numerous other medals for completing more than 250 missions. He later was the director of Intelligence and Air Ops Officer at Ellsworth Air Force Base until his retirement in 1980 as a lieutenant colonel. He was a member of the Military Officers of America Association, 4th ACCS, VA, Pheasants Forever and Black Hills Flyfishers.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Linda K. Bradley; children, Mark Allen, Megan Allen Stone, Andrea (Patrick) Gonzales of Oceanside, Calif., and Lisa Allen of Texas; grandchildren, Molly Stone, Sarah Stone, Ariana, Aidan, Alex, Patrick Jr. (Ashley, great-granddaughter Addilyn) Gonzales of California; sister, Carolyn (Jim) Jones; nephews, Chuck Harris, Curt Harris (Molly and grandnephew Boston) of Oklahoma City; brothers-in-law, Jack C. Bradley and Bob Martin; niece and nephews; and mother-in-law,
Lola Bradley. 
He was predeceased by his parents; daughter, Sharon; son, Joseph; grandson, Ben Stone; two stepsons; father-in-law, Jack C. Bradley Sr., and sister-in-law, Lolly Martin.
His family said: Jerry loved the outdoors: hunting, fly fishing, Bluewater fishing, skiing, and living in the Black Hills along Rapid Creek. He and Linda enjoyed dancing and were members of 39 Dance Club, attending the Black Hills Symphony, and traveling. He was a wonderful husband, best friend and loved from the minute he and Linda met. Their life together for over 40 years was an adventure full of family, friends and a love story of joy being together. Jerry is so missed, and he will be remembered with love and appreciation for sharing his love and life.
He will rest in the Black Hills and the Black Hills National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held in the summer of 2021. Memorials are for Pheasants Forever, Black Hills Flyfishing and S.D. Youth Hunting Adventures. Online condolences can be left at osheimschmidt.com.