Wesley "Wes" Jones

Wesley Charles Jones, age 86, passed away Monday, January 24, 2022, at Avantara Arlington Nursing Home, Arlington, SD. Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 27, 2022, at Lake Preston Lutheran Church in Lake Preston, SD, and available on Facebook Live via the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel Facebook page. Vicar Brad Sanderson will officiate.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, from 5-7 p.m. at the Lake Preston Lutheran Church in Lake Preston, SD.

Burial will be at the Lake Preston Cemetery in Lake Preston, SD.  Military graveside honors will be conducted by Porter L. Rich American Legion, Post 63, of Lake Preston.  Active pallbearers will be Kyle Hesby, Lynn Hesby, Tony Nelson, Kurt Nelson, Brad Hesby, Jeff Hesby, Greg Hesby, and Mike Hesby.

Wes was born March 10, 1935, to Johnny and Maxine (Barber) Jones. He grew up on the family farm south of Lake Preston.

Wes attended school in a one room school house through the eighth grade. He went to high school in Lake Preston, where he met the love of his life, Helen Hesby. He graduated from Lake Preston High School in 1953.

After high school, Wes went to one year of Agricultural School in Brookings and graduated in 1954. Then he started farming with his dad in 1954.

He married Helen Hesby on November 26, 1955, and they began their married life on a farm south of Lake Whitewood.

Wes joined the Army National Guard in 1957, spending two and a half months in Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and three and a half months at Fort Eustis, VA. He then came home in the fall of 1957, and went back to farming. He went to Guard Camps and drills until 1960. Wes then transferred to the Regular Army Reserves and was discharged in 1964, with a Spec. 4 rating.

In December of 2021, Wes became a member of the Porter L. Rich American Legion Post 63.

Wes and Helen were blessed to be married 66 years. To this union they had four children: Tamela Kaye, Steven Wesley, Bruce Allen, and Shelia Marie.

In 1962, Wes and Helen bought the Pete Larson farm and Wes farmed until his retirement in 2000.

Wes loved his family, faith, and being a farmer. He especially loved raising cattle and working the farmland. He also raised hogs.

In his retirement Wes enjoyed wood working, making projects for family, and running the combine for his renters.

Wes served on many different committees: Lake Preston School Board for 3 years, Methodist Church Board for 50+ years, and Wes and Helen sang for many funerals ever since he got married.

Wes was a member of the United Methodist Church and then became a member of the Lake Preston Lutheran Church.

January 4, 2019, Wes moved into Silver Plains Assisted Living. Then in April of 2021, he moved to Avantara Arlington Nursing Home.

Wes was preceded in death by his parents, Johnny and Maxine (Barber) Jones, and other family members who have gone before him.

Survivors include his wife, Helen of Lake Preston, SD; two sons, Steve (Dawn) Jones of Lake Preston, SD, and Bruce (Sandy) Jones of Aberdeen, SD; two daughters, Tamela (David) Gilbery of Lead, SD, and Sheila (Kevin) Carlson of North Sioux City, SD; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and a host of cousins, brothers- and sisters- in-law, nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel         www.crawfordosthus.com

Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant

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