Geraldine (Jeri) Colleen Ballard passed away on March 4, 2025, supported by her children at Friendly Horizons of the Black Hills in Summerset, SD.  She was 85 years old. Jeri was born on August 13, 1939, to Doug Hammon and Elvira Wickman in Valentine, NE. She was the oldest of 4 children.

Jeri graduated from Valentine High School in 1957. Jeri loved music, played piano and clarinet, and sang in the school chorus and at church.  She had a beautiful voice.  Most notably was the 79-year bond she formed with her childhood friends who called themselves the Jolly J's (Jeanne, Janice, Jane, and Jeri).

In 1960 Jeri earned her registered nursing degree from West Nebraska General Hospital in Scottsbluff. Nursing was her lifelong passion and identity.  Jeri's RN positions included the State Hospital in Hastings, NE, Cherry County Hospital, Valentine Clinic, and Valentine Middle School.  Jeri applied her nursing skills around the Kennedy & Simeon ranching communities.  She was called to clean and bandage a wound, check blood pressure, rehabilitate and care for a neighbor, lend a compassionate ear, or assist with a livestock medical emergency.

Jeri married Richard Lee Ballard on August 27, 1960, in Valentine, NE at the Presbyterian Church. They lived in Hastings for a year and then returned to Cherry County for the next 48 years where they lived 30 miles south of Valentine on the Charming Valley Ranch. Lisa Rene was born to this union in 1961 and Bradley Lee in 1963, both her pride and joy.

Jeri balanced her RN career with raising her children, caring for aging parents, and supporting Dick on the ranch.  Cooking was her second passion, and she always set extra places at the table to feed the hay crew, a hired man, relatives and neighbors.  Her branding day dinners were well known.

Jeri enjoyed community bridge parties, working on ceramics with Ruthie and friends, and organizing holiday parties and other events centered around District 5 School and the 4-H Club House.  She attended 4-H horse and cattle shows and was the 4-H cooking leader.  Jeri always had a small dog around the house and didn't mind the kids taming a baby raccoon, skunk, beaver, barn mice, or the occasional snake.  Dick and Jeri became mentors to many young people and nieces and nephews when they came to live and work on the ranch. Many commented that it was their second home and how much they learned from them.

She was a member of the Minnehaha Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star where she held many offices including Worthy Matron and was the Guardian of Job's Daughters.

In 1984 Jeri bought Alkali Fish Camp where she and Dick operated it for 23 years. Her compassion with and love of people and outgoing personality built a destination fishing and camping spot in the Sandhills. Dick and Jeri cherished the numerous customers and their families that became lifelong friends.

Dick and Jeri sold the ranch in 2009 then moved to the Black Hills where they settled near Keystone, SD.  They quickly made new friends and finally had time to take numerous cruises, visit grandchildren and enjoy retirement.

Geraldine was preceded in death by her husband Dick in 2015, her parents, sisters Sharon Kluender and Connie Peterson, and brother-in-law Bob Kluender.  She is survived by her children Lisa Osburn (Shane) of Midland, SD and son, Bradley Ballard (Amy) of Hermosa, SD; grandchildren Trey Osburn (Megan) of Columbus, MT, Trepper Osburn and Sky Losleben of Twin Bridges, MT, and Trent Osburn and Chelsea Abbott of Sula, MT, Nicole Ballard of Hamilton, MT, and Brian Ballard of Park Falls, WI; great grandchildren Luke and Laura Osburn of Columbus, MT; brother Bob Hammon (Jan) of Pauma Valley, CA and brother-in-law Sam Peterson of Lincoln, NE, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services for Geraldine "Jeri" Ballard will be held Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Valentine Presbyterian Church in Valentine, NE by Rev. Gary Smith at a 2:00 p.m. service. A visitation will be held on Friday, March 14 from 5-7 p.m. at Sandoz Chapel of the Pines. Burial follows at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine. Sandoz Chapel of the Pines will oversee the arrangements.  In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Sandhills Cancer Fund.