Scottsbluff Star Hearld Scottsbluff, NE 8 May 2007 RAPID CITY, S.D. - Jerome M. Drager, 73, died Friday, May 4, 2007, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 9, at Faith Lutheran Church in Rapid City with Pastor Bruce Baum officiating. Inurnment will take place at 3 p.m., Friday, May 9, at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, S.D. Memorials have been established for the Black Hills Humane Society and Faith Lutheran Church. Arrangements have been placed in the care of Behrens Wilson Funeral Home of Rapid City and condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.behrenswilson.com. Jerry was born Jan. 31, 1934, in Norfolk, Neb. to Robert E. and Edna (Mueller) Drager. He graduated from Rapid City High School in 1952. On June 13, 1951, he was employed as a laborer in the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Roundhouse. After high school, on June 11, 1952, he was hired as a Locomotive Fireman with the same railroad. In 1965, following graduation from Black Hills State College, he became a Trainmaster/ Traveling Engineer until his retirement from the C & NW in December of 1994. Jerry entered the U.S. Army Feb. 16, 1954, and spent 15 months in Korea and Japan. He was honorably discharged Feb. 9, 1956. Jerry married Sheryl Allen Nov. 18, 1959, in Rapid City. To this union, two children were born Amy Stokes of Edgemont, S.D. and Jay Drager of Alliance, Neb. Following his retirement, Jerry went to work as an engineer on the Nebkota Railroad in Chadron and the Black Hills Central Railroad in Hill City, S.D. He was also a substitute teacher in the Rapid City schools. Jerry enjoyed traveling and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was a member of the C & NW Historical Society and Faith Lutheran Church. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Sherrie, of Rapid City; children, Amy (Jon) Stokes of Edgemont, S.D. and Jay (Nora) Drager of Alliance; six grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, Lawrence and Lavada Allen of Knoxville, Tenn.; sisters and brother-in-law, Joan and Jerry Johnson of Williamsburg, Va. and Bonnie Blomberg of Salem, Va. Preceding him in death were his parents, sister and brother-in-law Renee and Marvin Johnson and sister-in-law Elaine DeBoer.