High School Graduation

Senior Album

Jerry & Ruby

1950

Woodworking

January, 1989

 Gerald Alexander Grover was born at his parents' home on March 19, 1918.  He grew up on his father's farms in Clay County.

Jerry was a high school football star at the Moorhead Teacher's College High School.  In 1938 the University of Minnesota was ranked #1 in the nation in football.  Long before the time of big-time athletics, they offered him a full football scholarship.  Jerry declined; he didn't like school much and he certainly did not want to spend any time in a big city like Minneapolis.  Jerry loved the land and his animals; farming was all he ever wanted to do.

On October 1, 1940, Jerry took the oath in the US Army in Moorhead.  He was processed into the service at Fort Snelling MN on April 4, 1941.  He served in Texas and California, and arrived in  the European Theatre just as the war in Europe was ending.  He served in the army of occupation as a member of the military police in France and Germany.  Jerry was discharged at Fort McCoy WI on January 24, 1946.

A letter home

During his time in the service, Jerry's grandparents, his mother, and his favorite uncle all passed away.  His best friend was killed in action in Europe.  The girl he had hoped to marry had already married and started a family with someone else.  His long absence from home and his great sense of loss would have a profound impact on the rest of his life.

Jerry and Ray tried a joint farming venture, but that didn't work very well, so Jerry remained with his father.  In 1950, Jerry married Ruby Alm. The couple dated off and on before Jerry joined the army, and the relationship was renewed after his return.

In 1985, Jerry and Ruby retired to their lake home on Big Twin Lake outside Frazee MN.   He enjoyed fishing and working with wood.  Most family members have one or more of his clocks, tables, lazy susans, and other pieces he created in his workshop. 

Jerry was 71 years old when he died of cancer in May of 1989.

Gerald and Ruby are buried in Concordia Cemetery, rural Glyndon MN.