James Fenton Weaver

James Fenton Weaver, 91, of Clark died Monday, May 10, 2021 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls surrounded by his family.

Funeral Services will be Friday, May 14, 2021, at 2:00 PM at Furness Funeral Home in Clark.   Visitation will be 2 hours prior to services.  The Rev. Randy Bader will officiate. Burial will follow at Hague Cemetery south of Clark with full military honors being performed by the Cagley-Smith American Legion Post # 60 of Clark and the Air Force Honor Guard.

James Fenton Weaver was born on March 18, 1930, in Olean, New York, the son of Dr. Fenton and Helen (Seeley) Weaver.  He attended school in Cuba and graduated from Cuba High School in 1949, enjoying many summers on Lake Cuba.  He entered the Air Force and served at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota.  There he met a young teacher, who was a USO hostess at the Air Force Service Men's Club, by the name of Gloria Fechtelkotter.  We are certain it was Jim's fine dancing skills that swept her off her feet.  Jim and Gloria were married in the Base Chapel at Weaver Air Force Base, now known as Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City, on January 26, 1952.    He served in the Air Force from 1950-1954 and was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant.  After his discharge from the Air Force, Jim attended college at the University of South Dakota and graduated with an education degree.  Jim taught high school social studies and served various roles including guidance counselor, driver's education and drama teacher.  He taught in Menno, Parker, Lake Preston and Hitchcock before moving back to Gloria's home area of Clark County.  There he worked on the family farm and then spent several years working at Chef Ready Foods in Clark and Benchmark Foam in Watertown.  After he retired, he continued to live in Clark and made regular trips to the farm near Carpenter to mow and to report to his sons the deer and pheasant counts for hunting season.

His hobbies included model trains, coin collecting and making puzzles.  He also enjoyed dancing, boating and camping.

Happy to share his life include his two sons, Jim (Kelly) Weaver of Aberdeen and Daryl Weaver of Sioux Falls; two granddaughters, Lauren (Nick) Bittner of Aberdeen and Kimberly Weaver of Sioux Falls; and two great grandchildren, Lennon and Gavin Bittner.  He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Alita Weaver of Queensbury, New York along with many nieces and nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria; his parents; brother, Don; and brothers and sister-in-laws, Delwin Fechtelkotter and Harlo (Jean) Fechtelkotter.

Memorials, condolences in lieu of flowers should be made to the Hague Lutheran Cemetery % Peace Lutheran Church at Clark.

The Furness Funeral Home at Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com.