Gerald Lacher

Gerald Lacher, 75, of Bismarck, formerly of Lebanon, SD, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the St. Anne Catholic Church, Bismarck, ND. Burial will follow at 2:00 PM at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND.

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 16, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at Bismarck Funeral Home, with a Rosary and Vigil Service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Tuesday.

Gerald (Gerry) was born on September 5, 1950, in Linton, ND, the son of Pius & Mary (Hulm) Lacher. He grew up on the family farm with ten siblings and attended school at Zeeland, ND, graduating with the class of 1968. He furthered his education at NDSCS in Wahpeton, ND, where he attained an associate’s degree in computer science.

Gerry entered the US Army in 1970 and served in Stuttgart, Germany and Ft. Dix, NJ, 1972 as SP4 (Specialist).

After being discharged from the Army, Gerry moved to the Hoven, SD area for a farm & ranch job where he met his wife, Lila Simon, after being set up by her relatives on a blind date. He married Lila at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Hoven on May 24, 1975.

They moved to Lebanon, SD, where he worked for Lila’s father, Richard Simon, in the farming and ranching business and later became a partner with Lila’s brother, Randy. Together Gerry & Lila raised their daughter, Jennifer, and twin sons, Robert and Patrick.

Gerry had a deep love for his family, reading, playing cards, hunting, tractor pulls, and mixed nuts. He especially loved playing with and teasing his grandchildren. He was active in his community as a member of the American Legion and Lebanon city council, grain elevator board member, and a volunteer on the Lebanon Fire Department, including serving as chief.

In 2016, within a year of Gerry’s retirement, he suffered a stroke, after which, he and Lila moved to Valley View Heights/Missouri Slope Assisted Living in Bismarck, ND. Though he lost much of his speech and mobility, Gerry continued to be a positive presence to everyone around him. Gerry was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in 2022. Through procedures, appointments, and pain, Gerry kept that playful, fun-loving attitude. Every health care worker that crossed his path left with a chuckle and a smile on their face. Gerry passed away on February 13, 2026, at St. Vincent’s Nursing Home in Bismarck.

Gerry is survived by Lila, his wife of 50 years; their children, Jennifer (Todd) Kallstrom of Detroit Lakes, MN, and Robert (Rebecca) Lacher and Patrick (Angela) Lacher of Bismarck, ND; grandchildren: Tim, Eric, Tyler, Lila, & Amber Kallstrom; Brady, Taylor, & Paige Lacher; Dylan, Aiden, & Logan Lacher; one great grandson, Nicholas; siblings, Marian Constenius, David (Marilyn) Lacher, Harold (Clara) Lacher, Pius Jr. (Gloria) Lacher, Allan (Judy) Lacher, Brenda (John) Moss, Beverly (Jerry) Klym, Rhonda (George) Leingang, Michele (Robert) Miller; in-laws, Randall (Carol) Simon, Bonnie Simon, Jim Lutter and Francis Ziegler; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Gerry was preceded in death by his parents, Pius and Mary Lacher; father and mother-in-law, Richard and Florence Simon; sister, Juliana Ziegler; brother-in-law, Allen Simon; sister-in-law, Cynthia Lutter; and niece, Melissa Simon.