Ferris Merle Newberg (95) died April 22, 2012, while residing at Custer Regional Senior Care in Custer, SD. His health had gradually declined over the previous year. Merle's wish was to die in his home town of Custer, where he was born February 15, 1917, to George and Irma Newberg. He was preceded in death by siblings, Thelma, Harold, Raymond and Carl; and is survived by his "little brother", Lloyd.

Merle attended the Custer schools and graduated in 1935. He had a track scholarship to attend Yankton College but during the first year was offered a job at the U.S. Post Office in Custer. He returned to Custer and worked for the USPS for 41 years as a clerk, postal inspector, assistant postmaster and rural route carrier. His route patrons would look for his red and white Ford Bronco. After retirement he spent most of his winters in Valrico, Florida but returned to the family home in Custer for the summers.

Merle married Mildred Joslyn on April 16, 1939, in Rapid City, SD. Their children are Joyce, Ed, Dick and Dale. Merle was preceded in death by Dick in 1986 and Millie in 1989. Merle was remarried on August 3, 1991, to Dorothy Sanford and spent 15 years together before she died in 2007. He returned to Custer and lived independently at home until the last year when he moved to assisted living at Rose Haven.

With a wife and two children, Merle enlisted and served in the US Navy during World War II at the Chicago Naval Post Office. Like many post-war men, in addition to the USPS, he held multiple jobs to support the family. He nailed grain doors at night, and was a bookkeeper and co-owner of the Newberg Lumber Company in the 1950s. He and his brother, Carl, helped his mother run the Chief Motel for almost twenty years.

Merle was an avid and proficient fisherman, hunter, trapper and golfer. He was skilled with his hands - building his own home in Custer, beautiful rifle stocks, fishing poles, and tying his own flies. For years he and his friends sluiced and panned placer gold out of French Creek. He was an active member and supporter of the Custer Community Church, and a Mason.

He is survived by his daughter, Joyce and Jack O'Connor; granddaughter, Lynnette and Perry Rockvam – great-grandchildren, Joshua, Katie and Lindsay; granddaughter, Deanna and David Emery – great-grandchildren, Brandon and Ryan; son, Ed and Sharon Newberg; grandson, Thom and Jennifer Newberg – great-grandchildren, Breanna and Caden; grandson, Tim and Robin Newberg, great-grandchildren - Alexandra and Isabella; grandson, Tony and Laura Newberg, great-grandchildren - Dante and Dominic; daughter-in-law, Anna Newberg, grandchildren, Andrew and Katy Newberg, Justin Newberg; and son, Dale and Karan Newberg, grandchildren, Erik Newberg and Abby Newberg.

A memorial service will be held at the Custer Community Church in Custer, SD on Thursday, May 3, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Bill Comfort officiating.

A memorial in Merle's name may be made to the Custer Community Church.