Merlin Ralph Kesselring, 84, of Custer, SD, passed away April 5, 2018, at his home in Custer.

Merlin was born December 11, 1933, in Blue Earth, MN, to Ralph and June (Hanson) Kesselring.

Merlin graduated from Blue Earth High School in 1951, and married Carol Myers in 1953.  To this marriage four children were born.  He farmed in the area for many years and was very active in many local civic organizations before moving to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Merlin proudly served in the Army Reserves. Most of his life was spent collecting antiques and primitives from the homestead era.  He was finally able to display them in natural settings in the old west Cowtown, High Plains Homestead, which he founded in the rugged badlands of northwest Nebraska in 1997.

Merlin is survived by his wife, Roberta of Custer; son, Michael (Linda) Kesselring from High Plains, NE; daughters, Suzanne (Darwin) Olson from Blue Earth, MN;  Romi (Tim) Brown from Maple Grove, MN; Annette Mahone from Sioux Falls, SD;  stepsons, Mikal (Kathleen) Lewis from Custer; Rusty (Jennifer) Lewis from Oklahoma City, OK; Eric (Shawn) Lewis from Gillette, WY; stepdaughter, Faith (Bob) Crisman from Custer; sister, Darlene (Dick) Mair; sister in law, Gerry Kesselring; 19 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Merlin was preceded in death by his brother, Larry Kesselring; son in law, Robert Mahone; and grandson, Hunter Lewis.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at Chamberlain McColley's Funeral Home in Custer, SD.  Committal services will follow at the Custer Cemetery in Custer.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Merlin's name to benefit the Hunter J. Lewis Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o The Black Hills Area Community Foundation, PO Box 231, Rapid City, SD 57709.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley's Funeral Home in Custer, SD.