George A Fitzgerald He was the first local man to die in World War 1. He was wounded attemping to capture a German machine gun nest. For three months he suffered from the excruciating effects of a shattered hipbone, but he died on January 8th,1919.Originally interred in France January 9,1919, he was reinterred after the war in St Mary Catholic Cemetery in Dell Rapids SD on September 13 1921.

Membership average 240 - 250 The American Legion organization was formed following World War I in Paris, France. John Hemanson attended that caucus in 1919. The George A. Fitzgerald Post 65 of Dell Rapids, SD was organized Nov. ll, 1919. It was named for George A Fitzgerald, who was the first serviceman to die in WW I from the area. He was wounded in St. Mihielon Sept.,1918 and died in Paris on Jan. 9,1919. George G. McGee was the first commander, but only for a short while and John Hermanson became commander and completed years 1919 and 1920. John and his wife, Alice were in attendance at the 3rd National Legion Convention held in Kansas City on Nov. 1921. It was at a time the Auxiliary met and elected its first National Auxiliary President - Mrs. Lowell Hobert of Ohio. Others in the organizing of Post 65 were: Oscar Thompson, Clifford Powers, Harry T Dieson, Fay Farrell, Earl Capesuit, N.A.Wilson, Harry L. Weston, Julius K. Mouritson, Geo. Farrell, Earl Billiter, P. J. Enright and Lyman Merry. The Post was charted on March 1, 1922. The first meetings were held in the building just north of the present location on Orleans Ave. that was known as the Community Hall. The Legion Hall was built in 1949 when Harold Schmidt was commander. The Legion has assisted with many community projects when needed. They helped raise money for the building of the Dell Rapids Community Hospital, buying a new ambulance and heart equipment for the hospital. Members helped during the flood of 1969 with sandbagging, etc. Mike and Evelyn Weinacht (then Pres. of the Auxiliary) served sandwiches, cocoa and coffee to the workers. In 1966-67 the Legion Hall was used for classrooms for some grade school classes and also Special Education classes. Boy Scouts have also used the hall, as well as the Girl Scouts. In 1967 the Legion Posts monthly newsletter was started by Commander Nick VanDam, Jr. The newsletter is named "Bits and Pieces". A mailing permit was also obtained. The next commander Mike Weinacht had the newsletter registered with the South Dakota Press Assn. Henry and Irene Uden were editors and the paper has it has won many awards. A Legion Firing Squad was organized in the 1950'swith Gene Marcher in charge. They assist with funerals and take part in parades. The Squad is #1 in the state Legion. The Legion sponsors the Americanism Oratory Contest, Legion Baseball, gives scholarships, sends boys from the Junior class to Boys State, sponsors Cub Scouts, observes Memorial Day each year by holding ceremonies at five cemeteries in the area with the Firing Squad and the Auxiliary. It also visits the VA Hospital to help the patients play Bingo. They furnished a room air conditioner to the VA Hospital. Observe Veterans Day with a supper and program. They built two picnic shelters at the local park for the public to use with part of the funds coming from the Firing Squad and the Auxiliary. For over manh years the Legion has annually held their fundraiser the Cootie Days - a two day event with carnival, prizes. Some years Pancake breakfasts were held to help Legion Baseball. Following John Hermanson as commander in 1920 were: James Fitzgerald, 1921; Ben A Dieson, Francis Fitzgerald, 1923; Earl P Shively, 1924; Earl Billiter, 1925; Floyd Raines, 1926; Phillip Enright, 1927; Ervin VanBuren, 1928; Dr. Leonard Dunn, 1929; Lyman Merry, 1930; Dick Haak, 1931; Frank Enright, 1932; Herman Byhre, 1933; Fred Nesby, 1934; Herbert Strangland, 1935; James Heeren, 1936; JJ O'Reilly, 1937; George Jorgenson, 1938; Chris M Anderson, 1939; George T Williams, 1940; Edward Michel, 1941; William Voy, 1942; Everette J Anderson, 1943; Harry T Dieson, 1944; Edward Borah, 1945; Walter Shelquist, 1946; John Nemmers, 1947; Howard J Merry, 1948; Harold A Schmidt, 1949; Wayne E Burkhart, 1950; Leroy D Mohrman, 1951; Gene Marcher, 1952; E Benton Shively, 1953; Roger D Williams, 1954; Vincent Schwebach, 1955; Howard Hoyme, 1953; Francis Ginsbach, 1957; Clayton Haak, 1958; Marvin Tichoti,1959; Roger J Park, 1960; Myron A Joneson, 1961; Gerhard J Brown, 1962; Donald R Brown, 1963; Harvey J. Blow, 1964; Duane M Crisp, 1965; Virgil M Smith, 1966; Nick J VanDam Jr, 1967; Michael Weinacht, 1968; Floyd Heinemann, 1969; Melvin J Fiegen, 1970; Glenn D Michel, 1971; Norbert Schmidt, 1972; Vernon V Walker, 1973; Jerome W Posey, 1974; Richard W Mergen, 1975;Gregory Hauglid, 1976; Quinten Nemmers, 1977; John Zeig, 1978; Harvey Ellefson, 1979; Arthur Nebben, 1980; James K Brown, 1981; Ralph Wilson, 1982; Melvin N Schmidt, 1983; Joseph E Geraets, 1984; David Mousel, 1985; Jay Nebben, 1986;Larry Hovde, 1987; Leonard Schmidt, 1988; William P Huntimer, 1989; Melvin Munk, 1990; Michael Schmidt, 1991; James Wolles, 1992; Francis Schwebach, 1993; Renae B Dumdei, 1994; David Munk, 1995; Gerald Fox, 1996; Merlin F Schmidt, 1997; John J Schwebach, 1998; Donald D Pierce, 1999; Lynn Pierce, 2000; Virgil C Fiegen, 2001; Darrell Weinacht, 2002; Joe Burggraff, 2003; Randy Ostraat, 2004; Gary Geraets, Jr, 2005; Matthew Geraets, 2006; Robert LeBrun, 2007; Robert Fiegen, 2008; Tom Reecy, 2009; Joshua Pierce, 2010; Michael Geraets, 2011; Tim Woltjer, 201c; Robert Risty, 2013; Dan DeVaney, 2014; Ronald Welbig, 2015. img018jpg

The same Post Commander has never held office more then one year. The Post has had 5 Fathers and Sons that serve as Commander. In 1994 Renee Dumdei became the first Women Commander. Don Pierce was elected Commander followed the next year by his Wife Lynn, then their son was elected. The Post has very active Firing Squad. They have won First Place in Drill Competitions. They participate in all Miitary Funerals and they carry the Colors in all parades. The Post has monthly News Paper called "Bits 'N Pieces". Active in Boy's State, Legion Baseball, Oratory, and numberous comminty projects.