ABERDEEN, S.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The sister of the South Dakota pilot who was killed in a small plane crash north of Aberdeen is thanking all those who searched for him.

Jerry (Gerald) Seliski of Hecla, SD was the lone pilot of the single-engine Cessna that departed from Aberdeen to Oakes, ND October 9th and crashed shortly after take-off.

Below is a letter submitted by Jerry’s sister, Louise Seliski of Deerwood, MN.

I would like to thank all of the people who looked for my brother Jerry (Gerald) Seliski when his plane went missing near Aberdeen. An exhaustive search was conducted by a large number of people. We are deeply grateful to the Brown County Sheriff’s Department, in particular Chief Deputy Dave Lunzman, Scott Meints from Brown County Emergency Management, Charlie from the the Aberdeen Fire Department, and law enforcement from Oakes, North Dakota. Also the Civil Air Patrol, the 90 volunteers that assisted with the ground search, the hunter that found Jerry and anyone else I might not have been aware of.

Although the outcome is not what we hoped for, we will be able to put him to rest. In recognition of Jerry’s service in the Army and Vietnam, he will be buried in Fort Snelling. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your support and caring will never be forgotten.

A hunter found the plane wreckage roughly 3 miles north of Aberdeen nearly two weeks later.