Gerald "Jerry" Walter Crum, Sr., of Helena, passed away Tuesday morning at the Rocky Mountain Care Center. He was born July 14, 1926 to Janie and Otis M Crum in Roundup, Montana.
Jerry was raised on a ranch outside of White Sulpher Springs, attended school in Butte, and herded sheep for M.D. and Oleatha Benedict, who all but adopted him during his teenage years. At 17 he joined the United States Navy serving as a medical corpsman during World War II. After receiving an honorable discharge, Jerry sought employment at the Veterans' Administration Hospital at Fort Harrison as a nurse.
On June 9, 1952, he married Phillis Marian Drogitis in Glasgow, MT and together they raised three children in Helena.
For 33 years, he worked at the "Fort" as a medical technician, running EKGs, stress tests and the EENT clinic. As much as he loved his job, retirement gave him the freedom to pursue his other passions in life: fly-fishing, serving as a member of the American Legion and puttering around the ranch he shared with his wife until her death this past October.
He is survived by his sons, Gerald Jr. (Helena), Robert (Eliston), and a daughter, Ida Meyers (Helena); brothers, Raymond Reynolds (Helena) and John Crum (Hardin, KY) and sisters, Katherine Richardson (Old Town, FL) and Belva Holder (Trenton, TN); ten grandchildren, Jason, Josh and Justin Crum, Annie Meyers, Jessica, Robert and Michael Crum, Patty Kapphan, Reba Crum and Paul Sheets; and numerous great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A viewing will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, April 18, 2010 at Retz Funeral Home. A Funeral is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 19, 2010 at Retz Funeral Home with the family to receive friends from 12:00 p.m. to service time. Burial with Military Honors will follow the service at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Ft. Harrison. A reception will be held in the fellowship hall of the Evangelical Covenant Church, 800 N Hoback, immediately following the burial. To offer a condolence to Jerry's family or to share a memory of Jerry, please visit www.retzfuneralhome.com.