Jerald "Jed" Dewey

Jerald Edwin Dewey “Jed” passed away on January 6, 2025 in Missoula, MT at the age of 86.

 Jed was born November 5, 1938, in Salt Lake City, UT, to Arlen G. Dewey and Fern Rainey Dewey. He was the fifth of six children. The family moved to Logan, UT and from a young age, Jed’s love for the outdoors was evident, especially his life-long passion for fishing and hunting.

 By the age of 12, Jed learned the value of hard work by riding his bike three miles to catch a bus to the fields where he worked picking beans all day for 3 cents a pound. During his teenage years Jed discovered that work could also be enjoyable, when he spent one summer working in Yellowstone National Park along with three summers working on the Nez Perce and Polaris lookout towers in Northern Idaho. These were some of the most adventurous and memorable times in his life.

 Jed graduated from Logan High School in 1957 and went on to attend college at Utah State University. Later Jed served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the East Central States Mission. It was in West Virginia that he met his wife, Nina and convinced her to marry him and move West. They were married on August 4, 1961, in the Logan Temple. Jed continued his studies at Utah State and graduated with a master's degree in Entomology in 1965. 

 Jed began his career working in Laramie, WY before accepting his dream job working for the US Forest Service in Missoula, MT. In Missoula Jed and Nina built cherished friendships and raised their family. In Montana, Jed's love for the outdoors and specifically fishing and hunting grew greater. So, In 1975, when Jed was asked to move to Portland, OR for a two-year project, he agreed but only provided he could return to Missoula when it was finished (an agreement later referred to as the "Dewey' clause). During his career Jed was lucky enough to travel to many different and interesting places throughout the U.S. and the world.

 After officially retiring from the U.S. Forest Service in 1999, Jed continued to work during the summers collecting and releasing Cyphocleonus achates, or knapweed root weevils, for the management of the noxious weed, spotted knapweed. Jed enjoyed traveling throughout Western Montana and working with and helping Powell County, Blackfoot Challenge, and several Western Montana ranchers. Not only did it give him a real sense of fulfillment, but was also a good excuse to get outdoors, meet new people, and find the next "secret" fishing or hunting spot. 

 Jed had fond memories of many backpacking, camping, fishing, and hunting trips with friends and family, including those to Alaska. He enjoyed many other hobbies, including raising roller pigeons, beekeeping, and maintaining a large, productive, and weed-free garden. Jed served in many church callings and loved getting to know the people and communities of Superior, St. Ignatius, Ronan, Drummond, and Seeley Lake. Jed was a man of faith who loved his family and cherished his friends. Jed created lasting memories for all those in his life and who knew him.

 Jed is survived by his wife Nina; daughter Michelle (Dave) Abrahamson, son Michael (Becca) Dewey, and grandsons David, Conor, and Chase; sister JoAn (Richard) Criddle; brother-in-law Donald Sisson; and sister-in-law Lois Dewey. He was preceded in death by an infant son, David; sister Jean Sisson; and three older brothers, Doug, Spence, and Wade.

 Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 18, at 3:00 p.m. at the Missoula LDS First Ward Chapel at 3201 Bancroft St. Services under the care of Garden City Funeral Home and Live Stream available at gardencityfh.com. Interment and grave dedication in Logan, UT, on Wednesday, January 22 at 1:30 p.m.