Jerry Ford

Jerry Mike Ford, 90, of Missoula, passed away on December 1, 2024, at St. Patrick Hospital.

Jerry was born on February 24, 1934, in Spokane, Washington to J.K. “Pat” and Marie Ford. He was the youngest of 4 boys and was raised on a sheep farm in Eastern Montana until the family moved to Missoula in 1945 when Jerry was in the 6th grade. During his primary education, he played many sports, including football, track and basketball, served as class vice president and president and was involved in DECA, Yearbook and Pep Club. He worked through his last two years of high school at various jobs. He graduated from Missoula County High School in 1953 and started his secondary studies at Montana State University (now University of Montana) in the fall of 1953.

On August 28, 1954, he married Karen Hanson in Missoula. They went on to welcome a son, Kenneth, in 1956 and a daughter, Cristin, in 1957. They would later divorce.

Jerry worked part time as a junior accountant for all 4 years while attending college and graduated in 1957 with a degree in accounting. He passed the CPA exam and went to work for a national accounting firm for 2 years in Seattle, becoming manager of the internal audit division. He then moved back to Montana.

On March 2, 1962, he married Dorothy Dumontier in Wallace, Idaho. They moved to Great Falls briefly while he worked for D.A. Davidson and then moved to Helena, Montana, where Jerry started his career with the United States Treasury as a Special Agent in the Criminal Investigation Division. In over 24 years there, he traveled extensively and served on many details with the FBI, Secret Service, Customs and Coast Guard. He transferred to the Missoula office in 1982. He received several department awards during his tenure and retired in 1986.

After a brief vacation, Jerry began a very rewarding second career in real estate, starting as a salesperson and working up and becoming the manager of the commercial department in 1998 at Lambros Real Estate ERA. He found every transaction over the years different and challenging, and taking care of people’s needs and helping them became his greatest satisfaction. He was very active in the Real Estate Association at both the local and state levels, serving as treasurer, chair of finance and on the board of directors. During his time as a realtor, he accomplished many goals and won many awards, including Realtor of the Year in 2003 and 2009, Commercial Salesperson of the Year several times, Outstanding Realtor, Role Model Award and Outstanding Character Award.

After working for 70+ years, Jerry retired in 2019 at the age of 85.

Jerry and Dottie welcomed a daughter, Lori, in 1964 and a son, Jay, in 1966. During their more than 62 years of marriage, they enjoyed many years of water skiing and summers at their cabin on Flathead Lake, snow skiing at many different locations in the winters, a large and varied group of friends, being devoted fans and supporters of the University of Montana Grizzlies, and traveling all over the world to such places as Germany, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Hawaii and many of the continental US states, to name a few. In later years, they enjoyed winter months in Palm Springs, CA, Lake Havasu and Scottsdale, Arizona.

He also enjoyed many seasons of hunting and fishing trips with his son Jay, his brothers, his nephews and his friends that took him to various locations, including Eastern Montana, the Pacific Coast, Canada and Alaska.

Jerry was involved in several service organizations, most notably the Lions Club and Elks Club. He enjoyed the many service projects and helping and interacting with people. Whether it was an acquaintance, neighbor, coworker, friend or family, he just wanted to teach, support and assist where he could. His life will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to hard work and helping those around him.

He was preceded in death by his father, Pat; his mother, Marie; and his brothers Jim, Bill and Bob Ford.

He is survived by his wife, navigator, co-pilot and travel partner of over 62 years, Dottie; his children, Lori (Greg) Miller, Jay (Marcy) Ford, Ken Mill and Cris Walker; his grandchildren, Kyle (Kailee) Miller, Ashleigh Miller, Autumn Ford, Angela (Mathew) Mickle, Travis (Jessica) Mill, Casey (Caroline) Walker and Andrea (Edward) Petrie; his great grandchildren, Lily Miller, Lakelynn Shearer, Carter, Callen and Colson Walker and Taylor and Victoria Petrie; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation and burial have taken place with Garden City Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life is being planned for late February/early March.