Gerald (Jerry) Robert Munson, 82, died of natural causes on Dec. 10, 2008, at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008, at 11 a.m. in the American Lutheran Church with burial following in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery with military honors. Memorials may be sent to the American Lutheran Church or Chinook Senior Citizens Center. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Jerry is survived by his wife of 60 years, Betty Munson of Chinook; a son, Robert (Carol) Munson of Chinook; daughters, Marilyn (Dick) Granell of Havre and Peggy (Steve) Perry of Sand Coulee; a brother, Paul (Lois) Munson of Redwood, Calif.; six grandchildren, Krista (Jason) Hertz, Josh (Jenny) Granell, Laura Munson, J.Jay (Jennifer Brandon) Granell, Cassie Muffley and Alicia (Trevor) Petersma; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sievert and Alma Munson, and a grandson, William Munson. Jerry was born on June 17, 1926, to Sievert and Alma (Johnson) Munson in Havre. He grew up on his parent’s homestead north of Chinook. He attended Ripley School and Chinook High School. He served two years in the U.S. Navy and on Jan. 17, 1949, he married Betty Ness in Havre. Jerry worked for U & I Sugar Factory, Gjuilin’s Truck and Tractor, and Taylor Motors in Chinook before moving his family to the home ranch on North Fork in 1954. He continued his ranching career until 2003. He and his wife Betty spent the past 15 years in Arizona. His Arizona favorite was circling the wagons and camping with their many friends on the desert north of Quartzite, Ariz. Jerry will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, practical jokes and love of nature and for playing cribbage. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Family was very important to him. Jerry was never too busy to attend his children’s and grandchildren’s events.
