Gerald Virgilious 'Jerry' Newbury, 89

Gerald Virgilious “Jerry” Newbury was born in Whitebear Lake, Minnesota, on June 3, 1932; joyfully he came into this world with his twin sister, Geraldine, and departed to a glorious eternity on Nov. 10, 2021, in Kalispell, holding the hand of his wife and life partner of 64 years, Mary Louise Wendt Newbury.

Jerry was preceded in death by his father Frank Freeman Newbury, his mother Mary Hare Newbury, his older brother Frank Newbury, twin sister, Geraldine Emmert, sister Barb Quilling and his grandson, Jonathan Henry Hughes.

He is dearly missed by life partner, Mary Louise Wendt Newbury; his children, Sheryl Bertapelle (Robert) of Midland, Michigan, Debra Hughes (Daryll) of Morgan Hill, California, Gerald Richard Newbury (Trish) of Kalispell, Teresa Butterfield (Timothy) of Whitefish, and Michele Hunter (Tramaine) of San Jose, California. He is greatly missed by his 18 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Carol Swisher, Michelle Gee and Helen Petsch.

Born in Minnesota, his family moved to the Flathead Valley when he was in middle school. As a young man he joined the Navy in San Diego. He loved to tell stories of his time in the Navy. Jerry was not one to be idle. He worked on the railroad, as an independent electrical contractor, he had his own timber business, drove charter bus, and was a short haul trucker. He worked hard and instilled a strong work ethic in all of us.

Jerry was a loving husband, son, brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Since his departure from this world people have said they miss his laugh, the strength of his large, rough, but gentle hands, and the unique way he skipped with them, a walk and a private talk, the rafting trips we took when we were young, and family time at the beach.

He loved hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and most outdoor activities. He loved spending time with his family, working in his yard and, more recently, traveling around the valley, with Mary by his side, enjoying the beautiful Montana scenery of Flathead Lake, Glacier Park, and up the North Fork, to name a few.

There will be a celebration of life service to celebrate Jerry’s life on June 3, 2022, in Kalispell.