Jerry Mason Jenks, 81

Our dear sweet Jerry passed on Sept. 27, 2022, with his caregiver angels from Home Sweet Home in Eureka and his family by his side. He is now free to go for a walk with his Bonnie. Jerry was born on July 25, 1941, to Harold and Luella (Olson) Jenks in Williams, Minn. He was the youngest of five children. Jerry married the love of his life, Bonnie Vesta Pennington, on Sept. 1, 1962. They had a son, Robin Mason Jenks, on June 6, 1963, (The Honeymoon Baby) naming him after his father. They dearly loved their Robin and joked about how they had never lived a day without him in their lives. Eight years later on Nov. 23, 1971, they had a daughter Jeri Ann Jenks naming her also after her father. Jerry loved and lived his life for his family.

Jerry’s work life began as a young teenager leaving the family home in Spokane, Wash., traveling to Choteau, Mont., where his sister Lucille (Bill) Obernolte lived. He worked at a dairy farm and the People’s Ranch. He later returned and relocated to Kellogg, Idaho, working as a fireman for the city of Kellogg which is when he met his Bonnie. He spent years working for the Bunker Hill mine, West Shoshone General Hospital, Linfor Lumber and some time logging with Ron Young Logging. Jerry spent 25 years in the Silver Valley raising his family at their home up Moon Gulch. In 1987, Jerry relocated the family to Troy, Mont., where his brother Harold had been working for the Asarco mine which Jerry then worked until the mine closed in 1992. Jerry and Bonnie loved the Troy area and decided to stay after the mine closed. He then started learning how to hand split cedar posts and rails at Chapel Cedar later helping the company start a lumber mill. He remained there until he retired. When asked what he was going to do in retirement, Jerry replied “Be as busy as I want to be” and he was pretty busy….

Jerry was a hard worker and enjoyed being busy. He liked spending time with family and friends, puttering, gardening, and tending to his home and yard in his later years. In his younger years, he spent time getting firewood for himself, family and friends, hunting, being a part of the Bitterroot Bowmans Association, hiking, camping, fishing, riding motorcycles and huckleberry picking almost always with his family in tow. He is well-known for being a Jack of All Trades, there wasn’t much he couldn’t build or fix. Jerry will be remembered for his kind, gentle and caring soul. He truly enjoyed helping his friends and family. He will also be remembered for his love of pie, he never met a piece of pie he didn’t like and was always ready to accept. He was blessed with five beautifully sweet grandchildren whom he dearly loved spending time with and who all took care of him when he became sick.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Bonnie Jenks; parents Harold and Luella Jenks; sisters Lucille Obernolte and DeDe DeMander; and his brother, Harold Jenks Jr.

He is survived by his oldest brother, Ronald (Janette) Jenks of Spokane, Wash.; son Robin (Cathy) Jenks of Libby, Mont.; daughter Jeri Ann (Doug) Chapel of Troy, Mont.; grandchildren Ashley (Jerry) Redd of Carlin, Nev., Julia (Colton Fairbrother) Jenks of Libby, Mason Chapel of Troy, Paige (Trinity) Rice of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

Condolences may be mailed C/O Robin and Cathy Jenks, 1943 Farm to Market Road, Libby MT, 59923. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kootenai Pets for Life, P.O. Box 1454, Libby, MT 59923.

A graveside celebration of Jerry’s life will be held next spring when the family lays Jerry to rest with his beloved Bonnie at the family cemetery. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.