Gerrit Wille

Visitation: one hour prior to the funeral service at the VFW Hall.

Funeral service: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the VFW Hall in Jordan.

Interment: Pioneer Cemetery in Jordan

A chapter in Garfield County history closed on Thursday, September 4, 2008 with the death of Gerrit Wille, age 97, in Jordan, Montana. He was a living encyclopedia of the countys history with his vast knowledge of local pioneers, ranchers and all the families. Gerrit was the oldest living male resident in the county at the time of his death.

GerritWille was born April 19, 1911 in The Netherlands to Willem and Neeltje Wille. He immigrated to Montana at the age of 3 with his parents and brother and sister. After they arrived, two more siblings were born on the homestead in Garfield County. They homesteaded in Brusett and started a general store in Edwards and then Brusett and Jordan where he worked with his cousins, Betty and Sterling, brother Willem, uncle Baan and his father, Willem.

While he was growing up, he attended grade school in Brusett and loved to tell stories about Mrs. Trotter, his teacher, and all the kids he got to know there. We loved asking him about those days and listening to his tales.

Gerrit married Alta Wyne, his bride of 69 years in June, 1938 in Whitehall, MT and they lived in Brusett, moving to Jordan after their 3rd child was born. They were blessed with 5 children, Clara Jane (Smith), Neeltje (McNulty), Willem, Jeanne (Astle) and Martha (Chapman). Gerrit worked in the BaanWille General Store until his retirement. After retirement he worked with the Fair Board and lots of community activities.

Those who knewGerrit will remember him as a man of unquestionable integrity. He was caring, generous and always willing to help someone in need. He was a believer in the old western tradition, where a handshake was as good as a written contract. Friends of all ages were great blessings to him.

One of his greatest abilities was telling stories about local residents. He had a great memory for names, date and events and he could talk for hours about people he knew in his later years, Gerrit read voraciously and was keenly interested in current events, always reading the newspaper to keep abreast of the news.

Gerrit had a wonderful sense of humor and was quite mischievous as a young lad, based on stories he and others told. We loved hearing about our uncle Bill falling through the loft onto the dinner table because the two of them were up there laughing and joking around. We often wondered how our little grandma put up with all of their antics.

After retirement,Gerrit and Alta spent 17 or 18 winters in Florida with their daughter and son-law, Neeltje and Jack McNulty. They couldnt wait to go in the fall and dad could hardly wait to get home in the spring. We used to try and tell him it wasnt spring in Montana, just because it was spring in Florida, but he was convinced his tulips were blooming. Gerrit was an avid gardener, nurturing his yard into a lush garden. He was determined to get things to grow and he and mom enjoyed countless hours in their yard.

Gerrit and Alta were very active members of the Jordan Presbyterian Church.Gerrit was a member of the Commercial Club, Volunteer Fireman and served on the School Board. Gerrit was the epitome of community involvement. He loved his town and his large extended family.

Gerrit was preceded in death by his wife Alta of 69 years, his parents, his brothers, Willem and Jan, sisters, Dina and Gertrude, son Willem, daughter Martha, grandsons Willem Smith and Paul Chapman and cousin SterlingWille (who was like a little brother to him).

Surviving are Clara J and Al Smith of Jordan, Neeltje and Jack McNulty of Pensacola Florida and Jeanne and Mark Astle of Billings, MT, grandchildren, Andy Smith, Victoria Adams, Joel Smith, Jeanne (McNulty) Kimberl, Willem McNulty, Lam McNulty, Kim (McNulty) Delevett, JoeAstle, Katie (Astle)Goedde, Eric Chapman and Neeltje (Chapman) Anderson and numerous great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the VFW Hall in Jordan. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service at the VFW Hall. Interment will follow in the Pioneer Cemetery in Jordan. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.

If friends desire, memorials may be made to the Jordan Volunteer Fire Department, the Garfield County Library or Heifer International.com.