Jerry C. Grinder
December 14, 1957 — May 8, 2014
Jerry Clare Grinder, 56, of Cut Bank, MT, passed away suddenly from this earth into the arms of his Lord and Savior on May 8, 2014, in Cut Bank at Northern Rockies Medical Center. Jerry was born December 14, 1957 in Powell, WY.
Jerry accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior as a child in 1967. Jerry graduated from Fergus High School in Lewistown, MT, in 1976. He graduated from Wyoming Technical Institute in Laramie, Wyoming, in spring of 1978. Jerry married his best friend, Janet Ihde on July 15, 1978, in Lewistown, MT. To this union were born three sons, Matthew Edwin, Stephen Paul, and Joel Clark.
Jerry attended Big Sky Bible College in Lewistown from 1979-1980. In 1985, taking a step of faith, Jerry moved his young family to Havre, MT, so he could further his education at MSU Northern. Jerry graduated from MSU Northern in 1989 with an English Education degree with a minor in Business Education. In 1989, Jerry accepted the first and only teaching position of his 25 year career at Cut Bank High School teaching English and Business up to the time of his passing.
Jerry received his Master’s Degree in Education Technology from Lesley University in 2007. Jerry was an active member of the Cut Bank Community Bible Church where he currently served on the Elder Board, Christian Education Board, and was the Adult Sunday School teacher. Jerry was a member of NEA/MEA.
Jerry is survived by his parents, Edwin and Linda Grinder of Sand Coulee, MT; his wife, Janet of Cut Bank, MT; his sons Matthew (Sarah) of Topsham, Maine, Stephen (Judy) of Casper, WY, Joel (Kim) of Billings, and Kim’s pre-born daughter; his siblings Brian (Joyce) Grinder of Cheney, WA, Trina (Jon) Fry of Billings, MT, William (Julie) Grinder of Cardwell, MT, Michael (Erika) Grinder of Bozeman, MT, Elisabeth (Jim) Newhall of Bozeman, MT, numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and his right hand Schnauzer, Jaques. Jerry is reunited in glory with his infant brothers, Joel Lee and John Paul.
A celebration of Jerry’s life will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, May 14, at the Cut Bank High School Gym. Memorials may be designated to the Cut Bank Education and Alumni Association or Cut Bank Community Bible Church.