Gerald Frederick Rutledge

Gerald Fredrick Rutledge (Jerry), 74, a long time rancher of the Big Hole and Deer Lodge Valleys passed away at his home in Hemet CA. early morning Sunday March 16, 2014. Jerry was born on leap year February 29, 1940 to Vera Mast Rutledge and Fredrick Rutledge in Dillon MT.

He grew up on the family ranch in Wisdom Montana and went to school in Wisdom and Dillon. He worked for many years on the family ranch and in his younger years he owned and operated an outfitting business with his camp at Stone Lake. A man of many trades and talents he also owned and operated the Wisdom Market and the Washoe Market in Anaconda for a number of years. In later years he had moved to the Deer Lodge Valley, Anaconda MT and most recently resided in Scottsburg OR where he owned a storage business, finally retiring spending his summers at Loon Lake OR and his winters in Hemet CA.

He loved taking rides in the mountains, hunting, fishing and especially loved Doolittle Creek in the Big Hole Valley where he built a cabin on an old homestead of his paternal grandparents. Jerry was a friend to many young and old and had a love of people; he was gracious and was always lending a helping hand. He often was late getting somewhere because he would stop along his route and visit. He had a love for reading and of poetry and the ability to recite poems endearing him to his family and friends. He was fond of his animals especially his dogs.

He is survived by his wife Andrea, his sister Lana (Ron) Goff of Kent WA, daughters Leslie (David) Given of Anaconda MT, Kathy (Glen) Furuta of San Carlos CA. Grandchildren Samantha (Dennis) Davis, Dalton Given, Serena and Kevin Furuta and niece Lainie (Chris) Woolway, great nephew Freddy Woolway, and cousins Teresa (Terry) Reinhardt, Billy Hartwig, Ken (Suzie) Hartwig and Karen Hartwig.

He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Vera Rutledge, his favorite Uncle Bob Rutledge and Cousins Elliott Rutledge and Carl Hartwig.

Cremation has taken place and Memorial Services will be in the Big Hole Valley and announced at a later date. Express condolences at www.mtstandard.com/obits or www.miller-jones.com. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Wisdom Fire Department or Wisdom Ambulance Service PO Box 32 Wisdom MT 59761.