Gary Norman Jorgenson, 76

Gary Norman Jorgenson was born in March of 1947 in Townsend, Mont., to Norman and Virginia Jorgenson. In late December 2023 while building a road on his property, he passed away from an equipment accident. 

Gary grew up on a cattle ranch near Ovando, Mont., the second of four children. After attending the one room eight-grade school on the Kleinschmidt Flats he attended Mount Ellis Academy in Bozeman, Mont., for his high school years where he graduated in 1965. Gary always enjoyed traveling and after high school spent a year in Germany learning the language and skiing. After returning to States he was drafted and served in the Army. Not desiring to return to “the ranch” he found that cutting timber was something he was good at and enjoyed. During this time he met his wife, Lora, and they married in 1975 which led to 48 years of happy marriage.

Gary graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in business management. After trying to work at an office job for one winter, he knew that was not for him. He loved being outdoors and couldn’t wait to work outside again. When his previous logging boss called him, he couldn’t resist so he picked up his chainsaw and never looked back. Gary spent many years working in the woods. Initially, he worked for others but then moved on to start his own logging company which included purchasing helicopters, using them for logging along with other jobs which included powerline work, ski tower lift work and firefighting.

He had a quick wit and was well known for his great ability for telling children stories at church along with active demonstrations. His own sons were put to bed with his wild stories that came from his own life on the ranch and adventures he had experienced. He was a good writer and drawing on the Robert Service poems he loved to recite wrote many poems of his own telling funny stories about his life experiences. He loved to show card tricks and tell jokes which made people smile and laugh. He was always helping people with whatever they needed to have done and was a friend to everyone. 

Gary and Lora loved to travel including mission trips to both Kenya and Belize. Being Mr. Handyman, Gary was usually the most valued member on the trip as he could usually fix anything that wasn’t working including once rebuilding a broken concrete mixer using a local very hard wood for bearings. He helped set up a dental clinic using many common items to get the clinic up a running. While in Africa, he decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro without training and successfully made it to the top.

Those who remain to honor Gary’s loving spirit include his wife; his two sons, Brian (Ammy) and Kevin; his grandchildren, Mathias, Dylan, Kenyon and Taya; his two sisters, Elaine and LaVonne, and brother David. 

His wife, Lora, sons Brian and Kevin have big shoes to fill trying to carry on his legacy. He is already greatly missed. A celebration of life is planned at the family home in Laclede sometime early in summer 2024. 

Family and friends are invited to sign Gary’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.