- Date Of Birth: September 7, 1945
- Date Of Death: February 28, 2022
- State: Idaho
Jerry Russell Preston died peacefully at his home on February 28, 2022.
Jerry was born September 7, 1945 in El Paso Texas to Frank and Ara Mae Preston. He joined older sisters Julie and Shirley.
Jerry met Nola Johnson at Minico High School and they were married December 16, 1961. They farmed in the Norland area with Jerry’s parents for several years. Jerry was drafted into the Army in 1967 and served in the Vietnam War through 1968.
In 1970 Jerry and Nola adopted their first child Janene. In 1975 they moved to Richfield and adopted Steven, Paula, Melanie, Kenny, and Dorothy over the next 3 years. Jerry taught all the kids the farming skills needed. Baby calves were bottle fed, wood was stacked, and hand lines were moved, making the kids “tougher than boiled owl shit” as Jerry would say. Ditches were burned and rocks were picked, with Jerry teasing the kids that he planted those rocks in the fall so we could pick them in the spring.
Jerry was an avid hunter and fisherman. Some of his favorite hunting spots were unit 44 at Camp Creek, unit 52A at Black Ridge Well, and any other spot that he could easily be talked into hunting. He caught steelhead at Dworshak dam, perch at Cascade Lake and plenty of trout in pretty much every reservoir close by.
Upon retirement Jerry and Nola traveled and fished which they loved to do. Jerry hooked onto the fifth-wheel, the pontoon boat, and the 4-wheelers, and off they went – exploring lakes and mountain trails along the way. Jerry and Nola also teamed up on a vast array of woodworking projects – Jerry was designer and builder; Nola was hardware installer and painter/stainer.
Jerry is survived by his dogs – Snickers and Pebbles; kids – Kenny Preston, Dorothy (Mike) Nelson, Janene (Jeff) Poggi, Paula Preston, and Melanie Preston (Mark). Grandkids – Bryant (Shenay) Nelson, Jesika Nelson, Derrik Nelson, Leslie (Alex) Dow, Rachel (Daniel) Walton, Andrew (Orion) Riemann, Brett Poggi, Tyler Preston, Maya Preston, and Zack Preston. Sister – Shirley Neiwert and her kids – Sherri Harris and Rick Hale. Brother-in-law – Leroy (Jackie) Johnson and their kids – Julie (Steve) Merrick, Shawn (Rob) Johnson, Jeff (Shondale) Johnson, and Blake (Michelle) Johnson. Sister-in-law – Glenda Weimer and her kids – Scott (Sue) Hunter, Karie Hunter, Trina (Bill) Shelman, and David Weimer.
He was preceded in death by his wife – Nola Preston; parents – Frank and Ara Mae Preston; sister – Julie Holland; brother-in-law – Herm Neiwert; parents-in-law – Jo and Ed Johnson; brother-in-law – Jim Weimer; son-in-law – Jeff Riemann; and granddaughter – Melissa Preston.
Jerry was a fine man, friend, dad and grandpa, not to mention a gifted storyteller. We will surely miss those stories. All who knew Jerry were grateful for the good times we had with him. May he now rest in peace, reunited with Nola.
In the words of Robert Frost: Nothing Gold Can Stay. Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold.
