George Vern Jurovich

George Vern Jurovich, 88, passed from the loving hands of his family to the loving hands of the Lord on Feb. 28, 2016, at the RiverStone Hospice Home.

George was born in Washoe on April 26, 1927, to Velisha and Angie (Kapor) Jurovich. He attended elementary school in Bearcreek/Washoe. He started military school in Virginia, but came back to Bridger and completed high school. Following his father's death, George attended the University of Montana and graduated with a degree in pharmacology.

He met his first wife, Ursula "Teri" Weber while living in Reno, Nev., and they were married on May 17, 1958. After working for Skaggs Pharmacy for a couple of years, they moved back to Billings and joined the family business, Juro's Pharmacy, with brothers Gene and Bob. They opened a second store on Central Avenue that George managed.

The family grew with the addition of three children: Laura, George and Peter. Family vacations included fishing and camping trips to the Beartooth Mountains.

On March 26, 1982, George was united in marriage to his self-proclaimed soulmate, Maureen Pietz. They enjoyed impromptu get-togethers with their friends and family. They also enjoyed several trips to Reno and the Sun Valley Jazz Festival.

Dad came into his own with the arrival of his grandkids, making them all feel special and unique. In his later years, he loved a good game of golf, and started his next career as a "gym-rat." He worked out daily at Granite Fitness, and was very proud of his "six-pack" abs that he maintained well into his mid-80s. Dad was most at peace when he was in the outdoors. Whether hiking, fishing, cutting firewood, hunting or picking berries for his homemade jelly, he appreciated all that the good Lord provided him.

Did I mention that Dad LOVED fishing? Shortly before he passed away, I asked him, "Dad, when were you the happiest?" He replied, "When I was fishing with my dad and brothers." "Occasionally, Dad wouldn't let me go along when he went fishing, and I would just cry." He spent countless days with his brothers, uncles and father fishing Hellroaring Plateau and the Rock Creek Lakes. In his late 70s, on several trips to Homer, Alaska, his love for fishing was obvious as we watched him clear four steps in one leap to get to the pole first every time a fish struck!

Dad's other passion was his love of Christmas, and decorating his home under the Rimrocks every year. What started out as a few strings of lights turned into "Santa's Workshop." He spent the spring and summer designing handmade wooden creations, painting and decorating all types of characters for his Christmas display. He especially enjoyed dressing up as Santa and handing out hundreds of candy canes to the masses that drove by to admire his masterpiece. He won every award that the Billings Gazette ever came up with, as well as being featured on the local news on several occasions. I know he was particularly proud of the "Clark W. Griswold Award" bestowed upon him by a local radio station one year. There is no doubt that the Montana Power Company considered him one of their favorite customers. Ironically, he would get up to keep the wood burning so as to keep the gas bill low, but a $300.00 electric bill after Christmas was an honor. His display was his "field of dreams"; he built it and they came.

George was preceded in death by his parents, Velisha and Angie Jurovich; as well as an infant brother, Peter; and father-in-law Harold "Red" Pietz.

Survivors include wife, Maureen Pietz Jurovich; daughter, Laura Thell, Stacy, Minn.; son George H.(Kathy), son Pete (Sarah), Upper Falls, Md.; grandchildren Jake (Lacee) Jurovich, Colton Thell, Lidija, Isabella and Rozy Jurovich; as well as brothers Gene (Delores), Bob (Audrey); sister Bernice (Donald) See; mother-in-law Joyce Pietz; brother-in-law David (Kathy) Pietz; sister-in-law Diane Pietz; and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Barry Mackenzie and the entire staff of the RiverStone Hospice Home, especially "Marko," Vicky, Melonie, Amanda and Abbey, for the exceptional care and love for Dad and us.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 3, followed by the Panakhida service at 6 p.m., at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, 401 Lewis Ave. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, March 4, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 717 18th St. W. Burial will be in Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park.

As per George's wishes, the family would appreciate memorials be directed to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church of Canaan, 401 Lewis Ave., Billings, MT 59101; Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, 2100 Continental Drive, Butte, MT 59701; or RiverStone Hospice Home, 2230 Mission Way, Billings, MT 59102.