Jerome ‘Jerry’ Zitur

Jerome "Jerry" Zitur, 91, of Billings, died on Oct. 30, 2018, at Billings Clinic.

Jerry was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, to Michael and Miriam Zitur, on Sept. 10, 1927. He was the third oldest of eight children in his family. He went to school in St. Cloud and graduated from high school in 1945. In 1946, he was drafted into the Army Air Force and served 18 months in the U.S. and occupied Japan. After discharge from the service, he returned to St. Cloud, where he met and married Eilene Robinson on June 2, 1948, at Holy Angels Catholic Church. Jerry and Eilene's vows were to love each other for "richer or poorer," and they experienced both during their long marriage. They made a good pair in meeting the different events that go with marriage, raising children and solving the everyday problems that everyone experiences.

Jerry and Eilene were parents to five children: Patricia, Charles, Ronald, Dale and Peggy. They had 10 grandchildren: Chris, Eric, Jason, Chad, Conrad, Dan, Beth, Jeff, Joe and Steve. In addition, they were great-grandparents to 11.

Jerry started his career with the federal government in 1948, when he was hired to work at a veteran's hospital in St. Cloud. In 1957, he transferred to Aberdeen, South Dakota, to work for Indian Health Service. In 1960, he transferred to Billings with the Indian Health Service and worked there until he retired in 1982. Jerry had a rewarding career with the Indian Health Service and enjoyed the interaction with his fellow employees.

After Jerry retired in1982, he continued to work on several different endeavors. He sold real estate, bought a number of houses as rental properties and also did some contracting work with H.I.S. It wasn't all work. Jerry took up golf. He described his skills: "I golfed with enthusiasm, but not much skill." He did have one hole in one, a great achievement for any golfer.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Eilene; daughter Pat and Paul Burch; son Ron; son Dale and Terrie; daughter-in-law Sheryl; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. he is also survived by his two brothers and three sisters, and Eilene's three sisters and four brothers.

Those who went before him include his parents; his daughter, Peggy; his son, Chuck; his daughter-in-law, Kathy; his two sisters and their husbands, Rosemary and Edwin Winkelman and Eileen and Walter Robinson; and Eilene's brother Bob.

Jerry lived a long and eventful life. He suffered through a number of major health problems and survived all but one. He would want people to remember him for what good he did and forgive him for his many lapses.

Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5, at St. Bernard's Parish, 226 Wicks Lane. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.