Jerald O. Mcrae

Lifetime Dutton farmer, Jerald McRae, passed away December 31st, 2016, at age 94 years and 8 months. He died surrounded by his family at a local hospital. A funeral service for the immediate family will be held in Great Falls with burial to follow at Highland Cemetery near family members. Born to Archie and Jenny (Knutson) McRae on April 19th, 1922, in Great Falls, Jerald and his twin sister, Geraldine, joined their older brother, Kenneth on the Dutton farm. He attended Dutton Public School, and then went on to college at Montana State in Bozeman where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in mechanical engineering. During his years at MSU, he met a nursing student from Klein, Montana. Jerald and Flora (Cambra) McRae were married in 1944, shortly before he left for service in the Navy. He served on a Naval landing ship in the Pacific theater. After the war, he returned to work in Great Falls before moving to attend Oregon State College where he received his Masters of Science degree in 1947. Jerald then returned to the land homesteaded by his grandparents, where he lived a life of faith, family, farming, and friends. He and Flora spent their 72 years of marriage blessed with two daughters and two sons, four grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Jerald dedicated his life first to his family and their farm, but he also devoted time to the Bethany Lutheran Church community and the Tri-County Water district. He was an avid gardener and Mr. Fix-it, adding many improvements to the farm, from remodeling the homestead place to welding a cab for the tractor. He remained at his beloved farm with his family until his last days, still solving problems and working on projects. Memorials may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church or the Dutton EMS.