Gerald "Jerry" Lee Nordlund

Jerry "Cowboy Copus" peacefully rode off into the sunset on the afternoon of May 24th, 2021. Jerry was born in Malta, Montana on September 13, 1932, to Victor A. and Sybil (Penrod) Nordlund. Jerry was one of 9 children. He grew up around Dodson. He would be the first to tell you that he walked to school in 5 feet of snow and it was uphill both ways. He also has said a time or two that he rode his dog to school. He graduated from Dodson High School in 1952. He was one proud Dodson Coyote Alumni. He wore his letterman's jacket every chance he had, he would also brag about the fact that it still fit 60 years later.

Jerry married his wife Donita in 1961. They had 5 children, Greg, Kim, Rita, Larry, and Lisa. His kids and grandkids were his pride and joy. He loved to watch them all participate in sports, rodeo and hear all of their stories. He wasn't afraid to brag about all of them while sitting at "the office" while sipping on a Coors.

Jerry was very well known around the cowboy world. He was a National High School All-Around Cowboy. He could spin a rope with the best of them and he could spur a bronc as rank as they come. He competed in rough stock, calf roping, and bull doggin'. He also raised and raced, racehorses for quite some time. He hauled his granddaughter Roshon "Shondo" up and down the rodeo trail for many years and many miles.

After high school, he went to the military for a brief while. If you listened to him tell stories about it, you would have thought he was there for his entire adult life. He was very proud of being a veteran. He was a commander for the VFW for the remainder of his life and was very proud to have served and to get to continue to be a part of that world.

Jerry always had a good story or two to tell and would make friends with just about anyone. A few of his favorite things to do were ride horses, work cattle, go watch a rodeo, drink Coors, and attend the Phillips County Fair.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 60 years, Donita (Adams) sister Judy (Nordlund) Flatt, and four children, Larry (Shonny) Nordlund, Rita Nordlund, Lisa Day, and Kim Geer; grandchildren Lane Nordlund, Jada (Brandon) Bantz, Tyler Simonson, Roshon (Nordlund) Foran, Jerilyn Campuzano, Reba Day, Jolee Day, Randy Hawley, Rachel Hawley, Jason Hawley, and Joel Hawley; multiple great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Vic Jr, Earl (Bub), Jim, John, Dan, and sisters baby Sibyl, and Phyllis, and son Greg Nordlund.

There will be a memorial service to honor Jerry on Saturday, June 5th at 1 p.m. at the old high school gymnasium in Malta and burial in Dodson cemetery.