Gerald “Jerry” Gilbert Farstvedt passed away peacefully June 26, with his family at his side. The Lord gave us 10 years of Jerry’s life since his diagnosis of brain cancer.

Born Dec. 8, 1944, in Bend, to Gilbert and Betty Farstvedt, Jerry lived a life full of passion to do good will. Introduced on a blind date in Bend, he went on to marry Teresa “Terry” Ann (Clarno) Farstvedt on Oct. 9, 1971. Jerry was a proud alumnus of Oregon State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management.

After college, he was deployed to the Vietnam War to serve as a lieutenant JG in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Vance, a destroyer escort radar ship, and was honorably discharged in 1974.

Jerry’s professional career was spent working for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. He spent most of his years in Harney County as the regional habitat biologist for Southeast Oregon. He was very proud of his work with the department, especially the creation and maintenance of wildlife water guzzlers as well as being on the teams that reintroduced bighorn sheep and introduced turkeys to this area. This is also where he befriended many people, including his colleagues and members of his community. His personal mission was to preserve wildlife populations for the benefit of the hunters as well as protecting/ acquiring public access for hunting and fishing.

Jerry was a man who preferred spending his personal time with family and close friends. He had a soft heart for helping kids and young adults. Through his involvement as a hunter safety instructor, Boy Scout leader, Lunch Buddy mentor, and camp cook (anytime and anywhere he got an invite), he was a positive part of many lives. Hunting and fishing with his friends and family are what he enjoyed best.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Teresa (Clarno) Farstvedt of Hines; mother, Betty Farstvedt of Bend; brothers, Mark Farstvedt and his spouse, Darla, of Bend, and Ray Farstvedt and his spouse, Patsy, of Bend; children, Erica (Farstvedt) Garza and her husband, Adam, of Grandview, Wash., Sena (Farstvedt) Raschio and her husband, Rob, of John Day, Sara (Farstvedt) Burns and her husband, Son, of Hines, and Ellis Farstvedt and his wife, Mandi, of Red Lodge, Mont.; grandchildren, Izak and Izabela Garza, Vincent and Annabelle Raschio, Keaira and Joseph Burns, and Averi and Logan Farstvedt.

Jerry was preceded in death by his father, Gilbert Farstvedt of Bend.

The family wants to invite all of Jerry’s friends to the following services:

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held in his memory at 7 p.m. Friday, July 12, at Holy Family Catholic Church.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 13, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Burns, followed by a graveside burial service at Burns Cemetery.

A luncheon will be shared in the parish hall at 1 p.m. following the services. We invite you to bring and share your memories, stories, and pictures of Jerry.

Donations in Jerry’s memory may be made to CAN Cancer through Harney District Hospital and/ or Steens Mountain Running Camp, in memory of Jerry, P.O. Box 5453 Eugene, OR 97405. LaFollette’s Chapel is in charge of funeral arrangements.