Jerome "Jerry" Anderson of Helena died on Sunday, March 29, 2009, at St. Peter's Hospital from natural causes. He was surrounded by his daughters, Chris and Tricia, at the time of death. Funeral services will be on Friday, April 3, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Community, 1700 Missoula Ave., in Helena, immediately followed by burial services with military honors at Resurrection Cemetery and a reception at Jorgenson's Restaurant and Lounge, 1720 11th Ave., in Helena.

Jerry, as he was universally known, was a legend in Montana politics, government and law. He was the consummate professional and gentleman, a tireless worker, an excellent host, a legendary storyteller and a very fine lawyer and advocate.

Jerome was born April 13, 1921, in St. Paul, Minn., to parents Albert and Mabel Anderson, who were residents of Glendive at the time. The family later moved to Billings. In 1932, at the age of 11, he was adopted into the Crow Tribe and was made an honorary chief by Crow Tribal Chief Max Big Man. Jerry's father was an Associate Justice on the Montana Supreme Court, so Jerry grew up in a home filled with politics and law, and knew every key political figure in Montana from Wellington Rankin and Governor John Erickson forward. His father believed in hard work, so Jerry worked in the mine at Norris and in a factory in Chicago during summers in high school.

Jerry attended the University of Montana for his undergraduate and law degrees; his schooling was interrupted in the middle by his service in the War. Jerry was president of the Sigma Chi House at the university, and was student body president at the same time. He graduated from law school and began practicing law in 1948. He served as Chief Deputy County Attorney in Yellowstone County from 1949 to 1952 and as Billings City Attorney in 1953 and 1954. He married the former Margaret Louise Heavlin of Missoula, and together they had three children, Jack, Chris and Tricia. They later divorced. On January 1, 1975, Jerry married Rita Ann Bidlake at a memorable service in Big Sky.

Jerry served in the United States Marine Corps as a torpedo dive bomber pilot in the Pacific in World War II, a fact of which he was extremely proud. Jerry saw over two years of combat against Japan in the Solomon Islands, and then north toward Japan, but he preferred to tell stories about shore leave in Australia or getting his wisdom teeth removed without Novocain by a bike-pedal-driven drill in the jungle. Jerry earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for action during an attack on Rabaul, a major Japanese naval installation. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps at the grade of captain in 1945.

Jerry built a very successful legal practice in Billings and became one of the leading transportation law experts in the United States, traveling all over the country to practice before the Interstate Commerce Commission, representing major motor carrier companies. He also worked extensively in the petroleum industry, representing the largest producers of oil in Montana for many years and serving as president of the Montana Petroleum Association.

Jerry served four terms in the Montana House of Representatives from 1955 to 1961, serving as the Republican Majority Leader in the House in 1961. Jerry worked closely with Governor Donald Nutter and later Governor Tim Babcock, and was a close friend of both men. Bad weather forced Jerry to miss the plane flight in 1962 in which Governor Nutter was killed, and he was at the Governor's Mansion with Mrs. Nutter when the Highway Patrol tracked down Lt. Governor Babcock and brought him to the mansion to be sworn in as governor.

Jerry was actively involved in politics up until his death, and counted among his friends numerous presidents, vice presidents, senators, congressmen and governors. Jerry enjoyed the competition and strategy in politics and the legislature, but also believed a shared drink or a round of golf with his rival at the end of a political battle helped underscore a common thread as fellow Montanans.

In 1988, Jerry sold his interest in his law firm in Billings and moved to Helena to "retire." But he could not retire. Jerry worked at every Montana legislative session from 1947 to 2009, either as a legislator or as a lobbyist. He started a vaudeville variety show for legislative entertainment in the 1960s that is the precursor to today's Legislative Attaché Party. Jerry's shows were complete with costumes, dancing secretaries, music and lyrics he wrote himself with the help of a friend who was a Broadway producer. Jerry and his wife Rita were famous for their wild-game dinners that fed up to 250 people in their house each session. The "Jerry Anderson" martini -- one-half Kettle One vodka, one-half Tanqueray gin, with a twist of lemon and three olives -- is a legend in its own time.

Jerry's incredible memory of detail and his sense of humor made him a natural storyteller. He regaled anyone who would listen with tales of past legislative sessions, vacations and business trips around the world, and just a small portion of all the things he did in a long and busy lifetime. Up until the very end, Jerry was hard at work on preparing witnesses for an upcoming trial, reviewing legislative bill drafts and amendments, checking his Blackberry for e-mails and phone messages and participating in conference calls from the hospital. He believed in the future, and was constantly trying to move his clients, his friends and Montana toward a better one.

Jerry will be remembered by his family as an extraordinary role model, looked up to for his integrity and impeccable ethics, respect for the law, wonderful conversations, love of music and poetry and living life to the fullest. We love you dad and grandpa!

He is survived by his wife, Rita of Billings; daughters, Chris Anderson of Billings, and Tricia (Dennis) Halden of Damascus, Ore.; son, Jack Anderson of Meeker, Colo.; stepson, John (Rhonda) Bidlake of Billings; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a stepson, Douglas Bidlake.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested in his name to the University of Montana School of Law, Missoula, MT 59812-6552. Cards may be sent to the family in care of Retz Funeral Home, 315 East 6th Ave., Helena, MT 59601. To offer condolences to Jerry's family or to share a memory of Jerry, please visit www.mem.com. Arrangements are under the care of Retz Funeral Home in Helena.