More detail on this person: A highly decorated
combat helicopter pilot, erudite friend and
companion, master gardener and loving father made
a perfect three point landing in to the hand of
God last week. John Hersey Fellerhoff, "Jack" or
"Colonel", passed away Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015.
He lived a full and good life, succumbing to
age-related frailties after breaking his leg in a
scooter accident.
Jack was born on Aug. 27, 1929 to Tony and Ella
(Hersey) Fellerhoff, in Great Falls, Montana. Ella
was the daughter of pioneers who moved to
Montana in the 1880's. Tony was the son of
German immigrants, who traveled the rail to
Montana at 14 and became a capable man in many
different trades. Jack and his younger brother Bob
spent their boyhood in the Stanford area, where
their dad would buy old farmsteads and renovate
the wooden houses into homes for the young
family. The family ranched and did what they could
to survive the deep depression and central Montana
drought of the 30's.
The family landed in the Gallatin Valley and
settled in Jackson Creek. Jack's mother believed
they had landed in the Garden of Eden when she
saw the green and lush Gallatin Valley for the
first time in 1938. The family ranched on Green
Mountain, and Jack and brother, Bob, would ride
their ponies to attend grammar school classes at
the Malmborg School. Life was hard on the
Bozeman Hill, so in the winter he would live in
town with families and work his room and board off
by doing early morning chores for his host
families. Milking the family cow and straining the
milk for everyone's breakfast cereal was one of
his favorite stories.
Jack graduated from Gallatin High School in 1947
and became the first in his family to attend
college, enrolling at Montana State College as an
Ag Economics and History major. He joined the
Montana National Guard and the ROTC program.
Upon graduation, he was given the rank of 2nd
Lieutenant in the United States Army. He reported
to Fort Benning, Georgia where his life and career
came together. There he was chosen to attend the
highly competitive Army flight school, where he
excelled and became a distinguished helicopter
pilot.
While stationed in Fort Benning, Jack went on a
blind date with Miss Betty Harris from Atlanta,
Georgia. After two years of dating, mostly long
distance, he proposed. He was deployed to
Germany and he sent Betty an engagement ring
wrapped in a match book with a 10 cent airmail
stamp in order to avoid paying duty. They were
married on Feb. 4 in a German Civil Ceremony and
on Feb. 5, 1956 in Baumholder, Germany. He
always said if he missed the first day of his
anniversary he had another day to make it right
with Betty. They were married for 45 years. Betty
was the love of Jack's life, and he deeply grieved
her passing from cancer in 2002.
Their first daughter, Gretchen, was born in
Baumholder, Germany. Second daughter, Karen,
was born several years later in Fort McClellan,
Alabama.
His first deployment as a helicopter pilot was to
Korea in 1960. He returned after 16 months of
separation from his growing family and was soon
awarded the rank of Captain. He was stationed at
Fort Benning, Georgia and Fort Rucker, Alabama.
His flying career for the US Army kept him in the
Deep South until 1966. The Vietnam War was in
raging full force. Again he left his family to
fight for the freedom of total strangers and his
beloved America. Flying infantry troops in and out
battle, he survived the odds and came home to his
family. A hero.
The US Army kept everyone moving and Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas was a close posting to his
beloved Montana. Jack attended the Command
General Staff College, and was then stationed in
Heidelberg, Germany from 1968 until 1972. From
1972 to 1973, he chose to fly in Vietnam and see
the end of a difficult war. His family was
fatigued by the constant moves. Jack was fortunate
to land the post as Professor of Military Science,
heading up the ROTC department at Montana State
University until his retirement in 1978.
Civilian life gave him time to explore the things
he loved. Jack was a tireless volunteer. The
American Red Cross, Men's Garden Club, the
Lewis and Clark Heritage and Hope Lutheran
Church Winter Fair Kitchen, Gallatin Republicans
were some of the organizations blessed with his
deep intelligence and vision. He enjoyed giving
his time freely to organizations and was a
detailed number cruncher and record keeper,
knowing how many bean seeds he planted and
what a square foot of little green onions would
yield at the farmers market. He was awarded
national honors for his work with the Red Cross
and was a member of the Order of Daedalians.
He enjoyed gardening and floating the many rivers
of Montana. He was a student of history and loved
to read. Jack was a member of many interesting
coffee klatches in Bozeman. We know his bright wit
and thoughtful observations will be missed.
In 2009 he moved to Aspen Pointe where he
enjoyed his full life. Thank you to the caring
staff of Aspen Pointe. He dearly loved his
comfortable apartment and the companionship of
the community. And of course, the lovely meals.
He is survived by daughter, Gretchen (Fellerhoff)
and her husband Craig White; daughter, Karen
(Fellerhoff) and her husband Peter Schmieding and
their three children, Tashi Jangmu, Palden, and
Tashi Dawa. He is also survived by nephews, Randy
Fellerhoff his wife Susan and children, Whitney,
Robin and Christi; Rick Fellerhoff and wife Marla
and John Ryan (who will continue the Fellerhoff
name one more generation); Margie Fellerhoff
(Urdahl) his sister-in-law. He leaves very special
and lovely friend, Phyllis Schuttler.
Betty preceded him in death, as well as brother,
Bob Fellerhoff and parents, Tony and Ella. Many
heartfelt thanks to the caring and compassionate
staff at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital and Frontier
Health Services.
Jack loved his family, friends and Country... Dad
you were "Regular Army" and when things were
tough, "Advance to the rear".
Visitation will be held Wednesday, Feb. 4 from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. at Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service. A
procession will begin from Hope Lutheran Church to
Sunset Hills Cemetery on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 9:30
a.m. for graveside services with military honors
at 10 a.m. followed by memorial services at 11
a.m. at Hope Lutheran Church.
Memorials may be made in Jack's name to the
American Red Cross or to Hope Lutheran Church.
Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson
Funeral Service. www.dokkennelson.com
Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service, 113 South Willson
Avenue Bozeman, MT 59715, (406) 587-3184
Funeral Home Details
Published in Bozeman Daily Chronicle from Feb. 4
to Feb. 5, 2015
This information was last updated 05/24/2012
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