Jerald "Jerry" Tillman

Jerald Edwin Tillman of Bloomfield, Montana, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2025 at the age of 81. Jerry, or J.T., was born in Glendive, Montana, on June 28, 1944, to Harry and Nellie Tillman, the third of five children. Jerry lived on the family farm and attended school at Bloomfield from the first through the eighth grade. He moved to Glendive to live with his aunt and uncle, Clara and Tom Trocinsky, and attended school at Dawson County High School from the ninth to the twelfth grade. While at DCHS, he played football all four years, making the varsity team his sophomore year, and helped his team become state champions in 1960. Jerry graduated from high school in May 1962 and attended college in the fall at the University of Montana in Missoula. Jerry attended the university from 1962 to 1963.

Jerry received his military draft papers in the fall of 1963. He chose the Air Force as his branch of service and enlisted on March 9, 1964. He attended basic training in San Antonio, Texas, and went on to technical school in Amarillo, Texas, where he trained as a B-47 mechanic. Jerry was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, where he worked on the B-52 bombers. Jerry made all ranks in minimum time and grade, from airman basic to staff sergeant within 3 years, 6 months, becoming a crew chief at the rank of airman first class. During his time in the military, Jerry served three tours to Guam during the Vietnam War, serving as crew chief for both the combat bay and the flight bay. Jerry married Phyllis McHoes in January 1967, and together, they had three daughters. Jerry referred to his girls as his '67, '69, and '73 models. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force on March 8, 1968, and returned to the farm with his family that same month, where he and his older brother Chuck took over and farmed together for almost two years. Following his brother's move to Idaho, Jerry stayed and continued farming and ranching. He met his wife and life partner, Cindy Cain, in 1996, and they were married on February 14, 2000. Together, they were a team and kept the farm going until his death. Jerry farmed in Bloomfield for 57 years and was proud to keep the family farm running, which was established in 1908.

Jerry had many interests and hobbies outside of farming. He taught his three girls to drive at a very young age, as well as how to two-step, first by standing on his feet, then by standing on their own feet. Jerry loved to dance and he could lead a lady across the dance floor like no other. Jerry liked to hunt and filled his freezer with deer, antelope, elk, and moose meat over the years. He was a supporter and a lifetime member of the local Glendive Elks, Moose, and VFW clubs, as well as Our Savior Lutheran Church. Jerry loved flying and obtained his pilot's license in 1979. He competed in local tractor pulls and demolition derbies, and he loved car racing, much to his daughters' delight. He drove stock cars, competing in local races and winning many of them. He purchased the Yellowstone Speedway in Billings, Montana, in 1988 and was the owner/operator of this until selling it in 1992. Jerry particularly loved collecting old antiques, especially old farm equipment. He had a passion for preserving the past so that it would not be forgotten, creating his own outdoor farm museum, Harvest Hills. He became serious about this hobby in the mid-1980s and started restoring old tractors. To further this life's passion, he sold off his cattle in 1995 and from 1996 until 2023, Jerry and Cindy opened and ran Tired Iron Antiques as part of a very large flea market in Quartzsite, Arizona, where they would travel every year from November to March. Jerry would take some of his pristinely restored tractors with him, quickly becoming known as "The Tractor Man."

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Nellie Tillman, his aunt and uncle, Clara and Tom Trocinsky, and his younger brother, Tom Tillman. Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Cindy Tillman; his three daughters, Laurie Tillman (Stephen) Skerritt, Deb Tillman, and Christine (Shad) Robles; three stepsons, Pat Knox, Greg Knox, and Adam Wilson; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; his brother Chuck (Loretta) Tillman, his two sisters Sharon Reil and Patricia (Frank) Pott; numerous nieces and nephews, and many wonderful friends. The family would particularly like to thank Jerry and Carol Kittler, Justin and Angela Bryhn, and Frank Pott. Your love and kindness will not be forgotten.

Please feel free to wear your best John Deere colors to pay tribute to "The Tractor Man." In lieu of flowers, Jerry requested that you please make a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org) in support of our veterans.

Visitation will be from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Thursday, July 24, 2025 with a Family and Friends service beginning at 7:00 PM at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 25, 2025 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Glendive with Pastor Greg Lucido officiating. Interment with military honors will be in the Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Remembrances and condolences can be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.