Jerry Pierce

Jerry Berton Pierce passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on October 8, 2026, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND. His family extends a special thank-you to the ICU staff for the compassionate care they provided to Jerry and his family during a very difficult time.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Hatton Community Center in Hatton, ND. Bilden-Askew Funeral Home in Northwood, ND, is handling arrangements.

Jerry was born on July 16, 1943, to Wilbert and Elsie (Schmiedeberg) Pierce. He grew up in the Pelican Rapids, MN, area and attended District 189 Country School in rural Pelican Rapids before starting his sophomore year at Pelican Rapids High School.

In 1960, Jerry’s family moved to Hatton, where he became well known and loved by many. Together with his parents, he owned and operated a sawmill, which remained in operation until his retirement in 2009. Jerry enjoyed the outdoors and spent as much time as possible hunting, fishing, and trapping.

Jerry married Norma Strom on January 19, 1963. Together, they raised two sons, Bradley and Mark. Jerry and Norma shared 44 years of marriage before Norma passed away.

Later in life, Jerry was introduced to Darlene Quam while working on the sawmill at Stump Lake Village. They spent 16 years together, enjoying fishing, traveling, and tending to their respective properties. Darlene became part of the family, and Jerry’s family is grateful for the years they shared and the companionship they found in each other.

Jerry is survived by his sons, Bradley (Tammie) Pierce and Mark (Carrie) Pierce; his companion, Darlene Quam; grandchildren, Brett Pierce, Briannah (Nathan) Krump, Colton (Mariah) Pierce, Trevor (Alex) Pierce, Wyatt (Libby) Pierce, and Amanda Vingelen; great-grandchildren, Paislee, Madelynn, Hendrix, Allyson, Wesley, Jocelynn, Blakely, and Sophia; and sisters, Joyce Gensrich, Duella (Dennis) Foss, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Norma; parents, Wilbert and Elsie Pierce; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Edwin and Amanda Strom; siblings, Yvonne Stone and Dale Pierce; grandparents; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.

In place of flowers or memorials, the family requests that memorials be sent to Sox for Kids, c/o Citizens State Bank, PO Box 319, Northwood, ND 58257, or to Stump Lake Village, in memory of Jerry.