Gerald 'Jerry' Duane Ristow, 85, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2025, at his home in Mount Vernon, Washington, surrounded by his three children.

Jerry was born in Willmar, Minnesota on April 8, 1939, the youngest of ten children, having three older sisters and six older brothers.  His parents, Albert and Clara Ristow lived adjacent to the Kandiyohi County fairgrounds while Jerry was a child.  Jerry often spoke of the excitement being in the middle of all the events happening there during the annual fair.  He was raised and baptized as a southern Baptist.

Jerry's father was an engineer on the Great Northern Railway which allowed his family to travel from Wisconsin to Washington and Jerry did just that.  This is where he learned that he wanted to travel and explore.

He was also an entrepreneur and long before he could drive, he'd borrow his father's walk behind tractor to tow the neighbor's cars to the scrap recycler for a few extra cents.  Throughout his life, he was always looking for a way to turn a profit.

Jerry earned his high school diploma with a GED in 1957 and then signed up for the Air Force.  He spent his basic training in Texas and was stationed in both Colorado and Washington.  While being enlisted for less than two years between the Korean and the Vietnam wars, the Air Force decided they had too many personnel and offered enlistees honorable discharges, of which Jerry decided to take advantage of.

After leaving the Air Force, Jerry spent some time traveling from Washington to Colorado and California, eventually winding up back in his home state of Minnesota.

One night on his way home from work, he was stopped in the road by some drunks, just outside of a house where a wedding party was going on.  He said he was told they wouldn't let him pass until he came in for a while.  He said he went in and looked around and everyone was drunk but he noticed a young lady that wasn't, sitting away from the festivities.  That young lady was Mollyn Lou Anderson.  They talked for 4 hours, and he asked for her number, and she gave it to him.  He chuckled when he said he was surprised it was her real number.  They were married in 1962 and honeymooned at the Seattle's World Fair and made their home back in Duluth, Minnesota where they started their family.  In March of 1963, they welcomed their first daughter into the world.  On Jerry's 25th birthday in 1964, the couple brought their son into the world.

After the passing of Molly's father, Jerry and his family moved to Kenmore, WA in 1968 to be near two of Jerry's older brothers, Don and Algene.  The timing of their move to Washington state wasn't without challenge.  Soon after they settled, the local economy dramatically changed with the sudden and unexpected mass lay off by the Boeing company.  Even though Jerry's profession as an Automotive Collision Repair Tech, the economy didn't spare his employers.  He found himself scrambling to support his family.  During this time in 1971, Jerry and Molly were blessed with their third child, a second daughter.

As an entrepreneurial spirit, Jerry turned to second hand business.  He was involved with the New Kenmore Auction, was a regular at local flea markets, swap meets, and even had a secondhand store in Woodinville, WA.  Eventually he was able to find work in the collision repair industry again after the local economy recovered.  Jerry continued to be a picker for a few secondhand stores on the weekends.

Jerry was an automotive race fan and was involved with the Foreign Stock Car Racing Association (FSCRA) in Monroe, WA and helped anyone who needed it, painting a number of racecars within the club.  He built a racecar with his son to race and pitted on several cars within the club between 1979 and 1987.

As Jerry's family grew older, he made sure each one of his children had opportunities to pursue their interests.  He made sure his daughters had a place to keep their 4H horse projects, supported their interest in band, and sports being deeply involved in their fundraisers.  Jerry taught his son his craft as an auto body repair technician.  This type of support didn't stop with Jerry's children.  He also helped others.

In 1997, Jerry and Molly started D&L Motorhome Rental from their home in south Everett while Jerry continued to work as a full time collision repair technician.  The business brought them enjoyment while it lasted.  In an effort to grow the business, in 2001 they moved to Poulsbo, WA where they sadly closed the business just a year later.

The couple then moved to Mount Vernon, WA where Jerry retired from collision repair and volunteered at the local food bank.  He took great pride in his efforts.  He later volunteered at the Marysville Food Bank.  He would also bring food to those within his community that were unable to go into town.  Jerry also had a riding lawn mower hobby that would keep him closer to home as his wife's health began to decline.  Jerry eventually stopped volunteering to be closer to home.

Jerry was good at finding the good in a person and would often believe in them when they didn't themselves.  This was true for a neighbor that Jerry offered odd jobs to and he eventually became an important part of Jerry and Molly's lives.  Both felt that Juan was an important part of their family and did their best to treat him as such, offering Jaun the same support that was extended to his own children.

On April 14, 2022 the love of his life died with Jerry at her side in their home in Mount Vernon.  Following his wife's passing, Jerry's health declined and he was granted his wish to pass away in the same home.

Jerry is survived by his brother, Algene; his three children, Bonnie, Richard and Roxanne; his grandchildren, Maryke, Cory, Forrest, Aidan, Cooper, Maura Clare and great granddaughter, Kaia.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; all of his brothers and sisters (except his brother Algene Ristow); his wife, Mollyn Ristow; granddaughter, Opal.

Jerry will always be remembered by those who loved him as the "Generous Helper."  Jerry and his beloved wife will be laid to rest at Tahoma National Cemetery without ceremony as Jerry wished.

Share your memories of Jerry and sign the online guest register.