Jerome "Jerry" Tjon, age 72, of Twin Valley, Minnesota, died Tuesday, December 16, 2014, at his home.

Jerome Telford Tjon was born February 3, 1942, the son of Telford and Evelyn (McGrath) Tjon near Bottineau, North Dakota. As a child he moved with his family to the Twin Valley, Minnesota, community where he was raised on the farm. He attended elementary school in Twin Valley. Jerry attended and later graduated high school from Northwestern Regional School of Agriculture in Crookston, Minnesota, which is now the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Shortly after his graduation he entered the United States Navy where he was an avionics electronic technician. While in the service he traveled throughout the world. After his honorable discharge from the Navy he made his home in California. During this time he met Robin Offringa in Oakland, California, and they were married in 1965. They owned a flight school and air charter business which they operated for nearly 10 years. They later operated two donut shops for several years in Sonora, California. In 1981, they moved to Twin Valley, Minnesota, to make their home. While living here, Jerry sold cars in the Fargo- Moorhead area. In the early 2000's, he moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Jerry lived there until having a stroke in 2005, and shortly after that he returned to Twin Valley. Jerry has made his home at the Valley Pines apartments since that time where he lived a completely independent life.

Jerry had a passion for flying, whether as a flight instructor, flying friends or just for his own enjoyment. On at least one occasion he was known to repossess one of his planes which was illegally taken to Mexico.

Another passion he had was thoroughbred race horses which he owned, raced and bred. Jerry's other love and passion was his deep faith in God. Although he was not one to attend church regularly, he watched it on television, read the bible daily and and shared his faith freely with others.

Jerry is survived by one daughter, Natalie (Kevin) Jones, Bonita, CA; three brothers: David (Gale) Tjon Garrett, Indiana, Robert (Janice) Tjon and Jim Tjon all of Twin Valley, MN; two sisters, Jeanette (Roger) Kenner, Leeds, ND and JoAnn (Roger) Drevlow, Bismarck, ND; one sister-in law, Pat Tjon, MT and two grandchildren, Brittany and Kyle.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Tom.

A Memorial Service was held on Friday, January 9, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at the Anderson Family Funeral Home, Twin Valley. A time of gathering was one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Pastor Norman Gullingsrud officiated.

Inurnment was in the Twin Valley Memorial Gardens, Twin Valley MN, with military honors provided by the Twin Valley American Legion and MNARNG.