Gerald "Jerry" Obresley

Gerald Jerry Obresley, 78, of Great Falls, a longtime law enforcement officer and educator, died of natural causes at Peace Hospice Wednesday with his family by his side.Jerry was born in Great Falls on Sept. 17, 1937 to Joe and Gladys Obresley. He graduated from Great Falls High School and worked at the Cascade County courthouse and with the Great Falls Police Department before joining the Cascade County Sheriff's Office in 1965.While a sheriff's deputy, Jerry was the department's first drug supervisor when it began in 1972 and received training from the Federal Drug Enforcement schools in Washington, D.C., Florida, Ohio, Nevada, Texas Tennessee and Virginia. He was the first law officer from Montana to attend the school in Washington D.C.As an instructor for 15 years with the Montana Law Enforcement Academy, Jerry traveled the state presenting programs to law agencies, communities and to schools about drugs and drug enforcement. In that position, he also supervised undercover investigations with the cooperation of several agencies at the federal, state and local levels.Early in his career, Jerry was encouraged by former Sheriff John Krusl to work in the drug investigation and education field and sent Jerry to the various trainings in the country. As a deputy, Jerry was also involved with the Sheriff's Office's K-9 Academy in Belt.With the department's K-9 Corps, Jerry helped with the search of missing people in the region, including one highly-"public"ized case of a lost boy who went missing in the mountains near Salmon, Idaho, and was eventually found. Jerry retired from the sheriff's department in 1986.Jerry enjoyed golf, fishing and duck hunting and had an interest in classic cars.Jerry is survived by his wife, Donna; daughter, Jerilynn Faris and her husband Willy; step-daughter Jackie Flemming; and a brother, Nicholas Obresley.The family would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Daniel Walker, his wife Nancy, and his staff for their special care. They would also like to thank Sr. Rita for her daily visits and for the special friendships with Keith Wolverton, Bob Jones and Brad Watson. And a thanks to Richard Peterson.Arrangements are being handled by Schnider Funeral Home with a memorial to be scheduled at a later date.In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations sent to The Make-A-Wish Foundation in memory of Ryan Flemming. Donations can be made out and sent to Make-A-Wish Montana, 175 N. 27th Street, Suite 1214, Billings, MT 59101.