Gerald "Jerry" John Lapeyre Sr.

Dr. Gerald John (Jerry) Lapeyre Sr. passed away Wednesday, July 19, 2017. He was a proud son of Riverton, Wyoming, born January 3, 1934 to Emil P. (Milu) and Mollie Lapeyre. A longtime resident of Bozeman, he was Professor Emeritus of Physics at Montana State University.

Jerry spent his early years in rural Wyoming on the family sheep ranch. Always curious and an avid learner, one of his first classrooms was a converted chicken coop. When Jerry was in the 3rd grade, his parents moved the family to Riverton, while continuing to farm in the area, and he graduated from Riverton High School in 1952. He studied physics at the University of Notre Dame and was a proud “Domer” (Go Irish) all of his life. He continued his studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia and it was there that he met the love of his life, Nancy Gebhart, and they married in May 1960. After earning his physics PhD in 1962, he joined the Physics faculty at Montana State.

He was an internationally recognized researcher in his field of surface science and mentored many graduate and post-doctoral students. He also established and directed several research centers at MSU. His success allowed him to travel the world attending conferences and lecturing. He enjoyed this travel and was very interested in other places, cultures, and people.

Jerry did much of his early work at the Synchrotron Radiation Center at the University of Wisconsin. During a heavy downpour in 1972, he saved the particle accelerator from flooding by jumping on a tractor, scraping out a ditch, and diverting the flow of water. His efforts led the research center to create the bi-annual G. J. Lapeyre Award to be given to "one who met and overcame the greatest obstacle in the pursuit of their research." Fittingly, the award itself consisted of a beer can and chunk of concrete, which Jerry found appropriate. In 1996, he was awarded the Gaede-Langmuir Award by the American Vacuum Society for his work in the development of photoemission spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation.

Jerry and Nancy raised 5 children in the home they created together on S. Willson. A devoted father, he gave his children a love of the outdoors, frequently taking them fishing, skiing, and hiking. He also passed on his natural curiosity about the world and the value of education. He was creative and inventive; never forgetting the resourcefulness he learned on the farm. Jerry was a devout Catholic, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and an active member of Resurrection Catholic Parish. He will be remembered for his kindness and unique sense of humor.

Jerry will be greatly missed by many in the Physics community around the world. But he will be most especially loved and missed by his wife of 57 years, Nancy Lapeyre, their five children: Mary Keeffe (Mark) of Helena, Emily Wickham (Tracy), of Portland OR, John Lapeyre (Cody), of Barcelona Spain, Joe Lapeyre (Vicki Hartmann), of Portland OR, Julie Jacobson (Mark), of Denver CO, his sister Olivia Lapeyre of Lander WY, and his grandchildren: Jennifer, Nate, and Matt Wickham and Julian Lapeyre. Along with these, he is survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Molly and Milu Lapeyre and brother, Robert Lapeyre.

The family gives a multitude of thanks to the staff of the Gallatin Rest Home for the wonderful care and friendship they gave to Jerry and his entire family this past year. Jerry’s family also thank the Bozeman Lodge for their care and friendship.

A Rosary will be held 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25, at Dahl Funeral & Cremation Service led by the Knights of Columbus, followed by a Vigil Service beginning at 4:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, July 26, at Resurrection University Parish. In celebration of Jerry’s life, the family requests that attendees to his Funeral Mass wear joyful colors, especially shades of red, his favorite color.

Memorials may be made in his name to the Church Lunch for College Students program at Resurrection University Parish, 1725 S. 11th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715.