Jerald Schmier

Jerald “Jerry” Schmier was born May 18, 1935, to Jacob Schmier and Dora Veto Schmier in a small home on West 18th Street in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He died February 21, 2026, at the age of 90 in his home in West Yellowstone, Montana, surrounded by family.

He lived most of his young life in Idaho Falls. He graduated from Idaho Falls High School. His class was the first class to graduate from the new school in 1954.

Jerry was married on April 7, 1954, to his high school sweetheart, Verlene Jenkins. They are the parents of Cynthia Sue (deceased), Bradley Dean, and Jerald Douglas Schmier.

Jerry’s first job was at the age of 8 for the Salt Lake Tribune delivering newspapers. At the age of 11, he went to work at a local service station. This began his lifelong business journey and entrepreneurship.

Jerry managed several Texaco service stations in Idaho Falls until purchasing a Standard Oil station in West Yellowstone, Montana, in 1967. He moved his family there in the Spring of 1968.

Jerry loved West Yellowstone. He became very involved with the community in various ways. He served on the city council and was mayor at one time.

Being involved with the snowmobile industry, he raced for Bombardier for many years. He became a Skidoo dealer in 1972, making him one of the first Skidoo dealers in the Western United States.

Jerry formed Yellowstone Adventures and purchased several snowmobiles for the public to rent to go into Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas. Snowmobiles opened a new opportunity for West Yellowstone, keeping businesses open for the winter. Along with his wife, sons, and daughters-in-law, they kept the businesses going until they were sold in 2023.

Jerry loved hunting, fishing, boating, and old cars. In his later years, he purchased a home in Arizona for the winter months and loved to be on the golf course. He missed his family, so he moved back to West Yellowstone in 2016.

He is survived by his wife, Verlene; sons, Bradley (Diana) Schmier and J. Douglas (Stacey) Schmier; grandchildren, Jeffry, Jacob, Kristine, Melissa, and Brian; and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Cynthia; and his siblings, Jake, Don, and Wanda.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the West Yellowstone Ward, 310 Gibbon Avenue, West Yellowstone, Montana. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 10-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the Rose Hill Cemetery, 2355 Rollandet Street, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Services will be broadcast live here.