JERRY F. NOVOTNY

Jerry F. Novotny, 81, of Gresham, Oregon, passed away Sunday, February 1, 2026.

There will be a funeral at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Lake Andes at 11 a.m. on July 11.

Jerry Francis Novotny was born Dec. 12, 1944 in Long Beach, California to A.M. (Pete) and Ida Novotny. Jerry grew up in Lake Andes, and graduated from Lake Andes High School in 1962. Jerry then graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1966, where he met his wife Mary Lee. He was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at USD. He dedicated 44 years to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a fisheries biologist. He worked to conserve and protect freshwater species and habitats in a career that would take his family from Yankton to Bowling Green, Kentucky, Stevenson, Washington and Gresham, Oregon, where he lived his remaining years.

Jerry was whimsical, witty, and deeply compassionate for those

less fortunate. He left this planet more gentle than he found it.

Jerry is survived by his son, Cary Novotny, Portland, Oregon; granddaughters Tess Novotny, Brooklyn, New York; Makenna Carroll, Gresham, Oregon; Neve Novotny, Portland, Oregon; brothers Roger (Nila) Novotny, Fort Pierre, and Gene Novotny, Pierre; niece Jill (Tom) Hart, Fort Pierre; nephew Steven (Brittany) Novotny, Pierre; along with many Harrison and Novotny cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary in 2018 and parents A.M. (Pete) and Ida Novotny.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Nature Conservancy and the Parkinson’s Foundation.