Father Jeremiah T. Sullivan, 83, died at Bee Hive Homes in Helena, Montana, on September 2, 2020. For nearly 57 years he ministered as priest at Carroll College, and often substituted at parishes throughout the Helena Diocese.
Jeremiah Thomas Sullivan was born in Butte, Montana, on July 16, 1937, the son of Jeremiah and Sadie Sullivan. He attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Grade School, Boys Central Catholic High School, and Carroll College. His seminary formation was at the Pontifical North American College with theology studies at the Gregorian University in Rome.
Jeremiah T. Sullivan was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Helena in Rome on December 19, 1962. Father Sullivan returned to the Diocese of Helena in the summer of 1963 and was assigned for the summer at Little Flower Parish in Browning. In the autumn of 1963, he was assigned to the Faculty and remained in that assignment throughout his active priestly ministry. He pursued graduate studies in History at St. Louis University. He was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, which he employed in Florence, Italy.
One of Father Sullivan’s enduring accomplishments was authoring the Carroll College Mission statement, which embodies the college’s spirit of service to others, academic excellence and commitment to the search for truth through faith and reason. For his four decades of outstanding service to the Carroll College community and the Diocese of Helena, Carroll College awarded him the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa in March of 2007.
Father Jere was a popular presenter on the History of the Catholic Church and the Second Vatican Council. Participants in the Diocese of Helena Program of Formation for Lay Ministers and the Program for Formation for Permanent Deacons benefited from his historical expertise, his memory for detail, and his often humorous approach to the Church’s history.
Father Sullivan accepted Senior Status in July 2007. In his retirement years, he initially lived at Carroll College, then at Touchmark on Saddle Drive, and for his final years at BeeHive Homes. Father Sullivan was grateful to all who provided for his care at both facilities.
Father Jeremiah Sullivan was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jim. He is survived by his nephews and nieces and their families.
There will be visitation from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2020 at Retz Funeral Home, 315 E. 6th Ave. in Helena. Bishop Austin A. Vetter will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 p.m. Friday, September 11, 2020 at Immaculate Conception Church, Caledonia Street and NW Ave in Butte. Burial will follow in the Priests’ Plot at Holy Cross Cemetery in Butte. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or share a memory of Father Jeremiah.
Service Schedule
Visitation
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursday September 10, 2020
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Funeral Mass
12:00 p.m.
Friday September 11, 2020
Immaculate Conception Church
Corner of Caledonia Street & N.W. Ave.
Butte, Montana 59701
Burial
Following the Funeral Mass
Friday September 11, 2020
Holy Cross Cemetery
Butte, Montana 59701
Service Schedule
Visitation
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursday September 10, 2020
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Funeral Mass
12:00 p.m.
Friday September 11, 2020
Immaculate Conception Church
Corner of Caledonia Street & N.W. Ave.
Butte, Montana 59701
Burial
Following the Funeral Mass
Friday September 11, 2020
Holy Cross Cemetery
Butte, Montana 59701
Share
Kathleen Hunthausen says
It was an honor to know Father Jerry, and his friendship was wonderful. I enjoyed the stories and memories that he shared until the very end, as his mind and intellect remained very sharp. It is sad that COVID stole some of that precious time. He is enjoying his well-earned eternal reward, with no further suffering. Godspeed, my friend!
Sandra Hognestad says
Father Jerry was a loved nephew to my Grandmother, as was his brother Jimmy. We did not grow up in the same area as them, But, my Grandmother made sure that our side of the family knew them well. Father Jerry’s Story Telling was mesmerizing, he belonged on a stage. He had such a broad range of experiences and interests that you would never imagine so much could be packed into just one person. His intellect with humor is what made him so special. Much to everyone’s enjoyment his stories were true, the people that he knew were real and one could never imagine that he could have done so much, in so little time. I will miss my occasional visits and the pleasure of just listening no matter the topic, he had an experience he could share.
David Bonner says
My heart is broken upon hearing this news. Father Jerry was crucial both to Carroll College and my family. He was lifelong friends with my late Dad, John Bonner. Whenever we went to Montana Dad always wanted to visit Father Jerry and take him out to lunch. My Dad’s ties with Father Jerry went back to Butte Central in the 1950’s. And he became my Dad’s closest friend. He made his life richer and brought a lot of joy to Dad. Dad passed away in November of 2018 and this news would have been difficult for him. The last time I saw Father Jerry was when me and my sisters took Dad to Montana in 2017.
I also had Father Jerry as a professor at Carroll College. He was one of the hardest professors in the history program but he knew his material. Today years later I am deeply grateful that he was so demanding. He was a cornerstone to Carroll’s history program. I am going to miss him, as will my family. Carroll College will miss him deeply. Father Jerry is irreplaceable and there will never be another person like him. He was an incredible Catholic Priest who I admired and looked up to. And with his personality he was one of the most likable individuals in my life that I crossed paths with. To all those mourning this loss of Father Jerry Sullivan I grieve with you.
Thanks for everything you did Father Jerry. Most of all thanks for the love and friendship you gave my Dad. You will always be loved.
Sherri Anderson says
I had the honor of knowing this wonderful man when he was at Touchmark and Father Stu was doing mass. I know he was an inspiration to Father Stu. I know these 2 wonderful priests are sharing wonderful stories in heaven. It was my honor and pleasure to know you. Heaven has gained a wonderful man
Cheryl Bonner says
I was sorry to learn of Fr. Jerry’s recent passing. Fr. Jerry was a wonderful lifelong friend to my Dad, John Bonner. Both attended Butte Central and Carroll College, and the friendship lasted until my father’s passing in 2018 (the picture offered was taken in 2017, the last time my Dad and Fr. Jerry saw each other).
Fr. Jerry also taught my brother, David, when my brother was a student at Carroll College. I understand he was an excellent teacher.
Upon my Dad’s death, Fr. Jerry kept in touch with me and I learned why he was such a cherished friend to my family. Warm and compassionate, Fr. Jerry was always interested in what was happening in my life. Further, Fr. Jerry had a charisma about him, a good sense of humor, and he was always ready with a story about people he had met during his very fruitful life.
Rest in Peace, Father Jerry. I’m sure Jesus is delighted to count you as one of heaven’s residents.
Cheryl Bonner
Fresno, California
Tom Greenough says
Father Sullivan was my teacher of Roman History at Carroll. His coverage of the subject was a lifetime joy, as I taught History myself. We had to get to his class on that fateful day, November 22, 1963. We went into class knowing only that President Kennedy had been shot. When we came out, we found out that he had indeed been assassinated. I will always be thankful for having Father as my teacher, and I will never forget him. May he rest in Peace.
Beth Schoyen says
I was fortunate to share many lunches with Jerry in the faculty dining room at Carroll. There he would regal us with stories from ancient history. Sometimes I would just pick a random name out of history to see if he had a story about the person. He always did. Beyond being an incredible historian, he was funny and kind. He will always hold a special place in my heart.
Rosalie K Walsh says
Father Jerry is one of my all-time favorite priests. I loved our many conversations over the years at Carroll and visiting with him at his residence at the Beehive in recent years. His remarkable eidetic memory about virtually everything made him a fascinating lunch and dinner companion in the faculty room at Carroll College. His wit never failed to entertain. I loved sharing stories of both of our times studying and living in Italy. He is an irreplaceable human being. I will miss him immensely. Rest in peace, Father Jerry.
Christine Leding says
Father Jerry was a wonderful with a rich laugh and who exuded kindness. His Mom Sadie was our neighbor. He, the Fulbright Scholar, and my dad who didn’t graduate high school would go fishing from time-to-time. My Dad thought the world of him. May he rest in peace
Don Phillip Class of 69 says
A kind wonderful person, with dry humorand a great history teacher. A great loss. May he rest in heaven.
Kerry L. Bonner says
Father Jerry will certainly be missed by my family. He was a close Butte friend of my father, John Bonner, MD who passed away two years earlier. Every year when our family visited Butte/Helena, we would visit with Father Jerry and then go out to lunch. He was such a kind, extremely intelligent and humorous man. He was always ready to convey the latest jokes or historical tidbit or fact which greatly interested me an IR/History major. Although I was accepted at Carroll Colleage, I did not attend but my borther, David did and loved having Fr. Jerry as a History professor. Fr. Jerry was very generous of time and talents and Carroll College has benefited greatly by his tenure teaching there and participation in Carroll’s mission statement. His memory for historical or personal facts were remarkable that confounded many. It was with sorrow to hear of his passing even though he was suffering greatly from Parkinson’s disease. He will be greatly missed by those of us still living but warmly welcomed by those waiting for his deserved rest in heaven.
Kerry L Bonner
Burlingame/Fresno, CA
Michael Paul Gimness, MD says
A Great loss to Carroll College and the Community but a great addition to Heaven.
God Bless you
Father Sullivan
Your classes were a highlight in my college educational experience.