BOZEMAN — Gallatin County Sheriff's Deputy Jake Allmendinger was honored and remembered on Friday by family, friends, law enforcement, and members of the community.
Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin said that Allmendinger and Deputy Ryan Jern responded last Saturday to a call for a welfare check of a driver who was stranded on Fairy Lake Road in the Bridger mountain range. The roads in the area were very slick and covered in snow, and their patrol vehicle began to slide backwards. As the vehicle was sliding, Allmendinger got out of the vehicle and somehow got trapped underneath it. Jern attempted to provide immediate first aid, but was unable to save Allendinger.
Speakers at the funeral service remembered Allmendinger as a kind, gentle soul who loved his wife and three children.
“He was an amazing father, husband, son, brother. Jake was a blessing to our family,” said Allmendinger’s brother, Josh Allmendinger.
His big heart and passion for helping people lead him to success as a dispatcher and deputy at the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.
“Saturday, when he asked Ryan to hop in his rig and head up that mountain (to respond to call where he died), he was doing what he loved,” said Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin.
Around 1,200 people from across the county and state attended Allmendinger’s service at Journey Church.
All members of the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office were invited to attend the service. Other agencies like the Bozeman and Belgrade police departments and the Montana Highway Patrol covered calls during the funeral.
