On the evening of October 2, 2014, Jean Louise Thorson passed away peacefully at her home in Bozeman with her family present.
Jean was born to Harry JB Wilson and Doris Cornell Wilson on August 26, 1923 on a homestead near McAllister, Montana. She attended a one-room school house near McAllister, high school in Ennis and then received her teaching degree from the State Normal School in Dillon (now the University of Montana Western). Jean taught both elementary and high school in White Sulphur Springs. There she met and married Dean Thorson, a World War II veteran, and they ranched at Sheep Creek and Whitetail. They had one daughter, Barbara. They later divorced.
In 1966, Jean moved to Bozeman where she taught 5th grade social studies and earned her master’s degree in education from Montana State University. After 25 years of teaching, she retired in 1983.
After retiring, she started volunteering at the Museum of the Rockies and accumulated over 24,000 hours of volunteer work as a docent, working in the Tinsley House and giving tours at the Living History Farm as well as the museum. She and several other women formed a sewing circle that raised money for the Living History Farm. Jean also worked on historical archeology projects at Ft. Ellis.
Summertime activities came in many forms. She enjoyed cooking at several dinosaur camps with Jack Horner and crew and Les Davis and staff. She performed archeology work at the Natural Cap Cave in Lovell, WY and attended several archeology expeditions conducted by John Montagne.
Her favorite hobbies and activities included spending time with her family, taking lunch to the hay crews at the ranch, sewing, yard work and attending MSU Bobcat football games. She enjoyed canoeing on the Madison and Jefferson rivers with John and Eleanor Mest, exploring old Indian sites with her family, Christmas bird counts at Ennis, Three Forks and Bozeman, Lewis & Clark lecture tours locally, down the Yellowstone, up the Missouri and at the Headwaters.
Other involvements included Delta Kappa Gamma, Montana Winter Fair Board (receiving the Hall of Fame Award), Senior Center Advisory Board for the City of Bozeman, Senior Center Foundation RSVP, Woodworkers at the Senior Center, Lewis & Clark Heritage Chapter, Wonderlust and GallaVan.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Ray Russell; two granddaughters, Carla (Ian) Manger and Cheryl (Scott) Turner; one grandson, Raymond Russell; and six great grandchildren, Kelsy, Kendra and Wylie Manger, and Scott, Jared and Hailey Turner.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, brother and two infant sons.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Museum of the Rockies Living History Farm, 600 W. Kagy, Bozeman, MT 59717; Rocky Mountain Hospice, 301 Edelweiss Dr, Ste 6, Bozeman, MT 59718; or the Meagher County Library Foundation, PO Box S, White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645.
Special thanks to the neighbors, Dr. Fairbanks, Ginger Lee, Dawn White, Rob Larson, Rocky Mountain Hospice, Serenity Home Healthcare and Home Instead.
There will be two funeral services held for Jean. A funeral service celebrating Jean’s life will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 10, 2014 at First Presbyterian Church 26 W Babcock St in Bozeman, with a reception to immediately follow in the social center of the church. A visitation will begin at 12:00p.m., with a funeral service celebrating Jean’s life at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 11, 2014 at the Yoked Parish Church 411 Jefferson St. White Sulphur Springs, Montana. A reception will immediately follow in the social center of the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jean’s name can be made to Museum of the Rockies Living History Farm 600 W. Kagy Blvd. Bozeman, MT 59717; Rocky Mountain Hospice, 301 Edelweiss Dr, Bozeman, Mt 59718 or to the Meagher County Library 15 1st Ave SE, White Sulphur Springs, Mt 59645 Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Jean.
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Friday October 10, 2014
First Presbyterian Church
26 West Babcock Street
Bozeman, Montana
Reception
Immediately following the funeral service
Friday October 10, 2014
Social Center of the church
First Presbyterian Church
Bozeman, Montana
Visitation
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Saturday October 11, 2014
Yoked Parish Church
411 Jefferson Street
White Sulphur Springs, Montana 59645
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Saturday October 11, 2014
Yoked Parish Church
411 Jefferson Street
White Sulphur Springs, Montana 59645
Reception
Immediately following the funeral service
Saturday October 11, 2014
Social Center of the church
411 Jefferson Street
White Sulphur Springs, Montana
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Friday October 10, 2014
First Presbyterian Church
26 West Babcock Street
Bozeman, Montana
Reception
Immediately following the funeral service
Friday October 10, 2014
Social Center of the church
First Presbyterian Church
Bozeman, Montana
Visitation
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Saturday October 11, 2014
Yoked Parish Church
411 Jefferson Street
White Sulphur Springs, Montana 59645
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Saturday October 11, 2014
Yoked Parish Church
411 Jefferson Street
White Sulphur Springs, Montana 59645
Reception
Immediately following the funeral service
Saturday October 11, 2014
Social Center of the church
411 Jefferson Street
White Sulphur Springs, Montana
Share
Rhonda Higgins says
Barb, I am glad that I got to take care of you mom. Now she is in a better place.
Ann Cameron Burk says
So sorry for your loss- thinking of all of you at this difficult time. Jean was always so kind to me when I would spend time with your family when I was young. I loved visiting her house in Bozeman on our trips to the roller rink. I had the privilege of seeing her at The Musuem of the Rockies when I took students on field trips there- she always remembered me and blessed my students with her knowledge and beautiful smile! My sympathies to you~Ann
Ginny Holt says
I met Jean when we moved from NJ to Bozeman in 1995 and she became a dear friend. I enjoyed working with her at the Museum – on Lewis & Clark activities and at the Tinsley House. The sewing group she started was lots of fun and sewing with the ladies in her basement or the Tinsley House was a fun time. Enjoyed our tea times at Cecilia Goodmans and celebrating Sacagawea’s son’s birthday with a big cake. She certainly was a wonderful lady and always willing to do whatever was asked of her. My husband was also involved with Jean as a docent. We will miss her very much. Our sympathies and thoughts are with her family. Ginny and Phil Holt
Eleanor Walton says
Your mom was such a wonderful lady, and lived life like we all wished we could, I have many great memories of her, best Aunt ever! Our thoughts and prayers are with you guys. Eleanor and Jim Walton
Mike and Sherri Crowley says
Barb, we are sorry for your loss, We have many fond memories of your Mom at Brandings. We really enjoyed the times we got to visit and especially the stories of when she lived at Sheep Creek. She seemed to always have a smile and a kind word for others. She will definitely be missed. Mike and Sherri Crowley
Mary Martin says
I was in Mrs. Thorson’s Social Studies class at Willson Middle School in ’70-’71. She was a fun teacher and a nice woman. I remember her talking about relief maps and comparing them to the meringue on a lemon pie and to this day I think of her when I have lemon meringue pie. Mostly, I remember enjoying her class and wishing I had her for my home room teacher. I send my condolences to all who loved her and wish you great memories and peaceful hearts.
-Mary
Marilyn Hayenga says
I taught with Jean at Willson Middle School and through the years she’s been an inspiration. She certainly lived a full life. She will be missed. In sympathy, Marilyn Hayenga
Barbara R. Brown says
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jean for 28 years since I began volunteering at the Museum of the Rockies. One weekend 25+ years ago my teenage children and I attended a field camp at Egg Mountain and I was impressed with Jean’s organization in handling the cooking responsibilities for the crowd there. In more recent years, I have only occasionally seen Jean but, as I record the volunteer hours at the museum, at least once a month I enjoyed speaking with her as I telephoned her to get her volunteer hours so I could enter them. My thoughts and prayers and with you all at this time.
The Williams Family says
I would like to offer my deepest sympathies to you. I know the pain of a broken heart. Our Heavenly Father feels our pain. Psalms 34:18 assures us that He is near to those broken at heart. He does, however, hold out a promise that in the very near future He will wipe out all tears of sorrow and pain from our eyes and death will be no more. (Revelation 21:3-5) He also promises to remember all those in the memorial tombs (graves) and restore them to life. (John 5:28,29) Until those words are fulfilled, may you find much peace and comfort in God and in His promises found in the Holy Scriptures.
Marc Greenough says
Mrs. Thorson was my middle school teacher and I’m sure I was a trial because my father was a professor of elementary education and later a middle school social studies teacher. I remember her as patient, kind, and thoughtful. Good teachers change the world. May her memory be a blessing.