Janet Empie

Janet Kay Empie, born Janet Kay Rhoads on July 17, 1951, in Sheridan, Wyoming, passed from this life and entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, July 25, 2009. The cancer that afflicted Janet no longer has a hold on her. Janet grew up on the family homestead in Wolf Point, Montana attending elementary and junior high school there. When she was in the eighth grade her family moved to Bozeman. She often told with fondness how seeing the beauty of the Gallatin Valley for the first time made her cry. Here she attended junior high and high school as well as MSU. Starting in high school Janet studied to be an optician and spent several years working in that industry in the Bozeman area. Following the death of her first husband, Gary Duntsch, she met, and married, Brian Empie. Early in their marriage they moved to Yosemite National Park and spent nearly 17 years there. In the fall of 2000 they moved back to Bozeman with the intent of spending the rest of their lives ministering and serving in this community. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend, Janet#8217;s passion was to share the love of Jesus with whomever she encountered. She deeply loved her family and friends and the natural world around her. Janet is survived by her husband, Brian, son Beriah Empie (Kimmy Livesay), daughter Calantha Hillman (Brandon), grandchildren Phoenix and Seth Hillman, sister Jeanne Johnson (Larry), sister Nancy Watling (David), brother Dick Rhoads (Carla), and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as extended family members. One of her favorite sayings was #8220;if you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours#8221;. Janet was Snacky; Nana; a follower of Jesus Christ. She will be missed. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 7 at the Evangelical Free Church on South 19th.