Jeanne Elizabeth Bartsch

Jeanne was born on Dec. 11, 1918, in Crookston, MN, to Elizabeth and Ross Schmidt. She attended schools in Crookston until her senior year, which she spent with her aunt and uncle in Great Falls. It was a fortuitous move, as there she met and fell in love with her future husband, Don. She graduated from Great Falls High School in 1936. Jeanne was employed as a bookkeeper and then as a legal secretary in Crookson until she married Don Bartsch in 1941. They lived in Helena until WW II when Don enlisted in the Seabees. During the war years Jeanne lived in Crookston with her family, and their son, Jeff was born there. When Don attended Naval language and communications schools, she and Jeff were able to join him in Cambridge MA, and Boulder, CO. After their daughter, Susan, was born in 1947, the family moved back to Montana, living in Great Falls for over 50 years. During her children’s early years Jeanne was a homemaker. She knew how to split the budget 10 ways, and was creative in her approach to life in general. She was an accomplished and adventurous cook, an imaginative decorator, and a great problem solver. She was a foster parent, Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader, taught Sunday School and served on the altar guild in the Episcopal Church. She was involved in the American Field Service exchange program and Friendship Force. From those activities she and Don traveled to Germany and Brazil where they formed lasting friendships. After their children were grown Jeanne was employed for 10 years with the Great Falls Public Schools as a secretary. She enjoyed gardening and yard work, and even took up welding for a while decorating the family’s yard with repurposed machinery turned into sculpture She was an accomplished piano player and social dancer, and enjoyed sewing, upholstering, cross country skiing and summer hiking. Mom has been an inspiration to us all as she tackled her last years with her customary creativity and strong good will. She leaves behind her son, Jeff (Kathy) Bartsch, daughter, Susan (Marvin) Backer, grandson, Dan (Deena) Bartsch, great-grandsons, Maclean & Emmit Bartsch, brother, Ross Schmidt, brother-in-law, Russ Sundet, nieces & nephews, exchange student daughter, Angelica Fonseca of Brazil, and many friends. Special thanks go to the care given her and the family by Highgate Sr. Living, members of Rocky Mt. Hospice, members of First Choice Health Care, Dr. Timothy Adams, and members of St. James Episcopal Church and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bozeman. A memorial service will be held at 10:30am on Monday, August 12, 2013 at St. James Episcopal Church.