Josephine 'Grandma Jo' Schwartz

Josephine “Grandma Jo” Schwartz, 82, of Bozeman, formerly of Billings, passed away on April 26, 2013. Jo was born May 20, 1930 in Bear Creek, MT to Joe and Josephine (Fagel) Meyer. Jo’s father was killed in the Smith Coal Mine disaster of 1943. The family moved into Red Lodge following his death. After 6 months in Red Lodge, they settled in Columbus where Jo graduated from Columbus High in 1948. Jo attended Montana State College in Bozeman and then transferred her nursing studies to Billings. Jo trained at the Billings Deaconess and completed her nursing degree in 1951. Jo married Harold Hildeman and they had 4 children together, the couple later divorced. Jo worked as a nurse at the Billings Deaconess until transferring to St. Vincent’s Hospital in 1957. At St. Vincent’s she began working in Labor and Delivery and then Pediatrics, where she was head nurse for 11 years. She went on to earn a second bachelors degree in Health Care Administration from Weber College through extension classes. Jo married the love of her life John Schwartz on August 6, 1977, adding 6 more children to the mix. In 1989 St. Vincent’s Hospital opened Cuddles and Care (sick child day care) for hospital employees. It later opened to the public. She was ‘Grandma Jo’ to hundreds of children. Jo managed this unit from the day it opened until her retirement in 2000, after 49 years of nursing. During retirement she enjoyed tending to her flower garden, traveling with Global Grannies & spending time with family. She later moved to Bozeman in 2006 and lived for a time at the Bozeman Lodge. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband John in 1999, brother Bob Stone and one great grandchild. Survivors include brother Alan Stone of Laurel, her 4 children Pam (Darrell) Waldo of Great Falls, MT, Penny (Tom) Walker of Bozeman, MT, Paul (Sandi) Hilderman of Helena, MT and Perry (Tracy) Hilderman of Missoula, MT; John’s six children Colleen Bushard, Gene (Sheryl) Schwartz, Jaci (Mike) Murray all of Billings; Mike (Virginia) Schwartz of Couer d’Alene, ID, Joe (Becky) Schwartz of Missoula, MT and Mary Williams of Upper Marlboro, MD; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.