Heaven gained a regal, fun, gracious, sometimes sassy, and always classy, angel on the evening of May 20, 2022, when Jean Misfeldt passed away peacefully at home with family at her side. She loved quilting, gardening, reading a good book (especially on her deck at home), was always in the mood for a good joke, loved animals, and appreciated music of all kinds. She also loved a good gin and tonic, and was known far and wide for Grandma’s Margaritas. Virtually no one in the family was untouched by them!
Our mom was born on November 13, 1934, to Clara and William Groves in Room 6 at the Northern Hotel in Winnett, Montana. She was the youngest of four daughters. The family stayed in Winnett while her dad worked the oil fields in Cat Creek, WY. When Pearl Harbor was attacked her dad went to Hawaii to work in the shipyards. Mom, her sisters, and her mom moved to Missoula to be closer to grandparents and it’s there she finished fifth grade. In 1944, mom’s dad returned from Hawaii and the family moved to Lance Creek, WY. Shortly thereafter, her mom and dad opened a gas station and mechanic’s garage. It was a successful business as it was the only business of its kind within a 40-mile radius of four oil companies.
Some of the adventures mom shared about her life in Wyoming include falling into a nest of rattle snakes in a dried creek bed, and then being pulled out by her ponytail. She also had an adored dog named Mutt. Unfortunately, her sister developed an allergy to Mutt, and he had to be given away. Mom asked, in all seriousness, “Can’t we just get rid of LaVonne?”
Mom finished eighth grade in Manville, WY, and celebrated her eighth-grade graduation with a class of six. The family then moved to Billings where mom started high school with a class of 25 – a frightening number of classmates for her! She eventually settled in and enjoyed high school graduating from Billings Senior High School in 1952.
Mom had plans to study nursing in Bozeman, enrolling in classes in the fall of 1952. However, her plans changed when a handsome young man by the name of John Misfeldt looked up while studying in the library because someone with squeaky shoes passed by. After seeing the young woman in the shoes, he was smitten. A true romantic, dad proposed to mom when he unexpectedly picked her up from work one wintery day, and after getting in the car excitedly told her, “Look in the jockey box, look in the jockey box!” Upon looking in said jockey box, mom found an engagement ring. They were married in September 1954.
After Dad’s graduation from college in the spring of 1955, he was commissioned into the Navy and stationed in Japan where the first of their three daughters, Lori, was born. In 1957 the little family of three returned stateside and settled in Great Falls. Two more daughters were born, Liz and Lynn. As a young mother, she was active in Campfire Girls and served as a leader for eight years. She also enjoyed being a member of Junior League and was active in her church. Mom worked as a receptionist for Waddell & Reed Investment Co. from 1972 to 1979 and St. Paul Insurance from 1979 to 1989. She retired in 1995 from Farmers Union Insurance after working in the accounting department for six years.
Mom lost her first true love when our dad John passed away unexpectedly in April 1978. However, she was blessed to know two loves in her lifetime. She met Eugene Johnson, a lifelong farmer from Dutton, MT in 1990. They enjoyed 22 years together and were married for 14 of them. By the time they met, their kids were grown and on their own, so they enjoyed wonderful adventures together traveling, dancing, and gathering frequently with a close circle of friends. They even dressed up in imaginative homemade couples costumes each Halloween – something an old farmer from Dutton would never have imagined! Mom felt very blessed to have been able to take care of Eugene as his health declined in later years. He passed away in September 2012.
Without question, Mom’s greatest joy in her life was her family. Her three daughters, seven grandchildren and five (and a half) great-grandchildren were her pride and joy. Nothing gave her more pleasure than celebrating family events, attending concerts, show band competitions, cheer competitions, soccer games, or t-ball games. Our special mom and daughter birthday trips, including mom zip-lining in the jungles of Costa Rica for her 80th birthday, are memories that will be cherished forever. All seven of her grandchildren graduated college, and she proudly attended every single high school and college graduation for each of them, from Washington to Oregon to Arizona to Montana to Wisconsin.
Mom’s happiest place on this earth was The Cabin in Neihart. Built by our dad, mom, and grandfather in the early 60s, it has been a special gathering place for friends and family ever since. Mom considered it her legacy to her children and in her mind, there couldn’t have been a nicer one. Her children and grandchildren will gladly carry this legacy and pass it on to future generations of the Misfeldt clan. There will be an irreplaceable absence at our family’s quinquennial tradition of Christmas at the Cabin in 2024.
Mom was preceded in death by two loving husbands, John Misfeldt and Eugene Johnson; her mother Clara; and sisters Lucille Jones and LaVonne Gunderson. She lives on in the hearts of those her survive her, her daughters, Lori Smart (Doug), Liz Lee (Kevin), and Lynn Mogstad; grandchildren Brandon Lee (Erin McKeon), Alix Lee-Tigner (Brandon), Katie Persons (Oliver), Brianna Smart (Liam Fielder), Chelsea Mogstad, Christopher Smart (Ashleigh Wenz), and Jenna Mogstad (Dave Hurt); great-grandchildren Zoey and Tucker Lee, Emmett and Merrick Persons (and Hudson due in August), Jack Tigner, and bonus great-granddaughter Kenzie Barton. She is also survived by her sister, Lorraine Rood; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins who adored her. Last, but certainly not least, she leaves her faithful feline companion Sammy, and many grand-doggies and grand-kitties.
Our mom was one in a million. She beat cancer four times, survived the loss of two husbands, and suffered many chronic health problems later in life. Yet through it all she kept a smile on her face, a lilt in her voice, and open arms always ready for a warm embrace. She was a beautiful warrior, a spectacular human, and a gentle soul. She will be missed beyond measure.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at 2:00pm, at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Great Falls, MT. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to your favorite animal rescue charity or Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.