Joanne Leuthold
April 11, 1937 - October 28, 2024
In the evening hours of October 28, 2024, surrounded by her family, our beautiful mother, Joanne Leuthold, died from complications of surgery in Billings at the age of 87. Mom wrote her own obituary which we have included below with only some loving and minor edits.
I was born on April 11, 1937, at the Deaconess Hospital in Billings, Montana, to the family of August and Lila Grooms Jensen and an older sister, Rita. My childhood was great! Church activities, Bible camps on the Boulder, piano lessons, ice skating at Terry Park all winter, playing softball under the big lights at North Park with girls who have remained my friends throughout my life. I worked for the Billings Parks Rec Department in the summers. I schooled at Broadwater Elementary, Jefferson sixth grade, Lincoln Jr. High, and graduated in 1955 from Billings Senior High.
My high school memories include playing in the band under the baton of Stan Richards, both concert and marching band. Many times, we would march on a frozen football field with frozen fingers trying to make any sound come out of our clarinets! Upon graduation, onto the University of Montana where I earned my degree in Elementary Education. At Missoula, I was involved in the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and the Spur organization. I graduated in 1959 and started teaching that fall at Rose Park Elementary in Billings, the first year it was built!
I married my junior high school sweetheart, John "Bud" Leuthold, on September 14, 1957, at the American Lutheran Church in Billings. We recently just celebrated 67 wonderful years together as Mr. and Mrs. Leuthold.
I so enjoyed my teaching years, starting at Rose Park, then to Boulder School, then to Arrowhead School (also started here the first year it was built!) and finished my career at Washington Elementary. My students taught me valuable lessons in "how to teach" and "what's important in the learning process." Being presented the Golden Apple award in my retirement year was a treasured memory for me. After I retired from teaching, I enjoyed working for MSU-B as a student teacher advisor. I loved this experience, watching new educators take their place in the classroom and knowing that I had a very tiny part in the preparation for their future success.
During our retirement, Bud and I enjoyed many adventures in our campers; lots of beautiful scenery and lots of laughter. We covered a lot of territory over those years, starting out with a small tow-behind camper and eventually ending up with a large 40-foot RV.
For over 50 years, once a month (and sometimes more than that if we had reason to celebrate something), I loved going to "Sewing Club." I never ran out of things to talk about with this special group of friends and never seemed to get home until after midnight from our get-togethers. We have all grown old together but continued knitting, sewing and many other projects that we shared with each other. Collectively, we were present at the weddings of all our children and felt that the Sewing Club's contribution of potato salad for these weddings made us famous!
P.E.O. has been a learning and treasured part of my life. Helping women have access to college experiences and degrees has been very rewarding. My Chapter E sisters will always hold a big place in my heart!
I was "Nana" to three special grandchildren that lived down the street from us. Samuel, Calvin and Jack are the children of Tim and Jane. We shared stories, make-believe, cookies, games, shopping for school, baseball and basketball games, swim meets, ice cream cones, birthdays, Christmas Eves, Christmas mornings, fishing at the cabin, smores on the porch, piano practice and life in general. What a gift! In August of 2024, we were blessed to add another member to our Family when Sam married Hunter Howe of Billings.
I was also Grandma to Sam, Desi, Robert, Jeremiah, and Sadie, children of Darcy and John. They lived farther away, but we still have enjoyed watching them grow-up and find their paths in life. They will always hold a special place in my heart.
Preceding me in death were my parents, August and Lila Jensen; my sister, Rita; and my son, Matthew. I am survived by my best friend and husband, Bud Leuthold; my daughter, Darcy (John) McClenahan and their children; and my son, Tim (Jane) Leuthold and their children; in addition to some special nieces and nephew.
If you wish to give a memorial, dear to my heart is Chapter E, PEO Scholarship at MSU-B, 1527 Caleb Court, Billings, Mont. 59105 or CASA of Yellowstone County, 1201 Grand Ave, STE 5, Billings, Mont. 59101.
Joanne's family would like to thank all the wonderful caregivers at the Billings Clinic (especially Shellie Erickson) and those that cared for her while at St. John's Fischer Cottage and Hospice. All of you are remarkable people that made Mom's journey comfortable and compassionate for all involved.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 8th, at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Billings, 2420 13th Street West. A reception will follow the services at the Church with burial services at Sunset Memorial Gardens to follow the reception.
