MALTA- Dolores Janet (Jan) Simanton, 87 passed
away October 9, 2018 at Hi-Line Retirement Center. Visitation
will be Friday October 19, 2018 at 7:00 PM at Kirkwood Memorial
Chapel. Funeral services will be Saturday October 20th,
2018 at 11:00 AM at Kirkwood Memorial Chapel. Cremation has
taken place. Condolences for the family may be left at
www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com
Memorials
for Jan may be made to the Malta Food Bank or Grace Fellowship
Church.
Dolores Janet (Jan) Simanton was
born on January 16, 1931, to Alexious P. and Ruby K. Schwalier,
in Santa Ana, California. Mr. Schwalier died 10 days later and
Ruby returned to Harlem, Mt. where her parents lived, bringing
her husband and newborn daughter with her. They resided with
Ruby’s parents, George and Princie Lee Kneedler, until January
1939 when Ruby married Joseph B. Ellis. Three weeks later Joe
adopted Dolores. Thinking there would be too many S’s in her new
name she decided to be called Janet.
Janet attended Harlem schools for
12 years, excelling in music. She was a member of Pep Band, Glee
Club, and was the lead in many plays and musicals. She graduated
in May, 1948 with plans to pursue a degree in music but
overwhelmed by the crowded university campus she returned home
after only three weeks.
On December 19, 1948, Janet married
William H. Simanton in a beautiful ceremony held in the Ellis
home in Harlem, Mt. They continued living in Harlem for one year
until moving to Malta, Mt. where they raised their five
children. They lived and worked for eighteen years on the family
farm in Strater community. While working at Action for Eastern
Montana, Janet accepted a position in Glasgow, Mt. where they
lived until moving to their present home in 1971.
Having grown up working at Ellis
Mercantile with her father, Janet enjoyed her years working at
Jacobs Plumbing & Heating, Malta Plumbing & Heating and Hardware
Hank. She worked at the Hitchin Post and Phillips County Good
Samaritan as dietary supervisor and activities assistant. Janet
was a member of Montana Dietary Supervisors Association, A
Charter and Life Member of Phillips County Soroptimists, and
volunteered at the Malta Food Bank.
A woman of deep faith, Janet was an
active member of the Church of Christ and in later years, the
Grace Fellowship Church. She enjoyed bible study, singing hymns,
Silent Night being her favorite, and had a fruit salad ready for
any occasion.
The kitchen was the center of Jan’s life, whether fixing
pancakes, doing her daily devotions or waiting for family to
come home. She enjoyed doll repair, sewing and quilting, and
working in her yard and garden. In the quiet moments of her day
she relished a good cup of tea, reading and word search, and was
a connoisseur of everything chocolate. Laughing, singing, and a
DQ blizzard were some of her favorite things. She was a kind and
beautiful person who always had room in her heart for more.
Janet was preceded in death by her
parents, her daughter Bonnie Jo Lowney, and her husband William
(Bill). She is survived by sons Don and his wife Diana, Dale and
his wife Dorothy, Doug and his wife Ronda and her daughter Barb
and Joe Russell. Grandchildren William, Ian, Shauna Jo, Bannar,
Douglas James (DJ), Abby, Guy, Gal, Nolan and Trey.
Great-grandchildren Verick, Wyatt, Amber, Megan, Jim, Autumn,
Jade, Dawson, Loren, Ruby Jo, Nevaeh, De’Shana, Adalee, Traxton,
Gray and Siva Sophia. and 10 Great-great grandchildren.
Guest Book
From: Sharon A Kindle
God Rest your busy and loving soul, Jan.
From: Barb Peterson
Sure was a great lady. She will be greatly missed as she touched many with her warmth, wisdom and talents. My condolences to the family.
Guest book submissions may be made using the link to the left.
