Jean Delores Bennett, 80, of Hot Springs, MT. passed away on Nov. 28, 2006 at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, MT.
Jean was born on Dec. 10, 1925 in Mobridge, SD to Walter & Grace Welton.
She graduated from Hot Springs High School.
Our mother had many occupations in her life never having lacked for a job. Through out her high school years she was her father’s hired hand and made 25 cents a day. Some of the neighbor farmers would hire mom also during hay season. She did fencing, riding, feeding, among many other chores. She worked hard all of her life. Mom worked as an electrical component installer in airplanes for Boeing Aircraft In Everett WA in her early years. She also worked for Gates Rubber Plant in Denver.

She waitressed managed restaurants and Bars alike. She managed the Eagles Club in Pasco Washington in the 50s. She decorated cakes for sale in the 70's as well as working in the commissary on the Military base, bagging groceries for tips only. She made feather jewelry, hatbands, and hats in her earlier years in order to make ends meet. She loved the years that she lived in Hawaii. She loved the culture, the beauty and the warmth of the air. She loved making a picnic lunch and going down to the beach to pick puka shells and any others she might find pretty. She drove school bus, was one hell of a Christmas tree baler. She loved to dance. And was very good at it.

Among her favorites were the jitterbug and the swing. She danced in contests in her younger years. In her later years she would often comment how much she missed it. She could whistle like an angel and when in an especially good mood would whistle for hours. She worked for 9 yrs. until this spring 2006 at Bucks grocery in Hot Springs stocking shelves, as a cashier, or just letting Mike know what he needed to do differently HA! She cared for every stray animal that had the good fortune to find her front porch. Cats, dogs, raccoons, bear, deer, skunks, it didn’t matter she loved them and all their beauty. If some one had a stray that needed a home they could always call Mom because she would make sure they had one.

She also had 4 indoor cats and a little dog that she gave a home to when one her friends Barb passed away. She cooked and baked endlessly to provide for young people trying to get on their feet, old people trying to stay off their feet and just about any one else that liked her good food. She would mail care packages to soldiers also. There isn't enough space or time to share all the wonderful things about our Dear Mother, She will be missed tremendously by her family and close friends, but her memories of kindness, and beauty will stay with us forever.
She is preceded in death by her parents and a sister Patricia Nielsen & her husband Oscar Smallwood.
She is survived by a daughter- Patricia Ilac if Hot Springs & 2 sons- Walter Bennett of Columbia Falls, MT & William Beckner of Hot Springs, 13 grandchildren & 13 ½ great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lonepine Hall in Lonepine.
Cremation and arrangements are by Grogan Funeral Home & Crematory of Polson.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com