Jeanette Swihart passed away at the farm home that she loved on March 20, 2019.
Jeanette (Becker) Swihart was born on January 2, 1932 to Fred Becker and Lyda (Roberts) Becker at Sidney, Montana. She lived near Sidney on a farm along with her three sisters and two brothers and attended school in Sidney.
On June 18, 1949 Jeanette married Allen Swihart and they made their home on the Swihart homestead in rural Richland County, north of Richey, Montana. She lived on this beloved farm for almost 70 years. During this time their daughter Colette was born in 1953. She lived and worked beside Allen until October of 2006 when he passed away, but she continued to stay on the farm. The Johnston and Candee families to the north began to take care of the crops and cattle when she was unable to no longer do that work. She continued to "farm" by mowing the yard and getting rid of those pesky dandelions and weeds.
Jeanette loved the farm, animals, and her family. She was always making sure everyone ate good and made the best food! She loved wild flowers that family picked for her and enjoyed vistiing and showing off all of her pictures. She also enjoyed sharing some of the history of the area. She liked listening to 50s and 60s country music. She was not materialistic and just loved being able to see nature and the big sky. She loved to look out of the kitchen window at her "mountain" to the north. She was soft spoken, honest, trusting, and kind--always worrying about everyone else before herself and always staying busy.
We looked for unique John Deere items for Mom/Grandma/Great Grandma for gifts to go with her love of the John Deere equipment that she and Grandpa ran. She had quite a John Deere collection even though some items may have been stuck away somewhere due to the excess we gave her.
Jeanette is survived by her daughter Colette Thomas (Royce Harrison) of Glendive, Montana, her granddaughter Laura Thomas (Joseph Griefnow) of Glendive, grandson Ty Thomas of Glendive, and three great-grandsons Skyler, Alex, and Joel. Also is surviving is her youngest sister Joyce Deaton (Doug Deaton) of Tucson Arizona and Bigfork Montana. Also named should be Carl Thomas her former son-in-laws and friend of Glendive and Grant Olson her next-door-neighbor and friend and many neighbors and friends, too many to mention.
Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Allen Swihart, her sister Doris (Becker) Schraer of Billings Montana, Dale Becker of Sidney Montana and Loyd Becker of Sidney and her sister JoAnne (Becker) Brann of Browns Summit North Carolina.
We will miss being together with her for holidays and birthdays. These were special days for her with a special dinner and dessert and table set perfectly for her family and friends.