Jean Nicholson

April 27, 1936 ~ August 02, 2012

Service: August 07, 2012 1 p.m.
   Location: St. James Episcopal Church
Graveside Service: August 07, 2012 Following Service
   Location: Sunset Hills Cemetery

Jean Waters Nicholson was born April 27, 1936 to Helen Kennedy Waters of Belt, MT and Robert Medley Waters of Billings, MT. Jean grew up in Billings, graduating from Billings Senior in 1954. She attended Stanford University for one year before transferring to the University of Colorado. Jean was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in Elementary Education in 1958.

Jean married James H. Nicholson, Jr. on November 24, 1958 and spent the next 54 years being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and teacher.

Jean and Jim retired from ranching in Luther, MT in 1994 and spent a tremendous retirement in the Bozeman-Belgrade area raising Fjord Horses, summers in Swan Lake, MT and winters in Tucson, AZ, and going to all of the school programs and sporting events seven grandchildren could provide. She always said, "A child of my child is twice my child."

Jean is survived by her husband, Jim; her four daughters, Sarah Jean Nicholson of Belgrade, MT, Rebecca Ann Wipplinger and her husband Jack, and their three children Skyler, Lat, and Lene of Roberts, MT, Nancy Elizabeth Francis and her husband Brian, and their two daughters Mariah and Susan of Belgrade, MT, Emily Ruth Livingston and her two boys, Zane and Dylan of Belgrade, MT; and Jean is the Great Grandmother of Grey Thomas Wipplinger of Red Lodge, MT and the "soon to be here" Keira Jean Wipplinger.

Jean was active in Jr. League while in Billings and PEO Chapter F while in Bozeman. She was an accomplished quilter, as all of her children and grandchildren can attest. Jean faithfully preserved all the family’s memories through scrapbooking and quilting. She said of her time ranching in Luther, Mt, "I would rather be a teacher than a ranch hand." Jean forged the future of many students while teaching twenty years in Red Lodge, Absarokee, and Billings. She always said the twenty mile drive from Red Lodge to Luther was the most beautiful scenery in the world!

Jean Waters Nicholson passed away on August 2, 2012.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 7, at St. James Episcopal Church, in Bozeman, at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Sunset Hills Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, 2812 First Avenue North, Room 216, Billings, MT 59101 or St. James Episcopal Church, or the charity of your choice.

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