JEANNE HULL obituary

CHESTER - Jeanne Elizabeth Hull, 86, of Chester died Thursday, June 9, 2005, at the Liberty County Nursing Home.

A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. today at St. Mary's Church in Chester. A funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Burial with military

rites will follow at the Chester Cemetery.

Jeanne was born April 8, 1916, on the family homestead nine miles south of Chester to Louis and Elise (Hamel) Gagnon.

Jeanne received her early education at the Erickson School near the farm, then finished her schooling in Chester, where she graduated from Chester High School in 1936. She attended the College of Great Falls for a year and studied accounting, then transferred to St. Joseph Nursing School in Lewistown, where she graduated in 1940.

Jeanne began her nursing career at Conrad. She later moved to California and began working at Los Angeles General Hospital with her sister, Erma. The two Gagnon girls heard there was a demand for military nurses, so they enlisted together into the U.S. Army in 1943. Jeanne attained the rank of captain during her World War II service and worked in military hospitals at Melbourne, Australia, New Guinea and San Francisco. She received her honorable discharge in the summer of 1946 and returned to Montana.

She married Michael J. Hull at St. Mary's Church in Chester on Sept. 28, 1946. They made their home on the former John O'Connor homestead northwest of Chester, where they farmed, ranched and ran a meat processing business. In addition, Jeanne worked diligently as a homemaker and mother of seven. The Hull's retired in 1978 and planned to travel during the winter months. Unfortunately, Mike died unexpectedly that fall. In 1980, Jeanne bought a mobile home in San Marcos, Calif., and spent her winters there until 1991, when her health began to fail. She lived at the Sweetgrass Lodge Retirement Home in Chester until March of 2002, then transferred to the Wheat Country Assisted Living Facility. In the spring of 2005, Jeanne was hospitalized following a leg fracture from a fall. She moved to the Liberty County Nursing Home for extended care and resided there until her death.

Jeanne was a life member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. She was baptized and confirmed there and was active in the Altar Society for many years. During her winter years in California, she helped with a Homebound Ministry program.

When her kids were young, Jeanne volunteered as a 4-H health leader. She was also a member of the Chester American Legion group.

Jeanne liked sewing, cooking, reading, crossword puzzles and cards, especially pinochle. In their early years, the Hulls enjoyed camping. In later years, they loved to travel in their motorhome. During those years in California, she spent her free days at local garage sales.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Mary Elise Hull; brothers, Francis and Narciss Gagnon, and two infant brothers; and sisters, Rose Boucher and Erma Riecke.

Survivors include her sons, Louis (Bette) Hull of Dillon, Charles Hull of Chester, Donald (Deanna) Hull of Chester, and Dennis (Mary) Hull of Pendleton, Ore.; daughters, Loretta (John) Tibor and Theresa (Dan) McClain, both of Anchorage, Alaska; brothers, Ernest and Joseph Gagnon, both of Chester; 19 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces.

Arrangements by Rockman Funeral Chapel.

Memorials can be given to St. Mary's Church or donor's choice.