Rhoda E. Jamruszka

Rhoda E. (Doerann) Jamruszka, 79, of Great Falls, who formerly lived north of Craig on the Missouri River, died of cancer Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at her residence.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of Schnider Funeral Home, Great Falls. And burial of ashes will be held at a later date in Craig Cemetery.

Rhoda was born Dec. 3, 1931, in Chicago, Ill. She was an accomplished pianist and graduated from St. Scholastica Academy. She married Stanley M. Jamruszka on Aug. 26, 1950, and they moved shortly thereafter to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to begin their lifelong careers as educators.

Rhoda taught elementary grades at Our Lady of Lourdes and Porcupine Day School. She took evening and summer classes to earn her college degree. It took 20 years but she persisted and graduated college ahead of her children.

In 1965, the family moved to Browning, on the Blackfeet Reservation. Rhoda continued her career, teaching at the Vina Chattin Elementary School in Browning. Stan was reservation principal and superintendent of the boarding school.

In 1971, the family moved to Havre, and Rhoda earned her master's degree at Northern Montana College. She was employed as a teacher, school psychologist and special education director for the Havre School District, retiring in 1986.

Rhoda and Stan built a home on the Missouri River and lived there for 20 years. She was called out of retirement to work at the Mountain View School in Helena.

Traveling abroad and in the United States were hallmarks of Stan and Rhoda's retirement. They especially enjoyed trailer camping, boating, fishing and attending mineral and gem shows with their family and friends in Montana and Arizona. They also enjoyed showing off Montana to their out-of-state friends and family. She moved from the family's Missouri River home to live in Great Falls three years after Stan's death. Rhoda returned to live several winters in Yuma, Ariz., after Stan died.

Rhoda was a painter of landscapes, forever immortalizing the places where she and her family recreated, especially Glacier National Park. She was an active member of the Dearborn Garden Club and the Friday Night Club. She was an avid reader and liked to work crossword puzzles, though she admonished those who wanted to use a dictionary or the internet to solve the harder clues. She enjoyed shuffleboard and was quite a good player.

Survivors include her sisters, Miriam Bollweg of Cassopolis, Mich., and Judy Doerann-Houseman of Thompson Falls; her children, Jan Jamruszka-Wilson (John Wilson) of Helena, Steve Jamruszka (Cathy Jamruszka) of Havre, Pamela Jamruszka Mencher (Jordan Mencher) of Wheat Ridge, Colo., and Virginia Jamruszka-Misner (Ellis Misner) of Cascade; four grandchildren, Amy Jamruszka-Lewis (Andy) of Port Orchard, Wash., Jeff Wilson of Seattle, Wash., Joel Wilson of Helena, and Christy Keto (Norton Pease) of Havre; two great-grandchildren, Kaden and Jolen Keto of Havre.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 50 years, Stanley M. Jamruszka in 2000.

Memorials may be made to Peace Hospice, 1101 26th St., Great Falls, MT 59405, or Meals on Wheels Aging Services Elderly Food Program (Nancy Wilson), 1620 12th Ave. N., Great Falls, MT 59401.

Condolences for the family may be left online at http://www.schniderfuneralhome.com.

Rhoda E. (Doerann) Jamruszka, 79, of Great Falls, who formerly lived north of Craig on the Missouri River, died of cancer Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at her residence.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of Schnider Funeral Home, Great Falls. And burial of ashes will be held at a later date in Craig Cemetery.

Rhoda was born Dec. 3, 1931, in Chicago, Ill. She was an accomplished pianist and graduated from St. Scholastica Academy. She married Stanley M. Jamruszka on Aug. 26, 1950, and they moved shortly thereafter to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to begin their lifelong careers as educators.

Rhoda taught elementary grades at Our Lady of Lourdes and Porcupine Day School. She took evening and summer classes to earn her college degree. It took 20 years but she persisted and graduated college ahead of her children.

In 1965, the family moved to Browning, on the Blackfeet Reservation. Rhoda continued her career, teaching at the Vina Chattin Elementary School in Browning. Stan was reservation principal and superintendent of the boarding school.

In 1971, the family moved to Havre, and Rhoda earned her master's degree at Northern Montana College. She was employed as a teacher, school psychologist and special education director for the Havre School District, retiring in 1986.

Rhoda and Stan built a home on the Missouri River and lived there for 20 years. She was called out of retirement to work at the Mountain View School in Helena.

Traveling abroad and in the United States were hallmarks of Stan and Rhoda's retirement. They especially enjoyed trailer camping, boating, fishing and attending mineral and gem shows with their family and friends in Montana and Arizona. They also enjoyed showing off Montana to their out-of-state friends and family. She moved from the family's Missouri River home to live in Great Falls three years after Stan's death. Rhoda returned to live several winters in Yuma, Ariz., after Stan died.

Rhoda was a painter of landscapes, forever immortalizing the places where she and her family recreated, especially Glacier National Park. She was an active member of the Dearborn Garden Club and the Friday Night Club. She was an avid reader and liked to work crossword puzzles, though she admonished those who wanted to use a dictionary or the internet to solve the harder clues. She enjoyed shuffleboard and was quite a good player.

Survivors include her sisters, Miriam Bollweg of Cassopolis, Mich., and Judy Doerann-Houseman of Thompson Falls; her children, Jan Jamruszka-Wilson (John Wilson) of Helena, Steve Jamruszka (Cathy Jamruszka) of Havre, Pamela Jamruszka Mencher (Jordan Mencher) of Wheat Ridge, Colo., and Virginia Jamruszka-Misner (Ellis Misner) of Cascade; four grandchildren, Amy Jamruszka-Lewis (Andy) of Port Orchard, Wash., Jeff Wilson of Seattle, Wash., Joel Wilson of Helena, and Christy Keto (Norton Pease) of Havre; two great-grandchildren, Kaden and Jolen Keto of Havre.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 50 years, Stanley M. Jamruszka in 2000.

Memorials may be made to Peace Hospice, 1101 26th St., Great Falls, MT 59405, or Meals on Wheels Aging Services Elderly Food Program (Nancy Wilson), 1620 12th Ave. N., Great Falls, MT 59401.

Condolences for the family may be left online at www.schniderfuneralhome.com.