Obituary - Joyce Marie Newman, 91

Joyce Marie (Sohm) Newman was born in Havre, MT April 25, 1930. She was the eldest of three children born to Joseph Sohm and Gertrude (Dion) Sohm Orlando. Her early years were spent in Havre and Cut Bank, MT.

She graduated from Havre High School in 1948 and Northern Montana College in 1950. After graduating she worked at the hospital in Cut Bank. While living there she met "Jimmy" Conway Baker Newman, who was stationed at the radar site nearby. They were married November 9th, 1951. Since Jimmy was in the military, their early years of marriage took them to some interesting places. They were stationed at the Air Force Bases at Johnston Island, Washington D.C., Swindon, England, and Biloxi, MS. They also lived in Havre, MT, and Fredericksburg, VA. Joyce enjoyed moving to new places, even with six children. In 1965 they moved to Great Falls, MT to be closer, but not too close, to Joyce's family in Havre, MT.

In her spare time, Joyce liked playing bridge, pinochle, and cribbage, reading mysteries, especially Agatha Christie, and teaching her children how to weed the garden with real on the job training. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Great Falls, MT. She continued her love for travel. They went on trips to California, Virginia, Glacier Park, St. Thomas, Cabo, Cancun, and Puerto Vallarta, to name a few.

After Jimmy passed away in 1991, she moved to Pueblo, CO, to be near daughter Gloria. While there, she met a friend of Gloria's in-laws, Cass Muro. They exchanged vows at St. Mary's Catholic church in 2000. Cass and Joyce were able to take in several trips as well. They traveled to South Carolina, Tennessee, New Mexico and went on several cruises.

In 2010, after daughter Gloria passed away, they moved to Chester to be closer to daughter Julie. In 2019, they moved to Great Falls to be closer to medical facilities with son Tim helping them when Cass could no longer drive. They moved to Billings, MT, in 2020. Daughter Sharon Leonard and her son and daughter-in-law John and Cami Quigley cared for her in their home as her health declined.

Joyce passed away at their home October 15th, 2021.

Joyce was preceded in death by "Jimmy" Conway Baker Newman, daughter Gloria (Newman) Lee Valencia, foster child, Darren Magpie, and siblings, Joseph Leo Sohm and Dorothy (Sohm) Jergeson Duncan.

She is survived by Cass Muro, children Chris (Beate) Newman of Lolo, MT, Julie Gagnon of Chester, MT, Sharon Leonard of Billings, MT, Tim Newman of Billings, MT, and Gerald (Vanessa) Newman of Boise, ID, and grandchildren, James Douglas, Ronald Lee, Eric Gagnon, Daniel Lee, Ryan Gagnon, John Quigley, Cory Gagnon, Christopher Quigley, Mindy Johnson, Shane Gagnon, Jenna Williams and Nick Layne and several great-grandchildren.