Carrie Johnston Jewell, 84
Carrie Johnston Jewell passed away Nov. 20, 2005, at the age of 84 in Kalispell.
She had lived for the past two years at the Ashley Court Apartments in Kalispell.
Carrie was born July 22, 1921, to Peter and Clara (Johnson) Johnston of Watford City, N.D. She and her four older brothers, Charlie, Walter, Ben and Andrew, grew up on the Johnston family homestead in McKenzie County, N.D. Carrie graduated from Watford City High School and Dickinson State Teachers College. She taught school in small country schools in eastern Montana and western North Dakota. Her love of teaching continued throughout her life as she taught in Lutheran Sunday Schools, 4-H clubs and her children and grandchildren.
Carrie married James 0. 'Jim' Jewell in Dickinson, N.D., on Sept. 20, 1944. They lived briefly in Georgia while Jim was in the military Officer's Candidate School. After World War II, they lived in Golden Valley, N.D., and then moved to the ranch north of Watford City with Carrie's father, Peter. Carrie and Jim's three daughters were born during the years they lived at the ranch.
Carrie was involved in running the ranch and with community and church activities. While in Watford City she taught Sunday School at the First Lutheran Church and served in Dorcas and Ladies Aide. Carrie sponsored the 4-H Club and helped Jim establish the first McKenzie County Fair. Carrie's hospitality and generosity to family, friends and neighbors meant that the ranch house was always full. It was a second home to her niece, nephews and her children's friends.
In 1960, Carrie and Jim moved to Missoula. Their large log house on Reserve Street soon became known for the same warm welcome. As her grandchildren were born, they became a major part of Carrie's life and a great delight to her. Carrie and Jim spent their retirement years in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, with frequent visits from children and grandchildren, walks by the lake and trips to the Oregon coast.
Carrie and Jim were married for 58 years. After Jim's death in 2002, Carrie moved to Kalispell to be near her daughter, Mary, and her family. In July 2005, more than 80 'Johnston' family members attended a reunion there and Carrie was able to visit with her relatives from across the states and Canada.
Carrie is survived by her daughters, Beverly Terry and husband, Bill, of British Columbia, Mary Gatzke and husband, Donald, of Kalispell, and Marj Dahlstrom-Cardwell and husband, Michael, of Spokane; and her grandchildren, Jessica Glazier and husband, Todd, of Bigfork, Nicole Saylor of Whitefish, Shayne Saylor of Kalispell and Andrew Dahlstrom of Spokane.
A private service was held Nov. 23 at Johnson Mortuary in Kalispell with burial at Forest Cemetery in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.