Joann Marie Middleton Smith, 88
Joann Marie Middleton Smith passed away Dec. 14, 2007, at her home in Kalispell.
The daughter of Austin and Lucille Burt Middleton, Joann was 'born in a jail …' in Miles City on Sept. 20, 1919, when her father was sheriff of Custer County, and was '… raised at the penitentiary' when he was appointed warden of the Montana Territorial Prison.
Joann received her elementary and secondary education in Deer Lodge, and spent her college years at Stephen's in Missouri and the University of Montana, where she became a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
It was in Missoula that Joann met local attorney Kendrick Smith. On Feb. 27, 1943, she married Kendrick, who had two daughters, Lorinda and Valerie.
Making their home in Butte, Joann became involved in Junior League, PEO Chapter AC, Homer Club, and the Presbyterian Church. She also was involved for many years with the Butte Sheltered Workshop, March of Dimes, The Heart Association, The Arts Chateau as a member and on the board of directors, and with the Butte Ski Club, where she was oft pressed into service as the ambulance for the patient with the occasional broken leg. While raising daughters Lorinda and Valerie, Kendrick and Joann welcomed their third daughter, Blake, in 1946.
Joann was an exquisite seamstress, a gourmet cook, a fierce game player, and a wonderful 'law' partner to her beloved Kendrick. Their travels through the ABA took them all around the world, but she really delighted in being in her own country, in her own state, and watching her 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild grow.
Joann was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years; her parents, Lucille and Austin Middleton; and younger brother, Blu Middleton.
She is survived by her daughters and their spouses: Lorinda and Ray Moholt of Portland, Valerie and Jack Olson of Bozeman, Blake Smith of Kalispell, and close friend and 'fourth daughter' Rita and Jim Morris of Portsmouth, Ohio; sisters, Tomme Lu Worden and Margaret Scariano, both of Missoula; sister-in-law, Susie Middleton, and Fred Samut of Hemet, Calif.; grandsons and their spouses: Jeff and Toni Olson of Lakewood, Colo., Jake and Amber Olson of Denver, Raymond Kendrick and Leslie Moholt of Lostine, Ore.; and granddaughters and their spouses: Jessica and Ifreme Koryoiyale of Bozeman, and Ken and Melissa Moholt-Siebert of Portland. Joann's great-grandchildren include: Austin and Lucille Moholt-Siebert, Annecy, Isabella Josie, and Siena Olson, Anna Helene Moholt, Kalo and Triton Koroiyale, Liam and Devak Olson, and Tristan Melody; and great-great-granddaughter, Isabelle 'Bou' Perales, of Anchorage, Alaska. Twelve nieces and nephew and two cousins also survive.
Visitation will be at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home in Butte. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at the First Presbyterian Church of Butte, Platinum and Excelsior.
Joann's daughters request memorials be sent to the Rialto Theatre in Deer Lodge or the Rough Rider's Museum in Miles City.