Jenny Lou Siderius, 77

Our wife, mother and friend, Jenny Lou Siderius, “joined her savior Jesus Christ in heaven” on Christmas Eve, 2012.

Jenny Lou was born March 7, 1935, in Pauls Valley, Okla., to Anita and Delaine Grimmett. She grew up in Oklahoma and Texas, graduating from high school in Sherman, Texas.   

Jenny Lou attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and made many friendships that had lasted throughout her life.

She married Mel James in 1957 and they had three children, Kimberly, Trey and Doug. Jenny Lou and her family settled in Kalispell in 1968. She loved being a homemaker and was involved in many activities through the years, including being a leader for her kids’ activities in Brownies, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boys Scouts.

Jenny Lou also enjoyed skiing on the winter weekends, as well as hiking and golfing with family and friends.

She attended the University of Montana in 1976 to renew her teaching credentials and returned to teaching third grade at Elrod School for a number of years.

Jenny Lou married Chuck Siderius in 1984 and moved to the family farm. At that time she became a stepmom to Chuck’s four children, Doug, Laurie, LeAnn and Dan.

Jenny’s faith was a big part of her life. She was active in Bible study fellowship, Cursillo/Pathways and the Creston Lutheran Church. She became active in the local chapter of Compassionate Friends in 1985 after the loss of her son Trey, and continued to reach out to parents dealing with the loss of a child since that time.

Jenny Lou was known as a gracious, classy and loving woman who lived by the golden rule, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”  

Jenny Lou was preceded in death by her father, Delaine Grimmett; mother, Anita Scivally; and son, Trey James.

She is survived by her husband, Chuck Siderius; sister, Betty Sue Purser; daughter, Kimberly Zipp, and her husband, Gene, of Kirkland, Wash.; son, Douglas James, and his wife, Becky, of Montz, La.; stepson, Doug Siderius, of Kalispell; stepdaughter, Laurie Quinlan, and her husband, Kelly, of Hamilton; stepdaughter, LeAnn Siderius, of Kalispell; and stepson, Dan Siderius, of Kalispell. Jenny Lou has 14 grandchildren whom she loved deeply, including Sarah and Clay James, Cory and Amber, Kody and Anna, KC and Tanner Siderius; Courtney, Stella and Ceili Quinlan; Kellen Murray and Kaden Schoenthal; and Austen, Aaron and Andrew Siderius. Jenny Lou also had been blessed with one great-grandchild, Jackson Siderius.

Gifts in Jenny Lou’s memory are suggested to the Flathead Education Foundation, Trey James Memorial Scholarship, or Compassionate Friends.

Funeral services for Jenny will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastor Darold Reiner officiating. Burial will be in the Glacier Memorial Gardens.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Jenny Lou’s family. You are invited to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Jenny Lou’s tribute wall, offer condolences and share memories.