Joan (Giles) Michael

Joan (Giles) Michael was born in Cricklade, England, on the 26th of October 1932. Joan passed peacefully at Logan Health Hospice, Kalispell, on June 6, 2021.

Joan was born and raised at the family home in Cricklade, England. She was the second of 13 children. She attended school in the village until the age of 15. She worked in Malmsbury as a care assistant for children with disabilities and at the Garrards factory in Swindon, working on the assembly line making record turntables. To get to work Joan would cycle over an hour to get to either place of work and then back again.

It was when Joan was moving about the village of Cricklade she noticed James H. Michael, an American serviceman from RAF Fairford. They struck up a courtship, and after James convinced Joan's father that he was a worthy suitor for his daughter by bringing tinned ham to the family home, Joan and James married. The wedding took place in the 13th-century St. Sampson's Church, on the 7th of June 1951. Soon after their marriage, James had to return stateside to another post near Orlando, Florida, and Joan followed months later, sailing on the Queen Mary.

Joan followed James through many postings across North America, crossing to Newfoundland, Canada, Washington state and finally settling into Montana and the Flathead Valley. After settling his family, James was to spend six months in Great Falls. This was his last time away from his family. In 1972, Joan became a U.S. citizen.

Joan worked as a lunch lady in Somers Public School. Later she volunteered at the Salvation Army Thrift store, then became an employee there. From 1981 ’til 1999, both Joan and James were the proprietors of Kalispell Taxi. Joan was widowed in 1994. Joan loved to quilt and embroider, enjoyed her garden, bowling in a league, baking, traveling back to the U.K., hunting out treasures and enjoying her many grandchildren.

Joan and Jim had eight children, 23 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Joan has been reunited through death with the love of her life, James H. Michael and son James E. Michael.

A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held at Somers Fire Hall, 784 Somers Road, on Friday, Oct. 14, from 4 to 6 p.m.