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Jan Margo Ross Livesay, 77

| October 22, 2023 12:00 AM

Jan Margo Ross Livesay, born June 1946, passed away Oct. 2023.

Jan and twin sister, Terry were born on Father’s Day in Great Falls, Montana on June 16, 1946, to Edythe and Don Ross and joining her older sister, Judy. She spent her childhood in Great Falls, graduating from Great Falls High School and later attending Montana State University, where she and her sisters graduated together in 1968. She earned an Elementary Education degree from MSU and is a member of the A O Pi Sorority.

While attending MSU, Jan met Bob, who became her loving partner in work, adventures, and play. For nearly fifty-six years, they made countless memories and as many friends around the world. Together they started their highway construction business, Montana Lines, in 1978. Through the years, they traveled the roads of Montana alongside their beloved crew.

She became the first woman President of the Montana Contractors Association in 2002, an honor of respect from her contractor peers. Together, Jan and Bob received the Constructor of the Year award in 2003 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, both distinctions awarded jointly by the Montana Contractors Association and Montana State University. She was also on the President's Advisory Council and the Engineering Advisory Council at MSU. Jan and Bob established a scholarship fund for Engineering students at MSU. She was active in the National Association of Women in Construction and was the Great Falls Chapter president in 1997 and 1998.

Many of Jan's friends are fortunate to be the keepers of her artistic ability. She painted everything from rocks, glasses, and plates to beautiful oil paintings. She also had a love of words in the form of poems and sage quotes for her special friends. She loved her family and friends, her work, life, nature, art, cooking, entertaining, traveling and her favorite phrase, "let's talk," especially about the Bobcats.

She was a stunningly beautiful woman inside and out. She loved life and her people with clarity and resilience, dignity and passion. We all were grateful and blessed to be a part of her world. She will always be a part of us.

She is survived by her husband, Bob; their son, Trevor (Tricia); her grandchildren, Logan, Harley, and Deklin; her sisters, Judy Oveson and Terry "Torch" Ross; nephews, Ross Oveson (Sandi), Ryan Enos (Dena), Casey Enos (Leisa); and niece, Erika Enos (Garth).

She is welcomed by her nonphysical family and friends, her son Kelly and her mother and father, and other family members and friends.

She loved peace and the beauty of the world. No services are planned at this time. A suggestion is to plant flowers, with a song in your heart, in her memory. Her beauty and laughter will be missed, lucky are the angels that will receive her.

Arrangements are under the care of Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.