Janice Janeane Shaw, 88, of Helena

The Live Broadcast will open 15 minutes prior to the start of the service at 1:00 p.m.

Janice J. Shaw

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Janice Janeane Barrett, born March 7, 1937 in Joplin, Missouri.  Janice J. Shaw passed away June 4, 2025 while residing at The Springs Bozeman Montana.  Janice was 88 years old at the time of death and lived a fulfilling, adventurous and inspiring life. She was loved dearly by her family and friends.

Janice was born to Robert Cyrus Barrett (Bob) and Irene Phillips Barrett.  She was their only child and adored by her parents.  The family originally lived in Baxter Springs, Kansas where Bob worked as a photographer and grocer and Irene a stay at home mother.  This was during the Depression and Jan always said she was very spoiled, not by material things, but lots of love.  When she was three years old, her head was accidently slammed in a car door and she ended up in a coma for several weeks. Irene’s brother Otto had moved to Southern California and Otto convinced the family to move to California so Janice could continue to recover.

During World War II the Barrett family lived the classic Southern California life.  Bob’s brother Dick, wife Dora and his family moved to the same area for better jobs, so Janice had her cousins Phyllis and David close by.  Otto’s wife Jo was a favorite aunt and Jo often took Janice to Hollywood to spend Saturdays watching double feature movies.  Janice was forever a movie buff.  Bob worked and owned several small grocery stores and Irene assisted him in the meat department.  The family lived in Verdugo City when Janice was in first to ninth grade and then they moved to La Crescenta during her high school years.  Janice attended Glendale High School, had many friends, and graduated in 1955. She enrolled at Glendale City College and one week before starting school Janice met John Shaw in a classic scene from Happy Days.  They were both hanging out at the local drive in, the Yellow Jacket in La Canada, with their friends and John spied Janice and introduced himself.  They were dating within the week, engaged at Christmas 1955 and married April 6, 1956 at the First Baptist Church of Montrose.

Janice began the next phase of her life as a wife, mother and eventually a career woman.  The first couple of years John and Janice lived in Montrose and Janice worked as a secretary for General Petroleum Corporation in Los Angeles.  The couple then decided to move to Chico, California so John could pursue a business degree.  Janice became a stay at home mother to two daughters: Julie Ann born April 18, 1960 and Christina Suzanne on November 14, 1962.  After John graduated, the family moved to Helena, Montana.  Janice went to work for the Montana Department of Institutions as a secretary.  She assisted in designing an Aftercare Program for adolescents coming out of state reformatory schools and the state orphanage.  Janice worked in this program for five years.  A move was made in early 1970 to Soda Springs, Idaho where close friends were made and the family lived for a time along the Blackfoot Reservoir.  The next move was to the Snake River Valley area in 1973 with homes in Heyburn and Rupert.  Janice started work as a secretary with Idaho Vocational Rehabilitation in Burley.  Within six months, Janice was promoted to case worker and over the next five years gained state wide recognition for her effectiveness.  After Julie graduated high school in 1978, John, Jan and Chris moved back to Helena, Montana.  Jan worked temporarily for Montana Department of Commerce and in 1981 began work as the administrator of the Achievement Place Group Home.  This home was merged in 1984 with two other group homes and Jan became head of Montana Youth Homes. She spent many years expanding the programs provided to teens, working with the State of Montana to improve services, and partnering with group home administrators across Montana to train and advocate for social workers in the field.  Jan always gave credit to her supportive staff and board for the success of the programs.  Her work was recognized on October 26, 1995 from Mayor Kay McKenna who proclaimed the day “Jan Shaw Day” and by the Montana Youth Homes Inc. board which named one of the group homes Jan Shaw Youth Home.  Jan retired in 1995.

John and Jan had many plans for travel after retirement, unfortunately, John passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack in early 1998.  They had been married almost 42 years.  Jan was challenged to redesign her life at age 60.  She decided to continue John’s ownership of the Nickel Ante Casino and ran that business for three years.  She audited classes at Carroll College, pursuing the dream of college education. Jan joined a group of women who had also lost their husbands and developed a strong set of girlfriends.  The group formed a Gourmet Dinner Club which met monthly for many years. She was a member of a Red Hats Group. She down hilled and cross country skied, picked up golfing, and joined the Helena Outdoor Club for hiking. Most importantly Jan started following a lifelong passion for travel and planned at least one overseas travel every year.  By 2015 she had visited 32 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, South and Central America, and traveled across Canada, U.S. and Mexico.  Jan rode a camel in Egypt, sailed the Nile River, walked the Great Wall of China, climbed along Machu Picchu, floated the Grand Canyon, and toured the great museums of the Louve and Hermitage. When home in Helena, Jan spent time with her adored grandchildren and camped, traveled, and skied with daughters and families.  To top off the last stage of her life, Jan began to date a longtime family friend, Don Walther, in 2007.  Don became a valued member of the Shaw family, and the two of them traveled to Africa, Egypt, took a Great Lakes Cruise, and spent a number of years traveling with a camp trailer all over Canada, the U.S. southwest and California.

Janice was preceded in death by her parents Bob and Irene Barrett, and her husband John Phillips Shaw.  She is survived by her daughters and their families:  Julie and Michael DalSoglio, granddaughter Lisa and Arik Neal; Christina and Donald Thelen, grandson Joshua Thelen, granddaughter Nicole and Orry Hatcher, and great grandson, Graham Hatcher.  She is also survived by her partner Don Walther and soul sister Joan Staum.

A Celebration of Life will be held June 17, 2025 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke, 3750 N. Montana Ave., Helena, Montana at 1 pm.  The service will be live streamed and available through Anderson Stevenson’s website.  A reception will follow the service.  Burial will be at Forestvale Cemetery, Helena, Montana.

Donations can be made to the Margaret Stuart Youth Homes, P.O. Box 1365, Helena, Montana 59624.  (This is the last group home remaining in Helena.)  On line donations can be made to Montana Youth Homes on their webside:  youthhomesmt.org.

Service Schedule

Celebration of Her Life

1:00 p.m.

Tuesday June 17, 2025

Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N. Montana Ave.

Helena, Montana 59602

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Reception

Following the Celebration of Her Life

Tuesday June 17, 2025

Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N. Montana Ave.

Helena, Montana 59602

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Burial

Following the reception

Tuesday June 17, 2025

Forestvale Cemetery

490 Forestvale Rd

Helena, MT 59602

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