We are saying farewell to a very special lady. Jean Charlotte O’Neil Bowlds, 96, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 14th, 2023 at St. Peter’s Hospital, surrounded by family. Jean was born on June 5, 1927, in St. Cloud, MN to John P. O’Neil and Charlotte Sylvia O’Neil. At the age of three, Jean moved with her family to Livingston, MT, attended grade school and high school at St. Mary’s Catholic School. She was the second oldest of ten children and she shared often about caring for her younger siblings. Jean was so close to her large loving family.
Jean graduated from high school and attended Carroll College in the Cadet Nurse Corps. She did her clinical work in both Helena and Billings hospitals. While in Billings, her job was often helping people challenged with polio and she was so delighted when they could walk out of the hospital, health restored.
On February 12th, 1947, she married Hal V. Bowlds in Livingston, MT and they owned two ranches in the Sheilds Valley near Clyde Park, MT. Hal and Jean had three sons: Jim, Mark and E.J. and one daughter, Libby, who died at almost three years old from leukemia. Jean was always involved in work, helping with haying, harvesting, or working the cows. Her perennial advice to her daughters-in-law was “Don’t ever learn to milk a cow.” Everyone enjoyed the delicious meals hauled to the field or served at their table. Jean attended and had many friends at St. Margaret’s Church, Saddle Club, and served both on the election and weed boards. Jean loved to read, hike, and garden. She was kind to all and never knew a stranger.
Jean moved to East Helena, MT in 1997 and became a member of SS Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church. There she helped with funeral luncheons, folding bulletins, or whatever she was asked to do as a member of the ‘A’ team. She found so many friends there. Recently, Jean has been attending Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Parish in Helena. In May, jean moved to Beehive North and treasured meeting new friends.
Jean loved to read, hike in the mountains, and garden and was always preparing delicious meals. She loved traveling with her family to Oregon, Canada, the Midwest, California, and on a long trip down the East Coast. She cherished a trip to St. Lucia with a friend. She treasured her trip to Hawaii with her five sisters. Her boundless Catholic faith never wavered. Jean was always smiling, faced challenges with courage and made everyone she knew feel loved. She was such an incredible woman and will be missed by many friends and family.
Jean is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Hal; her daughter Libby; her siblings: Geraldine, Patricia, Rita, Mary, Paul, John, and Charles. She is survived by a sister Elizabeth; a brother Philip; her sons Harold James ‘Jim’ (Cathy), Mark (Laurie), and Emil ‘E.J.’ (Carrie); as well as grandchildren: Randy, Scott, Libby, Neil, Adam, Phillip, Katie, Sandra, Jenny, and Ava; and eleven great grandchildren.
Our family is so grateful to the loving medical care given to Jean by Leslie Wilson FNP, nurse Kelly Sevilla and all the doctors and nurses at St. Peter’s Hospital. Jean was so blessed by the compassionate caregivers and friends at Beehive Homes North. You will always remain in our hearts and in our prayers.
A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 20, 2023 at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church with a reception to follow the Mass at the church. Burial will be held at the Calvary Cemetery in Livingston, MT at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 21, 2023 followed by a social gathering at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Livingston.
Service Schedule
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Friday October 20, 2023
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church
1502 Shirley Rd.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the Mass
Friday October 20, 2023
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church
1502 Shirley Rd.
Helena, Montana 59602
Rite of Committal
1:00 p.m.
Saturday October 21, 2023
Calvary Cemetery
7 Calvary Rd.
Livingston, Montana 59047
Social Gathering
Following the burial
Saturday October 21, 2023
St. Mary's Catholic School
Livingston, Montana 59047
Service Schedule
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Friday October 20, 2023
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church
1502 Shirley Rd.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the Mass
Friday October 20, 2023
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church
1502 Shirley Rd.
Helena, Montana 59602
Rite of Committal
1:00 p.m.
Saturday October 21, 2023
Calvary Cemetery
7 Calvary Rd.
Livingston, Montana 59047
Social Gathering
Following the burial
Saturday October 21, 2023
St. Mary's Catholic School
Livingston, Montana 59047
Share
Molly Day Auman says
Grandma Jean was such a treasure. Her smile will always have a place in my heart.
Joe and Doreen Filson says
WE are blessed to have had the pleasure to have met and spent time with Gramma Jean. She had a wonderful sense of humor and her stories were wonderful. Goodbye gramma we will miss you!!
Jayne Day says
Thanking God for blessing us with the presence of a special Angel. Her spirit and her love live on in all our hearts !!
Lanae Vetsch says
Jean was such a lovely person. It was great that she was best friends with my dear mother-in-law Jean Vetsch and I enjoyed being around them. They had great stories to share. Mark, Laurie and family, so sorry for your loss may you have many happy memories with you always.
Dorothy O'Neil Burkenpas says
Jeanie was an Angel on earth! Everyone who ever met Jean, loved her! I will keep her and her sweet face in my heart forever! I send my love and prayers to the family. Dorothy O’Neil Burkenpas
Mardi Madsen says
Your mom was a kind, welcoming lady. I am very sorry for your loss.
Tammy Stefanik says
Sending prayers and love to the Bowlds family. She lived a long and wonderful life!
Ron Iverson says
I don’t think I have ever known as fine a family as the Bowlds family. From my years in coaching and teaching in Clyde Park, I was honored to know Hal and Jean, and had both Mark and E.J. in class, but Jim had already graduated. So, it is with a sad regard to hear of Jean’s passing. She was a great woman and friend, so kind and joyful, a trait which she so graciously passed on to her children. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Ron
Colleen Stephenson says
Jean was such an amazing and loving person. She was my mom(Jean Vetsch’s) best friend. Those two were quite the pair. They shared many special visits. I can imagine the two of them in heaven eating blueberry muffins and drinking green tea with the angels. My sincere condolences for your loss and may happy memories comfort you in the days ahead.
Patty Dahl says
A truly beautiful woman with a truly beautiful heart. Heaven has gained what earth has lost. My deepest sympathies to all of you…Patty Dahl
Judy and Leonard Ober says
Mark and Lauri
So sorry for your loss. Your mother was such a wonderful person,