Joanne Songer

Joanne (Wyman) Songer, 85, of Lewistown joined her husband Jack in heaven on September 20, 2022, while staying with her youngest daughter and son-in-law in Billings, MT. Jack and Joanne are now waltzing across heaven’s floor, and watching them dance was a picture of graceful love. Joanne was born December 23, 1936 in Billings, Montana to Margaret (Harms) and Harry Wyman. She grew up attending schools in Billings, Lavina, Shawmut, Cohagen, graduating from Townsend High School in 1954. She attended Eastern Montana College for journalism. In 1956 she met and married the love of her life Jack L. Songer and were united in marriage on November 11th, 1956 at the Antelope Ranch in Hobson, MT; they were married for 57 years. From their union they were blessed with children: Gwen, Kim, Larry, Linda and Loretta.

     After having 5 children in 7 years, Joanne went back to college and received a teaching certificate. She taught 1st-8th grade in the one-room school houses of Beckett and Glengarry. She was in banking for 20+ years, working at First National and Norwest/Wells Fargo in Lewistown. In addition Joanne was an officer with the Lewistown Toastmasters and a Home Interior consultant. As if that wasn’t enough for our “Big Momma”, Joanne was Deputized by Sheriff George Stephens in 1963, and served as an overnight matron for Fergus County. After retirement, Jack and Joanne loved to travel, snow-birding in Arizona for several years.

     In Joanne’s spare time she was an amazing homemaker, gardener, and seamstress. She loved to knit, and she crocheted each of her children an ornate tablecloth, using over 7 miles of thread in each one. Her fried bread (known as toad bellies) and caramel corn were in high demand when the family gathered. There were many games of cribbage, pinnacle, and hearts played at home and while camping. Joanne was always busy, whether she was putting together complicated jigsaw puzzles, creating beautiful stained glass, solving hundreds of cross-word puzzles, or playing solitaire, her hands were never idle. Joanne was an avid reader; her favorite reads were Ayn Rand and Mary Stuart Queen of Scots.

     Joanne was proceeded in death by her husband Jack Songer; parents Margaret and Gilbert Schulz; Harry and Estelle Wyman; son-in-law Ken Cox; sister-in-laws Betty Mae Spurrier, Ida Ackaret, Helen Songer; brother-in-laws Alvin Songer, Mike Songer, Warren Spurrier; nieces Dolly Wyman, Catherine Spurrier; nephews David Ackaret, Skipper Spurrier.

     Left to celebrate her life on earth are her children: daughter Gwen (Shane) Hershman, Okawville, IL; daughter Kim (Ken, in heaven) Cox, Kenai, AK; son Larry Songer, Billings, MT; daughter Linda (John) Anderson, Lewistown, MT; daughter Loretta (Marty) Storfa, Billings, MT. Grandchildren: Jessi (Jon) Rasmusson, Park City, MT; Brandon (Kathy) Anderson, Lillington, NC; Abigail Joanne (Patrick) Fischer, Bozeman, MT; Sierra (Tyler) Isringhaus, Okawville, IL; Marshall Cox, Helena, MT; Caleb (Cyndi) Cox, Valley, WA; Brittney Storfa, Houston, TX; Taylor Storfa, Livingston, MT. Great grandchildren: Colton, Chase and Cash Rasmusson, Park City, MT; Mae and Riley Anderson, Lillington, NC; Kaya and Moriah Cox, Helena, MT. Sister Margi (Tom) Cummings, Grass Range; brother Wayne (Kitty) Wyman, Grass Range; brother-in-law Ed (Darlene) Songer, Grass Range, MT; sister-in-law Zelinda Songer, Billings, MT; uncle Bill (Joan) Kapler, Boynton Beach, FL; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

     Celebration of Life for Joanne will be held Monday, September 26, 2022, 1:30 p.m. in the First Christian Church with Pastor Jed Cauffman officiating in Lewistown, MT. Interment will follow in the Lewistown City Cemetery, with luncheon thereafter at the First Christian Church. The Cloyd Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorials may be made in Joanne’s name to the Fergus County Council on Aging or Compassus Hospice, 2110 Overland Ave. Ste 111, Billings, MT 59102 and they may be left with the Cloyd Funeral Home. Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com.

We will all miss you and your beautiful smile Mom!