- Date Of Birth: April 12, 1933
- Date Of Death: April 18, 2022
- State: Montana
Jean’s journey began April 12,1933 in Conrad, Mt. Born to Ida and Otto K Speer, she joined six older brothers, Don, Richard, Dale, Kenneth, Robert, and Lloyd, completing the family. Her father was absolutely delighted with the birth of a baby girl, proclaiming he could now put his equipment away! Being surrounded by so many boys she was destined to grow up as a Tom Boy. She would be seen tagging along with her father learning farming skills, milking cows, irrigating, training, and riding horses. Mom did not stay in the house long enough to learn domestic skills such as cooking, cleaning, and sewing. Mom would ride several miles to attend the one room country school with her brother Lloyd. Money was scarce and it was not uncommon to eat lard sandwiches for lunch.
Mom enjoyed riding her favorite horse “Rita Ray” in the Whoop Up Parade. It was at the 1952 parade that a beautiful gal on a horse caught the attention on a handsome cowboy, Howard Largent, who quickly started courting her. They were married less than a year later on April 11,1953. Dad would often tease Mom that she could not even boil water when they married. They celebrated 65 years together at the time of Howard’s death. The happy couple settled in Ulm, MT and started their family with the birth of Carol Jean and then 10 months later the birth of Sharon Ann. In 1957 Howard and Jean moved their family to a small farm on the Fairfield Bench. The family was completed with the birth of Howard James (Jim) in 1959 and Marlene Kay 1961. Mom’s childhood “Tomboy” days paid off as she taught Dad how to flood irrigate. Memories of Mom wearing irrigating boots riding Buck (the greatest horse ever) bareback, packing a shovel irrigating was a common scene on the farm. Since there was no indoor plumbing, Mom had to pump, haul and heat water for bathing, doing dishes, laundry and drinking. Mom also tended to a large garden which yielded a huge crop of vegetables to can each fall. There were the sheep, (at least 150 head) cattle, and chickens that needed tended. During lambing season there would always be a lamb that needed special attention and Mom would keep them warm on the oven door. Feeding bum lambs was exhausting work. Mom did all of this plus all the responsibilities of raising four very active children. One last move took the Largent Family to Simms. Mom took a position at Kaull’s egg farm candling eggs for 3 years. Mom Loved working for the Kaull’s as they were lovely people. Mom took a few years off working developing close friendships with Lois Johnston, Audrey Williams, Esther Heikkila, Sue Dahl and Bernice Askeland. Mom established a small milk delivery business, milking 3 to 4 cows twice daily with early morning deliveries to many loyal Simms customers. Sharon became her sidekick as Sharon became quite a proficient milker! Many youngsters in the valley were delighted when Mom would teach them how to milk cows. Mom loved watching daytime soap operas especially “The Young and The Restless”, which she watched religiously until her death. Mom assumed the management of the Sun River Truck Stop Cafe in 1973, an ambitious endeavor for who woman who could not boil water when she married and had no management skills other than managing Howard!
Jean was proceeded in death by her husband Howard; parents OK and Ida Speer; her 6 brothers: Don (Joyce), Richard (Ruby), Dale (Maxine) Kenneth (Louise), Robert (Dorothy) Lloyd (Evelyn); special Son-in Law Dr. Glenn M Graves; In-laws Anna and Cyrus Largent, Sisters-in laws Marvine (Oral), Arleen Stevens, Brother-in-law Russell, nieces Terry Speer Watkins and Betty Speer Spicer; and nephew Duke Speer. Jean is survived by her children Carol Graves, Jim, and Marlene, daughter Sharon Wheeler, as well as all her precious grandchildren, great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
‘Grandma is now in Heaven pain free, living the life, sipping coffee now, so happy ya’ll showed up!’
