1924
Betty
2011
Betty Jewell Wolk
July 10, 1924 — April 23, 2011
Homemaker and community volunteer, Betty Jewell Wolk, 86, passed away on Saturday, April 23, 2011 in Great Falls.
Visitation is at Whitted Funeral Chapel on Saturday, April 30 from 4-7 p.m. Funeral services are on Sunday, May 1 at 2 p.m. at the 1st Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery. Whitted Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Betty Jewell Wolk was born to a German sodbuster farmer, Henry Otto Peterson, and schoolmarm Mary Blythe Peterson on July 10, 1924 at Deaconess Hospital in Great Falls. She was their third child of five. Jewell attended country school and Cut Bank High School. After high school, Jewell was a telephone operator for the Cut Bank party line system.
Jewell and Robert Walter Wolk were married at the ranch in Cut Bank after Bob returned from a tour of duty as a volunteer pilot/engineer for American Airlines at the Gold Coast of Africa during World War II. Jewell was Bob’s sweetheart and only love. They lived for a while in Los Angeles, Calif. Jewell was lonesome for her family so Bob brought her back to Cut Bank. He dug a basement apartment on Fifth Avenue next to H.O. and Mary. They lived in the basement with Bob’s mother and their first child, Bobbie Jean.
When building supplies became available, a first floor was built and they moved upstairs. With a furnished basement apartment, Bob and Jewell started their lifelong career as landlords.
Jewell engaged her life as a wife, mother, landlord and community volunteer. At heart, Jewell was a deeply committed philanthropist. But, instead of bestowing money, she gave her time to so many clubs, groups and organizations.
Jewell and Bob joined the Lutheran Church. Jewell was not raised “in the church,” but she stepped out in faith and embraced her new church home.
Among her many adventures in philanthropy she was a longtime Sunday School teacher. She designed every lesson from the point of view of a student, not a teacher. This foundation gave her the strength to step out in faith. She never had a plan. She simply wanted to learn and grow and gave the rest to God to figure out where it should go.
Jewell joined Toast Mistress and Women’s Club. Her passion was bridge, but her steam engine passion was people. She was a friend to many foreign military wives who were homesick and needed a friend.
She loved Cut Bank. She loved her neighbors. She refused to believe that people were “bad”–they all had a story, a talent, something to share. She brought out the best in everyone through her unfailing belief that God never made a nobody. Everyone was a somebody and she wanted to meet them and learn their story.
Jewell and Bob were inspired one night by a speaker who spoke about children who needed a home. Together they felt their two bedroom home on Fifth Avenue had plenty of room to share. After being blessed with three children, Jean, Fritz and Laurie, they opened their home to four more, Marion, Luella, Nancy and Jody. And, amazingly, their little house actually grew larger. Where you see a need, God opens doors and walls.
To sum up Jewell, she cared. She cared about every person she met. It was people who brought the world to Jewell’s front door…to a tea party in her yard…to the beauty of God’s majesty in her life.
Her quilts, storytelling and passion to make Cut Bank the best it could be, she brought music and talent to everyone’s door. The Montana Storytelling Roundup started as an idea that had no middle or end. She stepped out in faith and let God direct the rest of the show. Her faith was her road map. God was her navigator. Wherever he opened a door she was guided through to a most blessed life, filled with the most interesting people and places she would ever know.
Jewell was a most blessed and highly favored servant. She will continue to serve her God into eternity. If you knew Jewell, then you too have a story to share. Tell your story. Step out in faith and let God unfold a miracle in your life.
Jewell’s quick death on the eve of Easter is proof that miracles truly happen.
Surviving Jewell are her children, Roberta Jean Wakely of Northfield, Minn., Fritz Paul Wolk of Kasilof, Alaska, Laurie Helen Wilder of Cut Bank, Luella Ann Swan of Box Elder, Jody Allan Wolk of Keni, Alaska and Nancy Jewell Swan of Great Falls; a sister, Shirlie Bucher of Unalaska, Alaska; 18 grandchildren; 27 great-grand- children; and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Wolk; her parents Henry and Mary Peterson; a daughter, Marion Louise LeTempt; and siblings, Marjorie Higgins, Rosalie Beckett and Bob Peterson.
Memorials may be made in Jewell’s name to the Montana Storytelling Roundup.
Condolences for the family may be made at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.
Mike Wineman will honor Jewell as founder of the Montana Storytelling Roundup on Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m. at the opening ceremonies of this year’s roundup in the Cut Bank High School auditorium.
Visitation is at Whitted Funeral Chapel on Saturday, April 30 from 4-7 p.m. Funeral services are on Sunday, May 1 at 2 p.m. at the 1st Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery. Whitted Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Betty Jewell Wolk was born to a German sodbuster farmer, Henry Otto Peterson, and schoolmarm Mary Blythe Peterson on July 10, 1924 at Deaconess Hospital in Great Falls. She was their third child of five. Jewell attended country school and Cut Bank High School. After high school, Jewell was a telephone operator for the Cut Bank party line system.
Jewell and Robert Walter Wolk were married at the ranch in Cut Bank after Bob returned from a tour of duty as a volunteer pilot/engineer for American Airlines at the Gold Coast of Africa during World War II. Jewell was Bob’s sweetheart and only love. They lived for a while in Los Angeles, Calif. Jewell was lonesome for her family so Bob brought her back to Cut Bank. He dug a basement apartment on Fifth Avenue next to H.O. and Mary. They lived in the basement with Bob’s mother and their first child, Bobbie Jean.
When building supplies became available, a first floor was built and they moved upstairs. With a furnished basement apartment, Bob and Jewell started their lifelong career as landlords.
Jewell engaged her life as a wife, mother, landlord and community volunteer. At heart, Jewell was a deeply committed philanthropist. But, instead of bestowing money, she gave her time to so many clubs, groups and organizations.
Jewell and Bob joined the Lutheran Church. Jewell was not raised “in the church,” but she stepped out in faith and embraced her new church home.
Among her many adventures in philanthropy she was a longtime Sunday School teacher. She designed every lesson from the point of view of a student, not a teacher. This foundation gave her the strength to step out in faith. She never had a plan. She simply wanted to learn and grow and gave the rest to God to figure out where it should go.
Jewell joined Toast Mistress and Women’s Club. Her passion was bridge, but her steam engine passion was people. She was a friend to many foreign military wives who were homesick and needed a friend.
She loved Cut Bank. She loved her neighbors. She refused to believe that people were “bad”–they all had a story, a talent, something to share. She brought out the best in everyone through her unfailing belief that God never made a nobody. Everyone was a somebody and she wanted to meet them and learn their story.
Jewell and Bob were inspired one night by a speaker who spoke about children who needed a home. Together they felt their two bedroom home on Fifth Avenue had plenty of room to share. After being blessed with three children, Jean, Fritz and Laurie, they opened their home to four more, Marion, Luella, Nancy and Jody. And, amazingly, their little house actually grew larger. Where you see a need, God opens doors and walls.
To sum up Jewell, she cared. She cared about every person she met. It was people who brought the world to Jewell’s front door…to a tea party in her yard…to the beauty of God’s majesty in her life.
Her quilts, storytelling and passion to make Cut Bank the best it could be, she brought music and talent to everyone’s door. The Montana Storytelling Roundup started as an idea that had no middle or end. She stepped out in faith and let God direct the rest of the show. Her faith was her road map. God was her navigator. Wherever he opened a door she was guided through to a most blessed life, filled with the most interesting people and places she would ever know.
Jewell was a most blessed and highly favored servant. She will continue to serve her God into eternity. If you knew Jewell, then you too have a story to share. Tell your story. Step out in faith and let God unfold a miracle in your life.
Jewell’s quick death on the eve of Easter is proof that miracles truly happen.
Surviving Jewell are her children, Roberta Jean Wakely of Northfield, Minn., Fritz Paul Wolk of Kasilof, Alaska, Laurie Helen Wilder of Cut Bank, Luella Ann Swan of Box Elder, Jody Allan Wolk of Keni, Alaska and Nancy Jewell Swan of Great Falls; a sister, Shirlie Bucher of Unalaska, Alaska; 18 grandchildren; 27 great-grand- children; and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Wolk; her parents Henry and Mary Peterson; a daughter, Marion Louise LeTempt; and siblings, Marjorie Higgins, Rosalie Beckett and Bob Peterson.
Memorials may be made in Jewell’s name to the Montana Storytelling Roundup.
Condolences for the family may be made at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.
Mike Wineman will honor Jewell as founder of the Montana Storytelling Roundup on Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m. at the opening ceremonies of this year’s roundup in the Cut Bank High School auditorium.
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