Jeanette Brown

Jeanette Tomsheck Brown, 98, of Whitlash and Shelby passed on March 29, 2025. Her funeral will be held at 1 pm on Sunday June 8 at the Whitlash Community Presbyterian Church with burial to follow at the Whitlash Cemetery.

Jeanette was born December 7, 1926 in Oregon to Anton and Etta Tomsheck. Jeanette and her three brothers (Robert, Arthur, and Raymond) were raised just south of the Sweet Grass Hills. After high school Jeanette earned a teacher’s certificate from Western Montana College. She continued to be a lifelong learner and teacher sharing her knowledge and her love of quilting well into her 80’s.

Jeanette and Irvin were married on October 31, 1948. Irvin and Jeanette moved to his family ranch in the Sweet Grass Hills. They raised their cattle, horses, and four children on the Brown Ranch. People far and wide talk about the good memories forged while visiting the Brown Ranch. Jeanette was an impeccable hostess and loved having people visit. Irvin and Jeanette hosted card parties, sledding parties, and various other community gatherings. They hosted 4 IFYE 4-H exchange students who became lifelong friends. She was an avid gardener and spent many hours in the yard surrounded by flowers and vegetables. Jeanette was involved in many community organizations including the Whitlash Community Presbyterian Church, Sweet Grass Hills Family Camp, Whitlash Extension Homemakers Club, Cowbells, Quilt Guild, and Montana 4-H. Irvin and Jeanette were inducted into the Montana State 4-H Hall of Fame.

Jeanette loved traveling with Irvin during their retirement years. Some of their highlights are trips to Norway (to see the Brown ancestors), Switzerland (to visit Franny an IFYE student), Hawaii and many other US states. Jeanette was always up for an adventure, an especially memorable trip for her was riding a mule to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

Jeanette moved to Shelby in 2008 where she continued to be active in the community. She attended many community events, volunteered, and found flower beds around town where she was able to continue her love of gardening. Jeanette lived at the Marias Heritage Center for the last 10 years where she loved being able to reconnect with many of her childhood friends as they moved into the assisted living.

Survivors include daughters Irva Jean (Nick) Schultz of Reed Point, Toni (Bob) Dafoe of Chester, Polly (Keith) Sundgren of Miles City, her son Buster (Helen) Brown of Whitlash and brother Raymond (Georgia) Tomsheck of Shelby and numerous nieces and nephews. Jeanette was a proud grandmother to 10 grandchildren, 2 of which proceeded her in death, and loved being “Grandma the Great” to 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Irvin, and many siblings and in-laws.