Pearl Louise Cicon

 Pearl Louise (Osler) Cicon was born in Chester, Montana on December 14, 1924 to Edmund George (Joe) and Josephine (Josie) Evelyn Enerson Osler. She was one of four children raised on a farm-ranch on the east side of the Sweetgrass Hills. Her early years were fun-filled with ice skating on the ponds, playing in the creek and riding horses, but punctuated with the hard work required to survive on a Montana farmstead. She often worked in the garden, milked cows, butchered chickens and turkeys, and had the dreaded job of cleaning the poultry houses. Pearl and her siblings attended country school, and later she attended Chester School, then graduating from Joplin High School where she lived in the dormitory during the school year. After graduation, she attended business school in Great Falls, Montana. Since her two sisters had settled in the Seattle area, she decided to seek employment in that area where she worked at the ship yards during WWII. She then moved to La Grande, Oregon where she worked in a jewelry store. While working there, she was able to save enough money to send back to her parents so they could purchase a new plow. 

 Her father’s illness and death brought her back to Montana and the family farm. It was then that she met John Cicon at community gatherings. They were married August 12, 1948 and began their life together on her parent’s family farmstead. John and Pearl started their new life together just south of her parents’ farmstead. Two sons were born to them, John in 1949, and Rudy in 1955. Pearl had a green thumb, and loved to garden. She also enjoyed canning the garden vegetables as well as many types of fruit. Pearl was a life-long member of the Bear’s Den Homemaker’s Club and active for several years in the Liberty County Cowbelles. She was also a faithful member of the Chester United Methodist Church and drove herself to church from the country up until her late nineties when her eyesight prohibited her from driving. Pearl would thank God for all He gave her before every meal was eaten whether at home or away. She especially enjoyed Adult Bible studies and gaining a wider understanding of the word of the Bible. She often attended Bible studies at the Immanuel church or people’s homes and always stayed for adult bible study after church which was led by Dr. Buker for many years. 

 Pearl grew up and basically lived her whole life next to the Sweetgrass Hills. She loved the Sweetgrass Hills. Her living room window faced the hills where she could view them and determine the weather for the day based on what they looked like. She often said that the Hills had a personality and it could change instantly with various weather conditions. When she was growing up, her family and many other neighbors would get together on Sundays and hike up to Devil’s Chimney or the Bear’s Den and have a picnic.

 After her husband, John, passed away July 6, 1989, she began traveling with her sisters to various Elder Hostels. She especially enjoyed going to Elder Hostels in Hawaii, Alaska and Texas where they also toured Mexico. Pearl, sisters Mary and Gladys, along with sister-in-law Mary Lynn Cicon traveled to Scotland to visit relatives. A highlight was visiting the family Keith Castle. She especially enjoyed the trip to Scotland because of her Scottish heritage. She also enjoyed numerous camping trips with her family to Two Medicine campground in Glacier Park, Montana.

 Pearl continued to live at her home north of Chester, surrounded by her boys and their wives, grandchildren, and occasionally great-grandchildren. She always enjoyed working in her garden and yard well into her 90’s until she moved into Chester. Pearl was especially talented at killing snakes and stray skunks with her shovel. Her coffee pot was always on. It was a morning coffee ritual for neighbors going to work, bus drivers, her husband and especially her sons to stop by, have a cup of coffee, and visit. She was famous for her homemade whole wheat buns. Storing grain directly from the combine, cleaning and grinding it before making it into delicious whole wheat buns was a regular routine for Pearl.

 Pearl passed away at Logan Health – Chester Hospital on July 5, 2024 and was preceded in death by her father, Joe and mother, Josie, husband John Cicon, sisters Mary (Earl) Chambers, Gladys (Archie) Carpenter and brother Johnnie (Sybil) Osler, and is survived by sons, John (Dolores) Cicon and Rudy (Gail) Cicon both of Chester Montana, grandchildren Jeff Cicon of Great Falls, Montana, Heidi (Michael) Browne of Helena, Montana, Kyle Cicon of Chester, Montana, Lisa (Tito) Trevino of Great Falls, Montana, greatgrandchildren Willow, Ramon, Morgan, Addisyn and Brant, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

 Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 16 at 10:30 a.m. at the Chester United Methodist Church, followed by burial where Pearl will be laid to rest next to her husband, John A. Cicon in the Chester Cemetery. Memorials to honor Pearl can be designated to the Chester United Methodist Church, the Hi-Line Health Foundation or donor’s choice.