Jeanne Lorraine French

1928 - 2020

Jeanne Lorraine (Cookson) French, 91 of Plentywood, MT passed away peacefully on April 21, 2020 in the Emergency Room at Sheridan Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. She was born to Thomas and Rosella Cookson on June 4, 1928, in McCabe, Montana, the oldest of 7 children. She graduated from Froid High School in 1946, attending college at the University of Montana in Missoula from 1946-47. She spent most of 1948 in Oakland, California, where she honed her journalistic skills. Upon her return to Montana, Jeanne was hired as the schoolteacher at the remote one-room Soo School, west of Medicine Lake, from 1948 to 1950. She married Dick French of Medicine Lake in 1950, making their life together in Medicine Lake, later moving to Plentywood.

While teaching third, fifth and sixth grades in Plentywood, she continued her education, taking correspondence, extension, and summer classes at Eastern Montana College from 1962 until graduating in 1971. She retired from twenty years of teaching following her husband’s death in 1982. That same year, she became the founder of Sawdust, the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church’s informative, historical and inspirational newsletter, of which she served as editor until retiring in 2007. Well known for her writing, Jeanne wrote poems for most of her loved ones and became a published author in 1985, with her poetry book Peaks, Paths, and Valleys. She later served as editor of the local historical resource Plentywood Portrait, Toil, Soil and Oil, which was published for Plentywood’s Diamond Jubilee in 1987. That same year, she was also editor of the Diamond Jubilee book for St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. For over a decade, she volunteered her time and talents with the Montana Tourism Council, representing Missouri River Country- the 8 counties in northeastern Montana- serving several years as president. In March of 1993, Governor Marc Racicot presented her with an “Award of Recognition for Outstanding Contributions to the Travel Industry of Montana.” She also served many years as the secretary for St. Joseph’s Church until her resignation in 2008. Over the years, her time and talents assisted countless community organizations and church events.

Jeanne lived a long, full, and accomplished life. She was absolutely devoted to her family- her sons, who she called her greatest treasures; her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren were all endless sources of joy and pride for her. She looked forward to every call and visit and will be forever remembered for her beautifully handwritten letters to each of them. Although she had officially retired from teaching, she never actually stopped educating. She taught her loved ones by example every day, enriching each of our lives with her enduring wisdom, keen wit, faith, and unconditional love and support.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dick, brothers Thomas Cookson, Jr. and Richard Cookson; sisters Katherine Rae Cookson, Mary Mae Cookson, and Margaret (Peggy Ann) Dahl.

She is survived by her youngest brother, Jack (Patty) Cookson; sons Frank (Kordelia) of Plentywood and Scott of Plentywood; her grandchildren Nicole (Shane) French of Billings, Nathan (Angie) French, of Saint Cloud, MN, Dr. Kristian (Lindsey) French of Billings, and Danielle (Brad) Sperry of Billings. Great-grandchildren include Dayah Dover; Ryan, Laura, Megan and Abigail French; Klaire, Frank, and their brother James French, who sadly passed away just days after Jeanne’s death; Amarah Jefferson and Evyr Sperry.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a funeral Mass and a family celebration of Jeanne’s life will be held Saturday, June 12, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. Burial will take place in Medicine Lake with a luncheon to follow at Angel Light Catering.