Jody B. Menge

HILGER - Jody B. Menge 47, of Hilger, an artist who enjoyed the outdoors, died Friday of injuries received in a horseback-riding accident
Visitation is 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Cloyd Funeral Chapel. Her funeral is 2 p.m. Friday at the Center for the Performing Arts in Lewistown, with burial at 11 a.m. Saturday at Grandview Cemetery in Saco. Cloyd Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Lewistown is handling arrangements.
Jody was doing what she loved to do, being in the great Montana outdoors. She was taking pictures and sketching for a painting she had been commissioned to do.
She is survived by her husband, Mark Zuidema of Hilger; her parents, Darrell and Loretta (Martin) Menge of Saco; a brother, Russell (Bobbi) of Saco; sisters Robyn (Scott) Cassel of Glasgow and Crystal (Charlie) Mears of Malta; several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles; and their new Akita pup, Griffin.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents Hans and Cordelia Martin, and Pat and Pansy Menge.
Jody was born in Glasgow on Oct. 5, 1960, the daughter of Darrell and Loretta Menge. She graduated from Saco High School in 1978 and from Montana State University in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in fine arts.
She enjoyed working on the family ranch during her young life, spending many hours on horseback. During and after her college days she worked at various eating places in Gallatin Valley. It was during this time that she met her life partner, Mark Zuidema, in Bozeman. She and Mark moved back to Saco in 1987, working on the family ranch, and they also purchased the Big Dome Hotel, making it into a bed and breakfast. It was a favorite place for hunters, and they also served delicious gourmet meals. In 1998, Mark and Jody moved to Hilger, where they purchased the Rainbow Bar. They remained in Hilger until her death.
Jody was an accomplished Western artist. Her works are included in the permanent collection of the Federal Reserve Bank in Helena and in collections across the U.S., Canada and Japan. She was accepted into the Western Heritage Artist Association in 1999 and was also a member of the Academy of Western Artists. Her work has appeared in juried shows all over the West, including the prestigious Western Spirit Art Show in Cheyenne, Wyo. Most recently, she put together a show with painter Robert Spanning called "Downstream," which is traveling to galleries around the state. Present in all her work is a sense of place and belonging, a kind of kinship with the region evoking an impression of stewardship, protection and pride. She recently stated in a magazine article, "Being from Montana, I've never lived any place else. I guess I'm sort of obsessed with landscape."
"Our hearts are broken, but until we meet again, we love you, Jo."
Friends are asked to make memorials to the charity of their choice, and they may be left at Cloyd Funeral Home.
Condolences may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.