Crystal Cislo

1936 - 2025

Crystal Cislo

August 17, 1936 - June 8, 2025

Crystal Marie Braaten Cislo of Helena passed away at St. Pete's Hospital June 8, 2025, from complications of rheumatoid arthritis, which she had battled forty-seven plus years.

Crystal was born August 17, 1936, at Wyndmere, N.D., to John and Clara (Hoverud) Braaten. She grew up in rural Richland County North Dakota and graduated from Kindred High School in 1954 - the first in her family to do so - and from Eastern Montana College in Billings. She moved from her parental home to Great Falls, Montana in 1956, eventually residing in Billings and later in Pasco, Wash. Crystal was married to Eugene Cislo on August 20, 1963. They lived in Chinook, Mont.; Colfax, Wash.; and settled at Helena, Mont., in 1969 where she had resided since.

Crystal had worked as a caseworker for the Department of Public Assistance in Helena for some years before joining the Internal Revenue Service where she retired in 1995 following 25 years of service. She loved hiking and swinging on swings, enjoyed cross-country skiing, and was an avid motorcycle rider in her younger years. She later enjoyed puzzles, computer games, and reading in her retirement.

Crystal had been a long-time member of Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church where she had served on various boards and committees over the years. She was currently a member of First Lutheran Church. She had also been a member of various professional and charitable organizations. Crystal was a volunteer for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Helena for nine years and was named "Big Sister of the Year" in 1990. She was currently a member of her retiree organization and several social organizations.

Crystal was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Bennie, Ardell, and Gerald Braaten; sisters Mabel Sargent and Gertrude Rockstad; and her husband in 1988. She is survived by her son, Joseph (Sheri) Cislo of Helena to whom she had an especially close relationship and who will remember her fondly as a loving and devoted mother. Other survivors include brother Julian (Emily) Braaten of and N.D., and sister Sissel Heckman of Calif.; a grandson Erik Jensen; and great grandson Traysen of Butte; nieces and nephews.

Crystal will be remembered as fiercely independent and stubborn in her resolve to overcome the limitations of rheumatoid arthritis.

Cremation has taken place and no services are planned. Memorials are suggested to Big Brothers and Sisters.

Simple Cremation Montana

315 E 6th Avenue

Helena, MT 59601

(406)410-1321