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Jean Giles
1926 - 2025
BORN
1926
DIED
2025
UPCOMING SERVICE
Jean Giles Obituary
She taught two generations of third graders in Central and Granville Stuart schools in Deer Lodge.
Born in Wadena, Minn., to Ralph and Ruth Skinner, Jean attended school in New York Mills, Minn., and graduated from St. Cloud Teacher's College in 1947. She began her career teaching second grade in the northern Minnesota town of Blackduck.
She married Murry Giles in October 1948 in New York Mills. They later moved to Columbia Falls, Mont., where she and Murry raised three children, Kevin, Jeff, and Kathy. The family relocated to Deer Lodge in 1958, where her fourth child, Kerry, was born.
Jean began teaching in Deer Lodge in the 1960s and graduated with an elementary education degree from Western Montana College in 1972.
Survivors include her four children, Kevin Giles (Becky) of Stillwater, Minn,; Jeff Giles of Palm Springs, Calif.; Kathy Talmage (Gary) of Palm Coast, Fla., and Kerry Giles (Connie) of Las Vegas, Nev.; her five granddaughters, Heather Peacock (Jim), Harmony MacDonald (Jim), Hillorie Brauch (Dwayne), Tara Cullen (Shawn), and Korie Pawlowski; step-grandsons Lee Talmage (Leann) and Alex Talmage; nephew Tom Karvonen, sister-in-law Janyce Von Lindern, and her 13 great grandchildren. Jean was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister Phyllis Karvonen, her nephew Larry Karvonen, and a great granddaughter, Madison Welch.
Celebration of life will be held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in New York Mills on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m. Donations may be made to Gentiva Foundation (hospice) and to the World Literacy Foundation.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memorial Events
for Jean Giles
Memories and Condolences
for Jean Giles
7 Entries
Joan Bozlee
Yesterday
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Joan Geary
October 5, 2025
Kevin I remember you from High School although we were not close friends. Loss of family is tough.!! I´m sorry. .
julie dobson
October 5, 2025
she was always so sweet and so beautiful. i once told her she kinda looked like actress on The Walton's. the wife on the show. when i'd watch it i always thought of Jean. my sincere condolences to her family and friends. she was a rare gem.
Julie Dobson.
JoEllyn Sharkey
October 5, 2025
Hand down, my favorite teacher! She was always so patient and full of class and grace. Every time I see coconuts, I think of her. (IYKYK) My condolences to her family and friends. I have no doubt Heaven saved a special place for her.
Erin (Clay) Jewell
October 5, 2025
Mrs. Giles was my third grade teacher in Deer Lodge. She also taught my mother in third grade. She was one of my most favorite teachers. My fondest memories of her classroom was learning the garbage can was ALWAYS called "File 13", her reading "The Raggedy Man" almost every day to our class because it was our favorite, she never cared that I was the kid who talked to everybody no matter where she placed me, and she always listened with rapt attention to everything every child said. I never felt "small" in her class. She was an amazing teacher!
Prayers to her family as they mourn the loss of this beautiful wife, mother, sister, grandmother, friend, teacher.
Rose Thomas
October 5, 2025
My heartfelt condolences to the family. Kevin, I never met your mom but she definitely raised a son I am proud to have met, and I am sure your siblings are as wonderful as you.
Sharon K Sinerius Bloor
October 5, 2025
Please accept my sincere condolances. I will always remember being a student in Jean's classroom. I especially remember the day we took turns learning how to speak on the telephone. She persisted until she felt we each were capable of doing the task properly. I ran across a big black rotary dial phone in an antique shop last we and I had to dial it as I thought of her.
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