Jean Landers

Jean Landers passed away June 12, 2025, at the Platte County Legacy Home in Wheatland, Wy, having lived a long and full life, at age 97!

Jean Lay Landers was born May 2, 1928, in Oregon to Claude and Virginia Lay. The family moved to Dillon, MT in 1933. She graduated from Beaverhead County High School, attended University of Montana and graduated from Western Montana College (now UM/Western) with a teaching degree. She taught 6th grade in Livingston Lincoln School in 1951 where she met Dan Landers, a Wilsall rancher. They married in 1952. They ranched with Dan’s parents in the Shields Valley for many years - living at various homes along Muddy Creek for many years where Doug, Herb, Steven (Jake), Virginia, Cindy and Gary were born. School activities and 4-H were a big part of her life. The family raised Registered Herefords on the ranch northwest of Wilsall for 30 years or so. They showed Hereford cattle throughout the region. In 1975 they built a sale barn on the ranch and held annual bull sales. Jean was actively involved with everything from creating the catalog to cooking for a crowd.

Jean was very involved in various organizations such as Wilsall Extension Homemakers, Eastern Star, Park Gallatin Hereford Auxiliary, the Park Co. Cowbells, PEO and 4-H. She was the first secretary of the Wilsall Rodeo & Racing Association.

She was a substitute teacher at several area schools throughout the years and Wilsall’s first Kindergarten teacher starting in 1967, teaching Kindergarten there for 23 years and after Shields Valley School consolidation, she substituted in the high school.

“Jean’s computer services” was a home business where she created Christmas messages and had one of the few fax machines and copiers in the area. She published the Wilsall Rodeo Program for many years and created the popular Shields Valley Phone book.

In the mid-eighties they left the ranch and moved down the creek on the corner of highways 89/86. Dan passed away in November 2002. In 2008 she moved to an apartment in Clyde Park. In 2023 she went to Guernsey, Wyoming to live near her daughter.

She is survived by sons Doug (Michelle), Wilsall; Gary (Susan), Lewistown, MT; Jake (Marion), Shepherd, TX; Daughter Cindy (Mike), Guernsey, WY, Grandkids; Daniel, Carson, Texas; Kelsey, Chad, Lewistown; and several great grandkids. She was preceded in death by infant daughter Virginia, grandson Josh; husband Dan and son Herb.

Services are planned for 11:00 a.m. on June 27, 2025, at the Wilsall Community Church with graveside burial at the Wilsall Cemetery. Food and fellowship to follow at the Wilsall Community Church.

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