Anna Mae Whitmus

Anna Mae (Jerrel) Whitmus, 81 years old, passed away in the early morning hours of April 2, 2024, at the McCone County Health Center in Circle after a long battle with cancer. She is now with her guardian angels.

She was born at the old hospital in Miles City on Sept. 20, 1942, to Willis and Dorothy (Martelle) Jerrel. She was a wife, a mother, grandmother and a longtime schoolteacher. She was the oldest of five children, Wilma, Bill, Bob and Betty. Her childhood home was on a farm in Kinsey, Mont., later moving into Miles City where her father worked as a well driller. She also spent part of one summer living in a sheep wagon north of Terry around Cherry Creek as her father worked building fence.

She began her education at the Kinsey Country School, after a 2-mile walk or 3-mile bus ride. When she missed the bus, she had to walk, arriving at recess. So, she went to Miles City to finish first grade, living with her grandparents. When she was in second grade, the family moved into town. She graduated eighth grade from Washington School and high school from Custer County High School.

During her high school years, she worked at the hospital and The Olive Hotel. She started college in Nampa, Idaho, at Northwest Nazarene College, which began her educational journey through every college in Montana. Wherever she lived and worked, she began teaching in country schools on emergency certificates. Her first school year was south of Miles City for one year, then north of Lewistown for two years, two years at Nickwall School in McCone County, and two years at the Cow Creek school in McCone County. That school building is at the McCone County Museum in Circle. Before she graduated from college, she fell in love and married Don Whitmus on May 25, 1968, in Miles City. They made their home west of Wolf Point where Don rented the Terry Ranch/Farm for three years before they moved to Frazer, Mont.

Their three sons, John, Jeff and Justin were born while living in Frazer. Being a parent was more enticing than teaching. As times changed, after three children, she was hired at Frazer School to finish out the school year for a teacher who had quit. She taught a couple more years after that before going back to school to graduate from Eastern Montana College. Then, in 1980, they moved to the Nickwall turnoff in Mc-Cone County. After graduating, she taught at Southview School on Hwy 201 in Mc-Cone County for two years. In the following years, Anna Mae and Don welcomed their surprise daughter, Jerrelynn.

From Southview School, she went back to Frazer where she taught almost every grade level up to sixth and retired after 23 or more years. Upon retiring in 2008, she was asked to give the graduation address by one of her favorite classes, and her last class she taught made AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) that year for the first time ever, which was the highlight of her teaching career.

After retiring, she enjoyed traveling with Don all across the country visiting family and friends and seeing the sights and, in 2010, they became official “snowbirds” and moved to Tucson, Ariz., in the winters, making many long-lasting friendships.

Anna Mae was extremely talented with her passions for painting, crafting, quilting, antiquing and cake decorating. She was especially proud and supportive of her four children and seven grandchildren, Trinity, James, Quinn, Hunter, Tiara, Jordyn and Walker, and their wrestling football, 4-H, and many other activities. Traveling many miles over a span of 40 some years to sit all day in a loud gymnasium to watch each of them wrestle for a few minutes. She also loved going to the Wild Horse Stampede, seeing a lot of her old students and the parade every year.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Willis and Dorothy; daughter, Julie Ann; grandson, Quinn; brotherin- law, Chuck Randall; and nephews, Michael Watts, Chuckie Randall and John Celander.

She is survived by her husband, Don; sons, John (Lisa) Hunter and Walker of Fairview, Jeff (Donna) Trinity and Tiara of Wolf Point, Justin (Stephanie) and James and Jordyn of Shepherd; daughter, Jerrelynn (Josh) Mansfield of Wolf Point; sister, Wilma (Vern) Watts; brother, Bill (Ginger) Jerrel; brother, Bob Jerrel; sister, Betty Randall; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 12, at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Her funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 13, at First Lutheran Church in Wolf Point. Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Wolf Point.

Memorials can be made to McCone County Health Center or to one’s choice.

(Paid Obituary)