Theo Eleanor Johns Bay, long-time resident of Dillon, died peacefully, and surrounded by loving family members, in her home on Dec. 30, 2007.
Born Aug. 4, 1909, in a little farmhouse near Wing, N.D., Theo was the oldest of five children born to Charles M. Johns and Hazel Ruth Brace Johns. She enjoyed her childhood growing up on her family's prairie farm.
In 1928, Theo decided it was time to make her own way in the world and she was elected to her first teaching position in the Florence Lake School District No. 2 in North Dakota, where she taught for two years.
From 1930 to 1932, she attended State Teachers College in Mayville, N.D. She then enjoyed some time traveling and several additional years teaching in North Dakota. She first came to Dillon in 1941 after accepting a teaching position in the Blacktail School District No. 27. At a Halloween party that year, Theo met Jens C. Bay and by Easter 1942 they were engaged and were married on Sept. 5, 1942, in Dillon's First Evangelical Lutheran Church. They lived on a small farm south of Dillon until Jens' death on July 26, 1946.
The following year the farm was sold and Theo and her son, Clifford Bay, moved into town. Theo continued her education at Western College of Education and received her bachelor of science degree in June 1950. That same year, she ran on a Republican ticket for the office of superintendent of Beaverhead County schools, and was elected, serving in this post until 1958.
Theo then served the Montana Power Co. as a bookkeeper until 1964. For the next eight years, until her retirement in 1972, she taught school in Philipsburg.
Theo remembers her retirement years as the best of her life as they were spent at home in Dillon among the family and friends whom she so dearly loved.
Theo was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Norman and Vernon; sister, Clover; husband, Jens; and children, Alvin, Edward, Clifford and Helen Bay Weaver; and her great-grandson, Chad Weaver.
She is survived by her sister, Alice Raines; son-in-law, Hank Weaver; six grand-children, and many beloved and loving nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren and great-nieces and -nephews. Theo's funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the First Evangelist Lutheran Church in Dillon. Daycare will be provided.
Memorials: Hospice of Dillon or charity of choice.
Published in The Montana Standard on 1/3/2008.
Born Aug. 4, 1909, in a little farmhouse near Wing, N.D., Theo was the oldest of five children born to Charles M. Johns and Hazel Ruth Brace Johns. She enjoyed her childhood growing up on her family's prairie farm.
In 1928, Theo decided it was time to make her own way in the world and she was elected to her first teaching position in the Florence Lake School District No. 2 in North Dakota, where she taught for two years.
From 1930 to 1932, she attended State Teachers College in Mayville, N.D. She then enjoyed some time traveling and several additional years teaching in North Dakota. She first came to Dillon in 1941 after accepting a teaching position in the Blacktail School District No. 27. At a Halloween party that year, Theo met Jens C. Bay and by Easter 1942 they were engaged and were married on Sept. 5, 1942, in Dillon's First Evangelical Lutheran Church. They lived on a small farm south of Dillon until Jens' death on July 26, 1946.
The following year the farm was sold and Theo and her son, Clifford Bay, moved into town. Theo continued her education at Western College of Education and received her bachelor of science degree in June 1950. That same year, she ran on a Republican ticket for the office of superintendent of Beaverhead County schools, and was elected, serving in this post until 1958.
Theo then served the Montana Power Co. as a bookkeeper until 1964. For the next eight years, until her retirement in 1972, she taught school in Philipsburg.
Theo remembers her retirement years as the best of her life as they were spent at home in Dillon among the family and friends whom she so dearly loved.
Theo was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Norman and Vernon; sister, Clover; husband, Jens; and children, Alvin, Edward, Clifford and Helen Bay Weaver; and her great-grandson, Chad Weaver.
She is survived by her sister, Alice Raines; son-in-law, Hank Weaver; six grand-children, and many beloved and loving nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren and great-nieces and -nephews. Theo's funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the First Evangelist Lutheran Church in Dillon. Daycare will be provided.
Memorials: Hospice of Dillon or charity of choice.
Published in The Montana Standard on 1/3/2008.
Theo Eleanor Johns Bay, long-time resident of Dillon, died peacefully, and surrounded by loving family members, in her home on Dec. 30, 2007.
Born Aug. 4, 1909, in a little farmhouse near Wing, N.D., Theo was the oldest of five children born to Charles M. Johns and Hazel Ruth Brace Johns. She enjoyed her childhood growing up on her family's prairie farm.
In 1928, Theo decided it was time to make her own way in the world and she was elected to her first teaching position in the Florence Lake School District No. 2 in North Dakota, where she taught for two years.
From 1930 to 1932, she attended State Teachers College in Mayville, N.D. She then enjoyed some time traveling and several additional years teaching in North Dakota. She first came to Dillon in 1941 after accepting a teaching position in the Blacktail School District No. 27. At a Halloween party that year, Theo met Jens C. Bay and by Easter 1942 they were engaged and were married on Sept. 5, 1942, in Dillon's First Evangelical Lutheran Church. They lived on a small farm south of Dillon until Jens' death on July 26, 1946.
The following year the farm was sold and Theo and her son, Clifford Bay, moved into town. Theo continued her education at Western College of Education and received her bachelor of science degree in June 1950. That same year, she ran on a Republican ticket for the office of superintendent of Beaverhead County schools, and was elected, serving in this post until 1958.
Theo then served the Montana Power Co. as a bookkeeper until 1964. For the next eight years, until her retirement in 1972, she taught school in Philipsburg.
Theo remembers her retirement years as the best of her life as they were spent at home in Dillon among the family and friends whom she so dearly loved.
Theo was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Norman and Vernon; sister, Clover; husband, Jens; and children, Alvin, Edward, Clifford and Helen Bay Weaver; and her great-grandson, Chad Weaver.
She is survived by her sister, Alice Raines; son-in-law, Hank Weaver; six grand-children, and many beloved and loving nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren and great-nieces and -nephews. Theo's funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the First Evangelist Lutheran Church in Dillon. Daycare will be provided.
Memorials: Hospice of Dillon or charity of choice.
Published in The Montana Standard on 1/3/2008.
Born Aug. 4, 1909, in a little farmhouse near Wing, N.D., Theo was the oldest of five children born to Charles M. Johns and Hazel Ruth Brace Johns. She enjoyed her childhood growing up on her family's prairie farm.
In 1928, Theo decided it was time to make her own way in the world and she was elected to her first teaching position in the Florence Lake School District No. 2 in North Dakota, where she taught for two years.
From 1930 to 1932, she attended State Teachers College in Mayville, N.D. She then enjoyed some time traveling and several additional years teaching in North Dakota. She first came to Dillon in 1941 after accepting a teaching position in the Blacktail School District No. 27. At a Halloween party that year, Theo met Jens C. Bay and by Easter 1942 they were engaged and were married on Sept. 5, 1942, in Dillon's First Evangelical Lutheran Church. They lived on a small farm south of Dillon until Jens' death on July 26, 1946.
The following year the farm was sold and Theo and her son, Clifford Bay, moved into town. Theo continued her education at Western College of Education and received her bachelor of science degree in June 1950. That same year, she ran on a Republican ticket for the office of superintendent of Beaverhead County schools, and was elected, serving in this post until 1958.
Theo then served the Montana Power Co. as a bookkeeper until 1964. For the next eight years, until her retirement in 1972, she taught school in Philipsburg.
Theo remembers her retirement years as the best of her life as they were spent at home in Dillon among the family and friends whom she so dearly loved.
Theo was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Norman and Vernon; sister, Clover; husband, Jens; and children, Alvin, Edward, Clifford and Helen Bay Weaver; and her great-grandson, Chad Weaver.
She is survived by her sister, Alice Raines; son-in-law, Hank Weaver; six grand-children, and many beloved and loving nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren and great-nieces and -nephews. Theo's funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the First Evangelist Lutheran Church in Dillon. Daycare will be provided.
Memorials: Hospice of Dillon or charity of choice.
Published in The Montana Standard on 1/3/2008.
