Kathryn Lear

Kathryn (Billie) Meade Lear

August 20, 1916 - December 30, 2016



Kathryn Lear, 100, of Fairfield, Montana, passed away Friday, December 30, 2016, at the Front Range Assisted Living in Fairfield. A funeral will be held on Friday, January 6, at 11:00 at St. John's Catholic Church.



Born August 20, 1916, to Mary Coyle Meade and William Meade, direct descendants of immigrant Irish miners, Kathryn "Billie" joined sisters Helen and Cyrilla. Life centered around their home on Waukesha Street and included Irish cousins, aunts and uncles.



Bright and determined, she excelled at the Immaculate Conception Grade School and Girls' Central High School, graduating at age 16. Continuing her education at Dillon and Missoula, she earned a teaching degree and, as a young lady, taught elementary grades in many rural communities of southwestern Montana, as well as the Emerson Grade School in Butte.



At the Immaculate Conception Church in Butte, on the morning of June 12, 1943, she married Fay Francis Lear from Choteau, Montana. After relocations sponsored by the United States Army Air Corps and Fay's overseas duty, the family returned to the Choteau area. They purchased the ranch near Freezeout Lake in October of 1946 and spent their lives working on this property as well as land west of Dupuyer. The family expanded with the births of nine children. Billie was energetic and a hard worker. She organized the family into a workforce, but bore the brunt of household chores and childcare herself.



She enjoyed friends, relatives, community and church activities, and her growing family. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and Lear and Blair cousins gathered frequently at the ranch. Billie was in the center directing events. Niece and nephew Beth and Bob Blair spent vacation time with the family. Caring for all who entered her home, she listened and retained information about their lives. Her husband, sisters, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were a source of joy, as were her in-laws, nieces and nephews.



She lived for the previous 15 years at the Teton Courts apartment and then from June until her death at the Front Range Assisted Living. Thank you to all who supported her at these locations. She appreciated your love and kindness. Special friends were Keith and Delpha McFarlane. She also loved music. If you played an instrument for her or sang, know you pleased her.



She was preceded in death by her husband Fay (January 2001), sisters Cyrilla Meade and Helen Blair, youngest son Michael Patrick, and son-in-law David Langevin.



She is survived by daughters Mary Langevin (San Ramon, CA), Kay Behrens and husband Ron (Bellevue, WA), Ann O'Keefe and husband Michael (Casper, WY), Joan Campbell and husband John (Columbia, SC), Lois Giovanini and husband Robert (Billings, MT), and Nancy Pearson and husband Dan (Conrad, MT). Surviving are two sons, Bill Lear (Hamilton, MT) and Jerry Lear (Fairfield, MT). Also surviving are 20 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and special friend and sister-in-law Maureen Lear (Fairfield).



Grandchildren include Michelle Gordon, Courtney Cortez, Justin Behrens, Chris Behrens, Megan O'Keefe, John O'Keefe, Tricia O'Keefe, Katie O'Keefe, Jay Campbell, Sam Campbell, Emily Ragland, Jack Giovanini, Angela Beddow, Mike Giovanini, Tom Giovanini, Amy Pearson, Joe Pearson, Jacob Pearson, Jeremiah Pearson, and Anna Pollard.



Memorials to the St. John's Catholic Church or the Fairfield Drop In Center would be appreciated.



Condolences may be left online at www.gorderjensenfuneralhome.com