The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Janet Marie Danreuther, 85 passed away June 16, 2017 at Peace Hospice in Great Falls. Her service was at 10 a.m. Monday, June 19, 2017 at the Community Bible Church in Fort Benton with burial at the Riverside Cemetery. Memorials in Janet's honor may be made to Peace Hospice P.O. Box 7008 Great Falls, Montana 59401 or to a charity of the donor's choice. You may visit Janet's on-line memorial to leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.bentonfh.com. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Benton Funeral Home.

Janet Marie Reichelt Danreuther was born on March 21, 1932 to Dan and Vivian (Wood) Reichelt in Fort Benton, Montana. The oldest of four daughters, she arrived just in time for lambing season.

She grew up on the Teton River North of Carter with many summers spent haying, harvesting, gardening or out at the swimming hole on the river. It was at this swimming hole she met the love of her life, Charles Danreuther. With this union, she packed up her belongings and moved with Charlie to his uncle's farm north of Loma. Here they began their own life of 63 years together.

The couple was blessed with six kids over the next twelve years. Dan (Sparky), Rachel (Alan) Weaver, Rusty (Nona), Keith (Patti Jo), Carol (Dennis) Bahnmiller, and Calvin (Michelle).

She was The Rock to raising their 6 kids and teaching them the values of life. Many hours were spent watching sports and supporting them in their various activities that included music, Rainbow, FHA, Sunday School, and 4-H. She also spent many a weekend packing up supplies for the family to go to the lake, and as she would say, "the rest of the week getting ready to do it all over again."

We couldn't tell you about Mom without mentioning her precision with a gun at shooting prairie dogs, gophers, or rattlesnakes with a .22, as well as her knack for picking off skunks under her chicken house. This always left the farm smelling sweet.

When she wasn't busy with the kids, she would attend the Spring Coulee Hobby Club for some female companionship and was also very involved with the Chouteau County Republican women.

Her pastimes included reading a good book, bowling, working crosswords, needlework, hunting arrowheads at the sand dunes, fishing, playing cards, and gardening. But, her most favorite hobby included spending time around her painting table creating another masterpiece. She leaves a little bit of herself to all her family members with her works of art. She always looked forward to her days spent with Mary McKeever taking painting lessons or taking classes in Bozeman over the summer at home demonstration weekend.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Charles, her son Rusty, parents Dan and Vivian Reichelt and sisters Frankie and Patty.

Janet is survived by her sister Barbara (Lyle) Shaw and brother-in-law Bill Rowe. Besides her children Dan, Rachel, Keith, Carol and Calvin she leaves a legacy of 17 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

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