The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Jill Ann Topel-Bold was born January 26, 1953 in Great Falls, Montana and passed away unexpectedly May 16th, 2020 surrounded by her family in Denver, Colorado. She filled the time in between these dates with immeasurable amounts of life, love, and laughter. Truly a soul to aspire to and we will certainly miss her smile. She was born to Gail (Mutz) and Donald Topel, the second oldest of their four children, and is credited with teaching her youngest sibling Tim Topel how to walk. She spent her formative years helping her dad at the National Laundry, and graduated from Great Falls Central Catholic High School in 1971, going on to attend Carroll College in Helena, MT. She met her future husband Walter Bold at a dance in 1973 where they were sent to get ice for the party and never completed their mission. Walter has said, "She told me I was the man she was going to marry, and wouldn't you know it Jill got her way again." They dated for five years before marrying in 1978, Jill was the one Wally circled out of the bunch and she loved to brag about being married to her best friend. Walter and Jill moved out to the country south east of Big Sandy where they farmed, ranched and raised their kids.

Their marriage was blessed with a son, Jacob Matthew Bold in 1984 and a daughter, Amanda Marie Bold in 1988. Jill was the kids' substitute teacher at the one-room schoolhouse and some of their fondest memories include being picked up from school in the grain truck by mom and heading to the field until the day was done. She loved her kids unconditionally and went out of her way to make their childhood special. She drove them to swimming lessons every summer in Winifred, was never absent from a sporting event, nor missed an opportunity to support her kids.

Jill was a friend to all who knew her and never passed up the opportunity to cook a meal or offer a cold drink to passers-through. She was a city girl who found herself surrounded by cowboys, and she embraced the trials, joys, tribulations, adventures (and spilled drinks) that came with that territory. She was blessed with friendships that would last a lifetime and created many memories that will never fade. Jill was truly one of a kind and lived her life on her own terms. May we all be so fortunate.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Gail Topel, father-in-law Albert Bold, and mother-in-law Mary Bold. She is survived by her husband and partner Walter Bold, her son Jacob Bold, grandson Hayden Forshee, daughter Amanda Bold, grandchildren Mallory and Royce Schaub, her siblings Julie Topel-Evans (Doug Evans, San Tan Valley, AZ), Janice Stricklin (Bill Stricklin, Great Falls, MT), Tim Topel (Great Falls, MT), the entire Bold Family, numerous nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors. A celebration of her life will be held at a future date to be determined.