Our dear mother, Jean Collins, passed away on Oct. 16, 2014, in her home in Columbia Falls, after a courageous battle with cancer. Her three loving daughters were at her side.
Jean was born on Nov. 2, 1926, in Rolla, N.D., to John Pohl and Alice Schell Pohl. She grew up in the Turtle Mountains near the Canadian border and had wonderful memories of her family life there. After 70 years, in 2012, her daughters took her on a trip back to the Turtle Mountains, and met relatives she didn't know she had. It was the trip of a lifetime for her, and she described the experience as “awesome.”
Jean moved from the Turtle Mountains to Spokane with her family where she met Waylon Collins. Later, while Waylon was stationed in Greensboro, N.C., Jean traveled to Greensboro where they were married on June 17, 1950. They moved to Montana a year or so later.
Jean spent her life taking care of her family. Jean's special love was that of her six children for which she loved equally and unconditionally. She was always there for her children. She was also called “Mom” by a number of younger people outside of the family.
Jean loved her home, gardening, flowers and nature. She loved her pets and was especially proud of the five beautiful purebred Arabian horses that she raised out of her $500 mare. She was a strong and determined woman. Even in her last weeks of life, she said that she wanted to ride a horse and swore that she was going to “walk free” again.
In the spring of 2010, Jean endured the deaths of her youngest and oldest sons, Wesley and James Michael Collins, as well as her husband, Waylon Collins. She is also preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Neal Pohl.
Jean is survived by daughters, Virginia and her husband Terry Darsow, Carol and her husband Richard Davies, and Kathy Collins; and a son, Windford Collins; and five grandchildren. She thought of her daughters’ husbands as if they were her own sons, especially Virginia's husband, Terry, whom she told that her lawn had to be manicured, not mowed. Jean also loved John Wallace Jr., as if he were her own son. He called her “Ma” and spent many holidays with the family and visited her often.
Jean's longtime special friend, Norma Dettwiler, spent many hours visiting and supporting Mom and the family during Mom's illness. Norma’s honesty, wit and humor brought much comfort to Mom and us. Thank you so much, Norma.
Throughout her life, Mom had faith and trust in the Lord. That faith and trust “has taken her home to Him. Mom is now riding that silvery white horse and is walking and running free.”
Words cannot explain how much she is loved and missed. Mom will live in our hearts forever, because all that we love becomes a part of us.
A celebration of Jean's life will be held at 10 a.m. on Nov. 8 at her home at 325 Kelley Road in Columbia Falls. Hospice Pastor Michael Baer will offer support and prayers.