Susan Bea Jacobs Montgomery

SUSAN BEA JACOBS MONTGOMERY

March 5, 1951 – June 16, 2025

It is with deep love and great sorrow that we announce the passing of our dearest Susie Bea at the age of 74. She passed peacefully at home surrounded by family.

Born in Lewiston, Idaho as the youngest of 5 siblings, Sue had a carefree, happy childhood. She attended St. Stanislaus Catholic grade school, was a member of Girl Scout Troop 405, and sang at many local events accompanied on the piano by her mother. She attended Lewiston High School briefly before moving to Portland in 1967 where she finished high school, then enrolled at Portland State University – all while serving as an active choir member at St. Philip Neri Church and working at Oregon Health & Science University. At age 22, her sense of adventure took her east, where she settled in Anaconda, Montana.

In 1979 she married David Terrell Montgomery and in 1986 gave birth to her daughter, Karen Bethany. Being a mother was her greatest joy and she put her whole heart and soul into the vocation. She nurtured children as her own including her three stepdaughters, her daughter's friends, her sister's children, and as a godmother. Sue's gentle heart and empathy drew others to her, especially those who had experienced difficulties. She was a beloved employee of Discovery House for Homeless Youth, and she was a sanctuary for stray animals in need.

In 1994, Sue began pursuing a lifelong dream by enrolling in nursing school. She graduated from Montana Tech in Butte in 1997 as an LPN earning a 4.0 GPA with high honors. She worked as a nurse at Anaconda Community Hospital and the Community Nursing Home until her retirement in 2014. Her dedication to comfort care for her patients was her true passion as she worked to connect with them personally and uphold their dignity. Her first objective in life was always to put the needs of those around her before her own, a trait that defined her.

Sue loved sharing life. She was a people person who loved sipping cups of coffee with friends and pouring over recipes to make for her family or share at potlucks and parties. She would run out to sing and dance in the rain, always created funny costumes for gatherings, and had the most realistic witch cackle to rival the wicked witch of the west. She was the person you called for advice and always had time to listen to another person's story. Her wit and antics brought joy to any room she entered. If there was an irreverent joke to be told, it would be told by Sue.

Sue was deeply devoted to her Catholic faith with a love of the Carmelite Order and a penchant for contemplative prayer. While suffering through a chronic immune illness for 25 years, she found strength and peace in her church community which became her extended family. Sue was active in her parish, participating in countless scripture studies, volunteering with the youth in religious education, guiding Vacation Bible School, preparing high school students for Confirmation, sharing her gift of music by singing during Mass, and offering her sufferings as a prayer for others. Her faith was contagious and her belief in God's love was unshakable.

Sue's life was a testament to love, humor, selfless service, and enduring faith. She will be missed deeply – but her legacy lives on in every life and soul she helped lift.

She is survived in death by her husband David Terrell Montgomery, her daughter Karen Bethany Montgomery, stepdaughters Mary Hayden-Brunker, Jill Montgomery, and Kati Montgomery, her sister Judy Litchfield, brother Gale Jacobs, and her dear friends Becky Ellis and Donna Malik.

She was preceded in death by her son Thomas Montgomery, father Richard Jacobs, mother Beatrice Jacobs, her brother Lanny Jacobs, and sister Karen Lauby.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Anaconda on August 22nd at 10:30am with a reception luncheon to follow. All who wish to celebrate Sue's life are welcome.

Please visit below to offer condolences to the family or share a memory of Susan. Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home and Crematory have been privileged to care for Susan and her family.