Carol Jean Orr passed away in Butte on Saturday afternoon, April 16, 2022, due to injuries sustained in an accident at her home. She had been fighting a long, painful battle with cancer, and she slipped away peacefully at her cottage with family by her side.
Carol was born on December 26, 1942, in Billings, MT to William Whithorn and Doris (Swenson) Whithorn. Because her birthday was the day after Christmas, she often said she was “a Christmas Carol one day late.” Carol often felt shorted on recognition of her birthday, so her parents allowed her to choose another day in spring or summer to celebrate. She was the 2nd of four Whithorn children with Bruce as the eldest sibling, followed by Alta and Duane.
In 1948, the family purchased the The Wan-i-gan business, which included cabins, gas station, and a dining counter in the Pray, MT, near the northern entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Carol grew up next to the Yellowstone River serving tourists, pumping gas and cleaning cabins for the family business. Carol attended school at the country one-room schoolhouse in Pray, MT. She graduated from Park High School in Livingston in 1960 and then earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Montana College in Billings. She taught in Billings while earning her Master’s Degree in Education.
Between 1966-1969, Carol taught with the U.S Dept. of Defense as a civilian in Okinawa, Japan, for a year and then taught at Rhein Mein Air Force Base in Germany for two years. She traveled around Asia, Europe, the Soviet Union and Northern Africa as much as possible during those years. She then brought the historical sites she visited to life for students with her photos and her extensive postcard collection.
Carol returned to Montana to teach after her years with the military. She met husband James Orr in Butte, MT in 1971. She fell in love with both James and the colorful labor and mining history of Butte and made Butte her lifelong home. James and Carol were married on June 28, 1972.
In the early 1990’s, Carol traveled in Europe and Israel extensively to study the Holocaust with Holocaust survivors. She presented a slide show of her travels to sites of the Holocaust to her students and other gatherings in hopes that the atrocities of the Holocaust never be repeated. Carol’s travels included 39 countries in the Far East, Middle East, and Iron Curtain. Later in life she taught English in Baotou, China and Harbin, China. In 2006 she went with cousins to Sweden to visit cousins there who lived on the farm where her ancestors lived. She also toured Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
In retirement, Carol and James enjoyed collecting Butte memorabilia and photo postcards together. They also traveled in the US to gather family history and genealogy records.
After the passing of husband James in 2003, Carol continued to enjoy participation in church activities at Aldersgate United Methodist Church and with her 4th Day Group. She enjoyed baking her favorite cookies for fundraising efforts for several organizations including the Daughters of Norway. Carol also greatly enjoyed attending the musical and theater performances at The Mother Lode Theater and the Washoe Theater with friends. She was an active member of many other civic and teachers groups including Red Hats, Cornish Cousins, Homer Group, American Association of University Women, Alpha Delta Kappa Teacher Sorority, Butte Retired Teachers, her widow’s dinner group,and the Lunch Bunch of retired Whittier teachers.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, her husband James, and her two brothers Bruce and Duane. She is survived by her sister Alta LeDoux; sisters-in-law, Karen Whithorn and Diana Whithorn; daughters Susan Turney, Melanie (Knute) Peterson, and Lindsay Young, Melanie’s children Elizabeth and Xavior, Susan’s children Charles and Kathryn, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends.
Carol loved regularly donating to the Butte Food Bank, Butte Rescue Mission and Butte Safe Space women’s shelter, Aldersgate United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to those organizations or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
A memorial service celebrating Carol’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 6, 2022, at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1621 Thornton Ave., Butte, Montana 59701.
Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or share a memory of Carol.
Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Carol and her family.
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
11:00 a.m.
Monday June 6, 2022
Aldersgate United Methodist Church
1621 Thornton Ave.
Butte, MT 59701
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
11:00 a.m.
Monday June 6, 2022
Aldersgate United Methodist Church
1621 Thornton Ave.
Butte, MT 59701
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Joanne Cortese says
Best wishes. Carol will be missed by many people. God bless you.
Meredith says
Lindsay and Melanie – I am so, so sorry to hear about your mom. Mrs. Orr was my favorite teacher. She was a beautiful human. I’m so glad that I got the chance to see her at my mom’s service in November and it meant so much to me that she came. Sending you and your families lots of love. – Meredith (Brown) Keltz
Cindy Atcheson says
Carol was a very caring and thoughtful person I am glad he suffering is over RIP
Julie Buckley says
Farewell to a lovely person and teacher = Rest in Peace
Gracie Scher says
What a full life Carol had!!
I remember her as a sweet little girl at the Wan-I-Gan.
She will leave a large hole in a lot of hearts.
Michael says
There are certain people who make such an impression on a child life they are never forgotten. Mrs. Orr was such a person. I was fortunate enough to have her as my sixth grade teacher at Whittier. She was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge. More than this though, she was caring, funny, a great teacher, and later in my life a good friend. She could be downright intimidating, especially with her booming voice quieting a classroom. Also, she pulled no punches.
She, along with Linda Douglas and Lorraine Mahoney from fifth grade (and others later on) inspired me so much, I wanted to be a teacher as well. Although my career took a different direction, the ethics, care, excitement for learning, and sheer love these women shown to me are part of who I have become and were their greatest gifts. I have such fond memories of Whittier. Not all of them were great because I was, at times, a precocious child (right Mrs. Douglas – ha!) but I loved and still love these women. It’s so sad to say goodbye. It’s so hard to know your mentors have done their jobs and quietly move on; leaving us to carry on their legacy. I loved you Carol. I thank you for all that you’ve done for me and for your friendship as I became an adult. I’m so very sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye to you in person before I left Montana. You were a wonderful gift from God and can be proud of the girls you raised and the plethora of students who are better because of you. You have touched my heart and I thank you for it. <3
Thomas says
I am saddened to read of Mrs Orr’s illness and death. Like many others, she was my 6th grade teacher at Whittier School where she inspired my love of history and of travel. I always think of her when I travel around the world, especially to places that she introduced me to in her classroom. Even at the age of 11 I realized that she was a unique and interesting person. I am happy to read that she continued to become even more unique and interesting. Her extraordinary life has been an inspiration to me.
Julie Bowman says
To the Carol Orr Family:
I, Julie (Dwyer) Bowman extend my deepest sympathy to all your family. James Orr was my first cousin. May they be reunited together now and rest in peace.
Sincerely,
Julie
Robyn Krause says
Thank you Mrs. Orr. You were one of my best teachers. Rest in peace.