On June 17, 2022, after a hard-fought, two year battle with cancer, Jeanette went home to be with her Lord and Savior. She passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family.
Jeanette was born September 10, 1951, to Robert and Bernadette Miller. The oldest of four children, Jeanette was born in Butte and lived there her entire 70 years. Jeanette attended school in Butte and graduated from Butte High School in 1969.
On September 12, 1970, Jeanette married her high school sweetheart, Ken Howe. Together they had four children – Shaunna, Lisa, Jacen and Theresa. Ken predeceased Jeanette in 1995, four months short of their 25th wedding anniversary.
Jeanette’s world was once again made complete when she met and ultimately married Jess Cooksey on December 7, 2002. They would have celebrated their 20 year anniversary this December. Jeanette and Jess enjoyed traveling together, taking trips to Jamaica and Mexico, the Grand Canyon and the Oregon coast. They also enjoyed camping, hiking and cross-country skiing.
Jeanette was always able to find interesting job opportunities and she worked in a variety of different positions including banking, dental assistant, phlebotomist and pharmacy tech.
Jeanette’s favorite and most important job was that of Grandma and, most recently, Great-Grandma. Jeanette’s life brightened with the birth of her granddaughter, Hailey Ogolin, in 1997. She was followed by three grandsons, Brian Ogolin, Tyler Duffy and Tegan Duffy. Jeanette thoroughly enjoyed watching her grandchildren’s activities whether it was dance, football, basketball or baseball. In June of 2020, Jeanette’s first great-granddaughter, Quinn Thompson, was born. Jeanette looked forward to her Friday visits with Quinn and Shaunna.
In addition to camping, hiking and cross-country skiing, Jeanette was an avid reader, she played the guitar, and in earlier years enjoyed crocheting-having made afghans for many family members and friends. She enjoyed Bible study groups, volunteering for Safe Space and CCCS, and the clown ministry.
Jeanette was predeceased by her grandparents, Roscoe and Grace Miller and Charles and Augustine Heroux, her parents, Robert Miller and Bernadette Miller, her husband, Ken Howe, her in-laws, Louis and Romana Howe, her brother-in-law, Everett Howe, and sisters-in-law, Agnes Greenberg and Margaret Knutson.
Jeanette is survived by her husband, Jess Cooksey. Her children Shaunna (Keith) Ogolin, Lisa Howe, Jacen Howe, and Theresa (Michael) Duffy. Grandchildren Hailey (Nate) Thompson, Brian Ogolin, Tyler Duffy and Tegan Duffy. Great-granddaughter, Quinn Thompson. Sisters and brothers-in-law, Marilyn and Doug Cameron, Dianne and Steve Ostenburg. Brother and sister-in-law Bob and Debbie Miller. Many in-laws from the Howe and Cooksey families and special nieces, nephews and cousins too numerous to name.
Visitation will begin at 10 am on Thursday, June 23, 2022, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 4201 Continental Dr., Butte. Funeral Mass will follow at the church at 11 am. Rite of Committal will follow mass at Mountain View Cemetery, 3910 Harrison Ave., Butte.
Memorials in honor of Jeanette are suggested to St. Jude’s Hospital for Children, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or share a memory of Jeanette. Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Jeanette and her family.
Service Schedule
Visitation
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Thursday June 23, 2022
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
4201 Continental Dr.
Butte, MT 59701
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Thursday June 23, 2022
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
4201 Continental Dr.
Butte, MT 59701
Rite of Committal
Following Mass
Thursday June 23, 2022
Mountain View Cemetery
3910 Harrison Ave.
Butte, MT 59701
Service Schedule
Visitation
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Thursday June 23, 2022
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
4201 Continental Dr.
Butte, MT 59701
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Thursday June 23, 2022
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
4201 Continental Dr.
Butte, MT 59701
Rite of Committal
Following Mass
Thursday June 23, 2022
Mountain View Cemetery
3910 Harrison Ave.
Butte, MT 59701
Share
Ammie Jo Carter (Howe) says
Auntie J,
I have missed getting to see you but have loved that we never loss touch over the years. You were an amazing aunt and God mom to me. I will carry you forever in my heart and cherish the memories I have. I do wish Shannon could have cooked for you 😁
Lots of love.
Ammie Jo (Aimers) & husband Shannon Mark and kids Brentyn, Kaleb and Lillian Carter (Howe) .
Marie Davis says
I am so sorry to see this. Jeanette was a good friend and I will miss keeping in touch via social media. My condolences to the family.
May God Bless,
Marie Bessonen Davis
John Reighard says
Jess and family,
Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
John,Connie and Family
Karen Crittendon says
Jess , Shaunna, Lisa, Jason, Theresa and families;
Whenever I would see Jeanette, she was like a bright light. Whether it be at Dr. Abraham’s office or the many grandson baseball games, she sure seemed to enjoy her life! I will remember her as a kind, kind person.
I want to believe that your wife, mom and grandma, completed her job on earth and God called her home. I pray that you all find the peace and love that your Mom would have wanted you to have.
God Bless you all, Karen Crittendon (Miss Karen )
David and Carole Smith says
Good bye Jeanette,
Thank you for all the good times, camping, hiking, CC skiing, Yellowstone Park, 4th of July, Butte Folk Festival, meals and a few beers along the way. Thank you for inviting me into your life and sharing your family and friends so a poor lonely Missoula boy could boast of Butte as his hometown. It was a great journey with many ups and downs. Now you get to share all the great joys of Heaven and I hope someday to hike and ski and sit in the hot tub with you again. Good by for now. God bless all your family and friends. David and Carole Smith
Joanne and Jim Cortese says
We have happy memories of Jeanette and the Howe kids. Although we haven’t seen any of you for many years, you are in our hearts, thoughts and prayers at this time. May your blessings continue. May your own special memories support you as you grieve this loss. Best wishes to each of you.
Katie Harding says
I have such great memories talking with Jeanette at all the kids sporting events and functions we have gotten to be a part of with the family. Jeanette was such a positive uplifting and positive person and now I see those great qualities in her children and grandchildren. Our community wont be the same without you but we will try to bring forward your spirit for life. Jeanette and her loved ones are very special to us and we are so glad to have been a part of the journey !!
Bob Thomas says
I am so sorry to hear of Jeanette’s passing. We knew each other for the better part of 65 years. She was my neighbor as we grew up on Florida Street. We shared many laughs and heart aches. I REALLY enjoyed squirtig her with the garden hose. Goodness, could she squeal!
Enjoy being a new person with your Lord and Savior