Jessie Townsend

Jessie Magdalena (Brewer) Townsend, 98, of Baker, passed away on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 at the Fallon Medical Complex. She was born May 11, 1904, the daughter of Jesse and Beulah (Wordell) Brewer, at her grandmother?s home in Camp Crook, SD. When she was four years old, the family traveled by covered wagon to Sand Hills of Spade, NE, where her father filed on a homestead. It was a one-room school, with the homemade desks and seats. Also, attending that school was the Sandoz children of which one of them was the famous writer of Indian stories, Mari Sandoz. In May of 1918 they returned to Camp Crook, where she attended High School. On April 16, 1923 Jessie was married to George Townsend at Buffalo, SD. They resided in the Tie Creek and Camp Crook area until August of 1936 when they moved to Ekalaka which was their home until January of 1986. They moved to Park View Retirement Complex in Baker on account of George?s ailing health. George passed away October 22, 1989. To this union was born Robert, Loyd, Georgetta, and Gary. Robert and Gary met tragic deaths in July of 1963. Jessie was a homemaker first and always having lived on a ranch in Montana, then living in Camp Crook and Ekalaka. In Ekalaka, she had High School boys and girls as boarders for several years. She also worked at Emerson Pharmacy for 15 years. Jessie?s home was always open and welcome to whomever, whenever. She was a great cook and provided meals for the hospital. She and George traveled extensively, going to Texas, Arkansas, California, Wisconsin, Idaho, North and South Dakota. They toured through most of Montana. Jessie is preceded in death by her parents; husband, George; two sons: Robert and Gary; a brother, Ray; and four sisters: Clara, Jennie, Ava, and Hattie. She is survived by a son, Loyd (Phyllis) Townsend of Ekalaka; a daughter, Georgettta (Herb) McCamish of Baker; a daughter-in-law, Ruth Townsend of Baker; thirteen grandchildren; and numerous great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Funeral Services will take place on Monday, April 28, at 11 AM at the Ekalaka Bible Church in Ekalaka. Visitation will begin from 1 PM until 8 PM on Sunday, April 27, at the Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka. Burial will take place at the Beaverlodge Cemetery. Stevenson Funeral Homes, Inc. of Baker and Ekalaka are in charge of the arrangments.


Burial Date: April 28, 2003
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT

Funeral: Monday, Ekalaka Bible Church