Katherine Jean Boyd

Jean was born to Mary Wiggins on June 7, 1932, in Halifax, Yorkshire England. As Mary was a single mother that worked during the day, she was raised by her maternal grandmother until nursery school.

She was barely in school when England entered World War II in 1932 and endured Hitler’s Blitzreig from 1940 to 1941. She finished her schooling at 15, along with being formally adopted by Otis Whiteley the same year. At 15, she went to work at the offices of the Crosley Carpet Mills. On a holiday with friends she had a fortune teller read her future, in which there would be a large body of water and a person waiting on the other side.

At the age of 22, alone she boarded the QE2 in South Hampton bound for New York harbor where she was met by her future husband, Delos “Mike” Boyd. They were married in Illinois on June 7, 1954.

As Mike was in the Air Force, they traveled throughout the South and Midwest including bases in Florida, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and finally to Glasgow, AFB, where he retired and they settled in Glasgow in 1966.

During their 30-year marriage they had two children, Donna (1955) and beloved son Michael (1956).

Jean was a master at knitting, crocheting, tatting and beaded ornaments. All of which garnered many blue ribbons at the Valley County fair.

She was preceded by her husband, Mike; parents Mary and Otis; and step-sisters Veronica and Margaret.

She is survived by daughter, Donna, Sheridan, Wyo.; Michael and Lorraine, Billings, Mont.; and grandchildren, Joe and Derek, Billings, and Michelle, Miles City, Mont.

A very special thanks to Josie Avila, who opened her home and family to Jean from 2017 to 2022. At which time she was placed in a nursing home until her death on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2023.

No services are planned, internment will be in the spring.