Barbara "Barb" (Jenkins) Jaraczeski

Barbara “Barb” (Jenkins) Jaraczeski, age 90, passed away of natural causes on July 3, 2022. Barbara June Jenkins was born in Great Falls, MT on June 1,1932, the second born and only daughter of Wellington “Bill” and Evangeline (Pokarney) Jenkins. Barb grew up in Great Falls where she attended elementary school, Paris Gibson Middle School, and Great Falls High School. She completed her senior year at Butte High School, graduating in 1950. Upon graduating, Barb enrolled at the University of Montana in Missoula where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Before her junior year, she transferred to Montana State University in Bozeman where her brother, Robert “Bob”, was attending. While working at the Strand Union Building on campus, she met Edgar “Ed” Keil of Conrad. In 1953, Ed was needed back at the family farm in Ledger, MT so Barb decided to leave college, marry Ed, and move with him to the farm. She was quickly thrown into farm life, cooking for hired men and raising their three children, Gail, Nancy, and Jeff. Barb was an active member of the Conrad community and First Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday School for many years. She participated in plays at the Community Hall and belonged to the Home Demonstration Club and Bridge Club. She worked at the Pondera County Medical Center as well as Valentine’s, Conrad’s women’s dress shop which, ever the classy dresser, helped offset her clothes habit. Barb was an avid golfer and skier which she enjoyed more of after moving to Helena in 1978. It was during this time that she met Richard “Dick” Jaraczeski of Great Falls. They married in 1984 and she was blessed with knowing and loving Dick’s four children and five grandchildren. Barb and Dick spent many wonderful years together in Great Falls and Dick joined her in loving the many animals she brought home which included several birds, dogs, cats, rabbits, and even turtles. She worked at Anderson Elerding Travel for several years which gave Barb and Dick the opportunity to travel around the US and world together visiting places such as Morocco, Russia, and England. In 2017, Barb moved into Highgate Senior Living where she made many new friends and enjoyed participating in the numerous social activities that the facility offered. The care providers were like family to her, and she talked fondly of the many people she had grown close to over the years. Most recently, she loved her bible study group which she looked forward to every week. Barb will be deeply missed by her friends, family, and all who knew her. Barb is survived by her children, Gail Keil Carter, Nancy (Walt) Backer, and Jeff (Kim) Keil; grandchildren, Kellan, Quincy, and Colton Carter, Keil (Katie), Kason, and Konnor (Julie) Backer, Rachel (Ian) Letsinger and Robert Keil; great-grandchildren, Jarica Backer and Hattie Letsinger; step-children, Patty Jaraczeski, Joe Jaraczeski, Jeff (Mary) Jaraczeski, and Jim Jaraczeski; five step-grandchildren, as well as her beloved cat, Tara. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dick, brother Robert Jenkins, and son-in-law Mike Carter. The family would like to express their thanks to the Highgate family for taking such good care of Barb over the past five years, especially during the pandemic. They would also like to thank Benefis Peace Hospice for the wonderful help and care given to Barb in her final days. A memorial for Barb will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 15, 2022 at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial (1410 13th St South) with a celebration of Barb’s life immediately following at the Meadow Lark Country Club. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Barb Jaraczeski to The Maclean-Cameron Animal Adoption Center, 900 25th Ave NE, Great Falls, 59404, or Humane Society of Cascade County, PO Box 1774, Great Falls, 59403.