Nellie Gunter

Nellie Jeanette Gunter, 94, of Great Falls, a retired office employee for the Great Falls School District, died of natural causes on Saturday, June 30, 2012 at a local assisted care facility. The family will have a private memorial later this month.Cremation has taken place. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Nellie was born Nellie Jeannette Johnson on November 23, 1917, on a homestead near Lavina MT. In 1924 she moved with her family, two sisters and one brother, to Great Falls where she was raised and educated. Nellie married Robert Neil from Dutton, MT in 1935 and they lived in Great Falls where Neil was an automobile salesman for 41 years. He died in 1978. Nellie was an office employee of the Great Falls School District for 27 years, 25 of them at East Junior High School from which she retired in 1981. Nellie was a longtime member of Faith Lutheran Church, the Cascade County Historical Society and the Montana Pioneer and Classic Auto Club. One of Nellie's favorite family possessions was the 1923 Ford Model T her husband, Bob, restored. She also enjoyed youth activities, both boys and girls, gardening and making her famous Grandma Nellie's Jelly. In 1981 Nellie married Bruce Gunter of Great Falls. He retired in 1982 and they spent the next few years traveling, even going to foreign countries that included China, Japan, Holland, France, Spain and Russia. Nellie had taken tours to Germany and Scotland prior to meeting Bruce and she was thrilled to have him share her passion for traveling. Another area of interest for Nellie and Bruce was dressing up in their vintage clothing and visiting the elementary schools to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for the early 20th century. They always provided one of Nellie's home baked chocolate chip cookies to each student. Bruce passed away in 2004. Nellie was most proud of her middle name having been named for Jeannette Rankin, the first woman to serve in the United States Congress. Nellie is survived by her sons, Dr. Robin Neil and Dr. Dave Neil both of Great Falls; two grandchildren: Jody Creasman (Jason) of Portland, OR and Dallas Neil of Missoula; four great- granddaughters: Preslie Neil, Landyn Neil, Braydie Neil and Cora Creasman; sisters-in-law Margaret Nielson of Renton, WA and Lucille Johnson of Great Falls. Stepchildren include Ann (Ron) Long of Simms and Ed (Deby) Gunter of Great Falls; her step grandchildren Jared (Leslie) Long of Lewistown, Ryan Long and Aubrey Gunter of Great Falls and Libby Gunter of Billings and step great-grandchildren Nathan, Alex and Macy Long. She was preceded in death by both of her husbands, her parents, Cleveland and Rosella Johnson, her sisters, Margaret Freeman and Mabel Wiprud of Washington, and brother Archie Ray Johnson of Great Falls. Donations may be made in Nellie's memory to The History Museum, 422 2nd St. S., Great Falls MT 59401 or to a charity of choice.