Illa Jean Bodin

Illa Jean Bodin, 85, passed away in the early morning of June 11, 2024, just 26 days after her husband Bob died. On June 27, they would be celebrating 66 years of marriage.

Illa was born in Reed Point, Montana, to George and Myrtle Nute. She was the youngest of four children. The family first moved to Columbus and then made their final home in Bozeman, where she attended Hawthorne School and graduated from Gallatin High in 1957. In the fall of 1957, she moved to Chicago with a friend to experience “city life” and work at Westside Gospel. In January 1958, she met Bob Bodin at a church social and they married in June of 1958.

Our mom and dad then returned to Bozeman, where our dad began his banking career in the fall of 1958 with First Bank (which is now USBank). Their daughter Kathy was born in April of 1959; Kimberly was born in January of 1961 (sadly Kimmy died in January of 1962); Kerry was born in July of 1962.

Our mom loved her family and spending time with her kids. She created a warm and wonderful home for us — where many neighborhood kids would always gather. She loved to decorate for holidays, especially Christmas, and she was always involved in many community and church activities in Bozeman.

In 1975, the family moved from Bozeman to Missoula and lived there until 1982. In 1982, they moved to Billings, where our dad was the president of USBank. Then in 1987, they moved to Austin, Minnesota. In 1992, our parents moved back to Billings to spend time with kids and grandkids and our dad finished his banking career.

In Billings, mom volunteered for Young Families, where she cuddled and loved the babies she always adored. She spent lots of time watching her grandchildren participate in dance recitals, football games, basketball games, track meets and volleyball games. She was a loyal fan of the Billings Senior Broncs and the Billings Skyview Falcons.

Illa is survived by her twin brothers, Robert (Joanna) and Rodney Nute. Her sister Barbara (Bob) Thompson passed away in 2017.

Mom is also survived by her daughter Kathy and her husband Shawn Holt and their children Molly Holt and Sam and Savannah Holt. Also her daughter Kerry and her husband Tim Davis and their children, Taylor and Cally Davis, Garrett and Elizabeth Davis, Brian and Sydney Speasl, Gabe Davis, and Max Davis. She is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren: Piper, Owen and Jude Engel; Jones and Hayes Holt; Lucy, Robert, Emily and Nora Davis; Isla and Aspen Davis; and Amara, Rowan and Wylie Speasl.

In Mom’s elementary school years, she contracted the terrible disease of polio. This caused many years of chronic pain and difficult times for our parents. In the last five years, our dad was our mom’s caretaker. He served her and our family selflessly. This is a testament to their strong marriage, continued love for each other and God’s grace. They set an example for all of us and we miss them so much.

Our mom and dad’s celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 20, at Harvest Church in Billings.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” — Jeremiah 29:11-13.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be given to Harvest Church or CRU (give.cru.org/Taylor and Cally Davis) in her name.

Our family would like to thank St. Vincent’s Hospital, Compassus Hospice Care and the kind staff at Skyline Heights for their wonderful care of our mom and dad in the past months.