Jeanne Whitney Koch

Jeanne Whitney Koch was born in Billings on March 11, 1941. She was a beautiful and precocious child.

Jeanne traveled a lot as a child when her stepdad, Don Enderle, was in the Navy. She graduated high school and came back to Billings to attend Eastern Montana College. She lived with her grandparents, Ivan and Genda Moody.

At that time, she met Gary Koch on a double blind date. They went to a dance at the VFW on Broadwater. Three months later, they were married.

She completed her college and went on to get her master's in special education.

Jeanne was unable to have children, so we adopted our children. We got the best: Leah in 1969 and Greg in 1972. The two loves of our lives.

Jeanne taught special ed at the First Presbyterian Church on Poly Drive. Later, she worked in several insurance companies in Billings.

Jeanne read every day, volumes of books. She was a book lover.

Jeanne leaves her husband of almost 54 years. They were married on July 6, 1963. She also leaves a son, Greg Koch and wife Mandy of Billings; a daughter, Leah Kabira of Naperville, Ill.; an ex-son-in-law Keng Kabira of Naperville; four beautiful and talented grandchildren, Kylee Koch, Kinsey Koch, Joe Kabira and Alice Kabira; a brother, Jim Enderle and wife Leeann of Lawton, Okla.; a sister, Jackie and her husband Rick Perry of Granbury, Texas; a stepsister, Harriet Cormack of Portland, Ore.; and two other stepbrothers with whom she had lost contact. Preceding Jeanne in death were her mother, Maylo Enderle; stepdad Don Enderle; father Robert Whitney and his wife Jean.

We are close to John and Darlene Fernelius; Jill and Dave Frodsham, their children Ashley and Jordan; our next-door neighbors, the Schneeter family, Bob, Kristy, Danyel, Apsyn, Hayden and Gryson.

Much love, Jeanne, we'll miss you forever.

A service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, May 8, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave.