Mary Hurlbert

BOZEMAN ~ Mary Jean (Rawn) Hurlbert, 98, passed away in Bozeman, MT of natural causes on November 13, 2022. Mary was born May 29, 1924 in Mott, ND to Clarence and Dorothy Rawn. She grew up in Mott with her brother and sister. Mary loved music and played trumpet in the church band and later in a dance band and with the Royal Neighbors.

After high school Mary worked in a Bismarck, ND doctor's office. Bismarck is where she met Clyde Hurlbert, a heavy equipment operator for the Northern Pacific Railroad. According to brother-in-law Ralph Wold, it was love at first sight, and he had to turn the car around so Clyde could offer her a ride. They married in Plevna, ND in 1940.

Daughter Jerrie was born in Glendive, MT and the family spent 5 years living in an NP outfit car traveling between St Paul, MN and the west coast. They settled in East Missoula for the next 50 years. Daughter Wendy joined the family in 1957. Both Clyde and Mary actively volunteered in the community. Mary was a member and past president of the East Missoula Women's Club sponsored by the Montana Extension Service. She spent the next 35+ years volunteering in the Missoula health community including working as an admissions clerk at Missoula General Hospital, originally the NP Hospital. She laughed at having to join the pipefitters union since they represented the hospital staff. March 16, 1979 was dedicated as Mary Hurlbert Day to honor her outstanding service in the hospital Auxiliary where she had served as president.

When Missoula General closed Mary took her experience to St Patrick's Hospital for many years. She manned information desks in Inhalation & Physical Therapy as well as the Cardiac ICU. She finally hung up her smock to enjoy retirement when she hit 88.

Following Clyde's death in 1998, Mary sold their house in East Missoula and moved into the new Burlington Square. She grew friendships and glorious purple petunias. In 2019 she moved to Spring Meadows Assisted Living in Bozeman to be closer to Wendy and her husband Randy. She gave up cross stitching for napping.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Clarence and Dorothy, brother William Rawn and sister Doris (Rawn) Anderson, her beloved husband of 58 years, Clyde, daughter Jerrie (Hurlbert) Schweizer and son-in-law Norman Schweizer, and too many loving friends and relatives.

Mary is survived by daughter Wendy (Hurlbert) McCarty and son-in-law Randy McCarty of Bozeman, granddaughter Jessie (McCarty) Wade, grandson-in-law David Wade and great-granddaughter Emilia Joy of Remington, VA plus numerous nieces and nephews and their families across the country, and best friend Shirley Wilson of Missoula.

Cremation has taken place, and Mary will be interred with Clyde at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Missoula. A memorial for friends and family will be held in Missoula in late May 2023. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Povarello Center, your local food bank or organization of your choice.

Her Journey's Just Begun

Don't think of her as gone away, her journey's just begun

Life holds so many facets, this earth is only one.

Just think of her as resting from the sorrows and the tears

In a place of warmth and comfort where there are no days or years.

Think how she must be wishing that we could know today

How nothing but our sadness can really pass away.

And think of her as living in the hearts of those she touched

For nothing loved is ever lost and she was loved so much.

-Ellen Brenneman