Janet Dancer Walsh

Janet Dancer Walsh, of Red Lodge, Montana passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 surrounded by her loving family.

Janet was born on May 29th, 1952 in Havre, Montana to Alice and Allan Dancer. While growing up, Janet attended schools in Malta, Montana. She later met and married Bud Walsh of Zortman, Montana. They had been married for 31 years and had two boys together, Justin and Brad. Janet loved living on the ranch that is settled at the base of the Little Rockies. She loved handling ranch work, keeping her garden and doing yard work in the summer time. Janet decided to pursue a career in Education while raising her family at the same time. She received a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Great Falls. She then taught at the Hays/Lodgepole School District for nearly 25 years. It was also during this time, that Janet earned two Master's Degree's. The first was a Master's of Education, and the second was a Master's in Guidance and Counseling. She had committed her life to teaching and helping students of all ages and abilities succeed in life. Janet loved nothing more than to see the accomplishments of her former students.

Janet loved her boys more than anything else in the world. She fully supported all of their activities which included being their biggest fans during wrestling, football and 4-H. She was extremely proud of the men that they had become later in life. She was always supportive of her family during good times and bad.

Later in life, Janet and Bud divorced and Janet moved to Nagoya, Japan to teach for a year there. She loved learning about new cultures, languages and customs. Living overseas created a desire to see more of the world. She had been to Thailand, China, Tibet, Hawaii and Europe. She also found a love for fly-fishing with her current husband, David Nortman. They traveled every summer to Helena and to the North Fork area to fish with their fishing friends. She could out fish anybody!

After teaching in Japan, she came back to Montana and became a Guidance Counselor at Red Lodge High School. She had been there for 14 years. Janet loved the life she lived with Dave in Red Lodge. They spent so much time in the mountains and on the water together. Janet also loved collecting antiques. Christmas ornaments and ladies compacts were a couple of her favorite things to collect. She had recently started refinishing antique furniture as well. We are quite sure that there is not an antique shop that she has not been to!

Janet's true love in life were her grandchildren: Kennedy Walsh, Collins Walsh, Shantel Keith and Jaron Laws. She never stopped talking about them. They spent as much time together as possible. Her presence in their lives is going to be deeply missed.

Janet is survived by her husband, Dave of Red Lodge; Her son Justin (Christina) Walsh of Helena; Her son Brad (Jen) Walsh of Billings; Her four grandchildren; Her brother Allan of Wyoming; Her brother Vincent of Washington; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Janet is preceded in death by her parents, Alice and Allan Dancer; and her brother, James.

Funeral services were held at the Red Lodge High School on Monday, July 6, with cremation to follow. Graveside Services will be held on Friday, July 17, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Phillips County Cemetery in Malta, MT. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: http://www.stevensonandsons.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Janet's honor to the American Cancer Society in Montana.