Jean Malin Craigie Ballou, age 94, died peacefully on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at the Comforts of Home in Hudson WI. Jean was born on July 2, 1918 in Minneapolis MN to parents James Arthur and Agnes (Johnson) Craigie. Jean would graduate from Brockton (MT) High School, and earn her degree from Northern Montana College in 1937, Havre, MT. She would receive her Bachelors in Home Economics from Montana State College in 1942, Bozeman, MT. Jean went on to receive her Masters in Counseling from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. In 1938, Jean was united in marriage to Daniel Joseph Nicholson, and their union was blessed with a son, Daniel James Nicholson (August 21, 1939 – April 21, 2012). Jean was later re-married to Virgil Ballou in 1957.

In the 1940’s, Jean managed a restaurant in Seattle WA, and later worked for Farm Service in Montana. She taught school in 1959 in Froid MT, Brockton MT, and Clinton MN. Jean worked many years for School District #281 as a school counselor at Sandburg Middle School in Robbinsdale, retiring in 1992.

Jean enjoyed traveling to such places as Russia, China, and Mexico. Among her other interests were eating healthy, exercising, sewing, watching television, flower gardening, and frequenting antique shops and estate sales. Jean became a resident of Comforts of Home in Hudson in January of 2007.

Jean is survived by her sister, Hazel Lockman of Poplar MT; daughter-in-law, Helen Nicholson of Hudson WI; grandchildren, Anne (Russell) Vossbrink of Phoenix AZ; and Daniel H. Nicholson of Madison WI; and great-grandchildren, Jack and Helaina Vossbrink. She was preceded in death by her son, Daniel James Nicholson; and her brother-in-law, Lyle Lockman.

A family graveside service will be held at a later date at the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in Brockton MT. Memorials preferred to Comforts of Home, 1111 Heggen Street, Hudson, WI 54016. Services entrusted locally to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson WI, and the Countryside Crematory. 715-386-3725