Mary Ellen Van Tighem

Mary Ellen Van Tighem, 90, of Great Falls, passed away Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at Grandview Transitional Care. A Memorial Service will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at O’Connor Memorial Chapel. Mary Ellen was born November 2, 1926 in Great Falls, Montana.She attended McKinley Elementary, Paris Gibson Junior High and graduated from Great Falls High School. Mary Ellen was a very dedicated homemaker to her husband Joe of 65 years, sons Gary and Steve and daughter Laurie. Mom always made sure we had hardy meals every day to eat and pressed clean clothes to wear.In our neighborhood mom was known for having the cleanest house around.Whenever any of our friends came over to visit the first thing they had to do was take their shoes off before coming in. If there were guests who liked to smoke, they were welcome to do so as long as they smoked outside.Mom didn’t care if it was 30 below zero they were not going to smoke in her house! Mom enjoyed sewing and embroidering and loved hiking in Glacier National Park and themountains in general. As a young girl she moved from Great Falls with her family to Bole, Montana where she had lots of fun with her brother Earl “In the country.”They loved to sit on the homestead porch and watch the wheat blow in the wind as the trains made their way to Choteau, Montana. Mom lived in Bole for several years, but had to move back to Great Falls as she missed too much school due to distance and weather. Mom enjoyed her large family and it was not uncommon for her and her sisters to sing on a moment’s notice while doing chores, something she continued doing throughout her life, especially during the holidays. When mom was a young woman working at Beckman, she used the monies she made to pay off an account at a neighbor grocery store for her folks.Mom never mentioned to her parents she was doing it and she never wanted any credit for paying the debt.It was just what you needed to do to help family during difficult times. During her later years, when she and dad could no longer drive, they enjoyed long walks around the neighborhood.Mom especially enjoyed and marveled at the many beautiful old homes that dotted 3rd Avenue North as they walked to mass at St. Ann’s Cathedral. Mom was a loving and caring mother who will be missed by those who knew and loved her. Mary Ellen is survived by daughter Laurie (Mark) Frahm of Great Falls; sons Gary Van Tighem and Steven (Lex) Van Tighem both of Great Falls; sister Karen Mee (Lewis) Manseau of Sun River; nine grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Paul Van Tighem; parents Chester Earl and Pauline Jackson; brothers Chester Earl Jackson Jr. and Lloyd James Jackson; sisters Iola Little, Pearl Dale, Dolores Brown, and Marcia Clark. In Lieu of flowers please send memorials to Grandview Transitional Care at P.O. Box 7008 Great Falls, Montana 59406