Jean is a native of Butte, although it’s been such a long time since she’s been there, don’t ask her if she remembers anyone! She graduated from Butte High School in 1963 and spent her first year of college at what was then the Montana School of Mines. She moved to Billings in 1969 and finished her Bachelor’s in Education at MSU Eastern.
In 1974 Jean moved to Big Sky to start the First Run Day Care Center. It was located under the gondola room on the basement level of the Mountain Mall. It was wonderful to have a business where her kids could have access to the slopes of Big Sky.
Jean continued with many different jobs at Big Sky between the time she sold the day care center in 1976 and 1989. She’d always had the attitude that she’d rather starve in Big Sky than thrive elsewhere. Then the reality of future retirement dawned on her.
So….she dusted off that old Bachelor’s of Education, took classes at MSU Bozeman and got her teaching credential up to par. She found a teaching position in Victorville, CA starting in January 1990.
Moving to the Mojave Desert was a shock to the Montanan’s system, but she survived by becoming an active hiker in the Southern California Mountains and continuously heading to Big Sky at every opportunity.
Jean was also lucky enough to find a partner who also believed that Big Sky, Montana is a perfect place to live. Joel is from Massachusetts and New Hampshire with strong Appachian Mountain Club and Mount Washington Observatory ties. They were married on the summit of Mount Washington in 1993, then Joel also moved to California to teach.
Jean and Joel retired in 2007 and moved to Big Sky’s Meadow Village. They enjoy Alpine and Nordic skiing in the winter and canoeing, touring and hiking in the summer.
Jean rediscovered the joys of knitting a few years ago when her granddaughters wanted to learn the skill. She usually has at least three projects ‘on needles’ at a time and finds it to be a perfect expression of creativity for her. She especially enjoys working on custom projects. Folks who come into Made In Big Sky and see something she’s made, but prefer a different color only need to ask and she’ll knit it up as fast as she can find the appropriate yarn.
Jean White
Made in Big Sky Knitter
406-995-3216
Jeanwhite916@yahoo.com
