Joan Toole, 92, passed away peacefully on Nov. 17, 2015, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Dana O’Keefe Toole and Jeffrey Folsom in Helena. Joan maintained her amazing optimism and energy up until the very end, visiting with her family and friends; working her way through the Sunday crossword; and even beating a grandson at backgammon.
Joan’s greatest loves were her family – all 50-plus of us – and Montana — its high, wide spaces and its people. Through her love, enthusiasm and devotion to family and community, Joan leaves a remarkable legacy to Montana, the state she loved. Since moving here in 1949, Joan advocated for public education, environmental health and libraries.
Joan was born April 3, 1923 in Ipswich, Mass., to Barbara Campbell Trimble and Dana Trimble. She was class president at Dana Hall School and captain of the field hockey team. Joan and her sister, Sheila, spent summers learning to ride, swimming in the Ipswich River, and with Campbell cousins at the family’s Vermont farm to camp, hike, and mend fences. Joan was always happiest in her jeans and flannel shirt, on the back of a horse or traipsing through the woods with her cousins. Â
In 1939 Joan, her mother and sister drove across the country to spend a week at a dude ranch near Miles City. Â Joan knew then that she wanted to live in Montana and that she wanted to be a rancher and have a large family. Â
Joan graduated from Antioch College in Ohio, with a degree in accounting. Â At Antioch, she met and in 1943 married John Marchi, a classmate and naval aviator who was headed to the Pacific theater. Â When John returned from World War II the couple headed west and to start a family. Â The couple welcomed their son Jon and daughter Jael while John completed Law School in Michigan and a Masters of Finance at Stanford.
In 1949, the family moved to Helena where John was the Montana’s first Commissioner for Oil and Gas and two more children, Charis and Peter, were born. Â In 1954, Joan was a founding member of the Montana League of Women Voters with friends Laura Nicholson and Harriett Meloy. The League was a lifelong passion for Joan. In 1955, Joan’s dream of a Montana ranch was realized when she and John purchased and relocated to a cattle ranch near Luther, Mont. Â
After Joan and John were divorced, Joan married K. Ross Toole in 1960 and the family expanded with the addition of Ross’s son, K. Ross Toole Jr. (Ken). Â The family made a temporary move to Santa Fe, N.M., where daughter Dana and son David joined the brood. Â Joan and Ross retained management of the Luther ranch while living in Santa Fe, coming home every summer in a Land Rover filled with kids and pets to oversee haying and the purchase and sale of cattle. Â The family happily returned to Montana and full time ranching in 1962. Â
In 1965 Joan and Ross left the beloved Luther ranch moving teenagers and toddlers to Missoula where Ross was the Hammond Chair of Western History at the University of Montana. There Joan earned a Master’s in Finance from the UM School of Business. Â Joan began her career as a political and environmental activist by joining Missoula’s GASP (Gals Against Smog and Pollution).
As soon as they could, Ross and Joan moved the family out of the city to a ranch up Mill Creek in the Bitterroot Valley. While Ross commuted daily to UM, Joan happily managed the ranch, caring for the kids, cows, sheep, horses and St. Bernard’s. Joan loved to irrigate. Her kids finally figured out she liked to escape out of doors, into the landscape where she could find peace and solitude.
In Ravalli County, Joan served on the Tax Appeal Board and as Refugee chairman for the many Hmong who had resettled there. Joan’s work welcoming Laotian families to Montana exemplified her dedication to community and pride in citizenship. Environmental and social activists in the 1970’s Joan and Ross were founding members of the Montana Environmental Information Center. In 1972 Joan worked tirelessly through the League to successfully ratify the Montana Constitution.
Ross died in 1981 and in 1985 Joan completed a Master’s in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Â She returned to live in Helena with a renewed commitment to public service, to continue Ross’s and her dedication to protecting what they loved about Montana–the land and its people.
In Helena, the governor appointed her to serve on Board of Natural Resources and Conservation, and she lobbied for the Office of Public Instruction during legislative sessions, and worked for the Department of Revenue. Joan also continued her volunteer work for non-profit environmental organizations, libraries, schools, the Democratic Party, the League and the Harvard Club. Â
Until the last week of her life, Joan spent time out of doors. Â Joan preferred walking to driving where she could. In winter she was a common sight around Helena with her ski pole in hand. Â She was an avid birder. She played tennis weekly into her 80’s when a shoulder injury sabotaged her not-so-wicked serve. Â Her Subaru, covered with political bumper stickers supporting causes and candidates close to her heart, was always packed with her camping and fishing gear in the summers, and her cross country and downhill skiing gear in the winters. Â
 Joan’s greatest love and commitment was to her children, her 25 grandchildren, and her 17 great-grandchildren. Joan remained engaged and interested in their lives, work and education, introducing each of them to the things she loved and securing her legacy.
Joan is survived by her sister, Sheila Trimble (Horan) Metcalf, Helena; children, Jon Marchi (Liz), Polson; Jael Marchi Prezeau (Mike), Helena; Â Charis Marchi Hautzinger, Germany; Peter Trimble Marchi (Cheryl), Martinsdale; Dana O’Keefe Toole (Jeff Folsom), Helena; David Campbell Toole (Nancy), Durham, NC; Kenneth Ross Toole, Jr. (Nancy) Cascade; Â grandchildren, Aphia Marchi Fisher; Jon Jacob Marchi; Cherche Prezeau; Christopher Prezeau; Chandler Prezeau; Jesse Hautzinger; Dustin Hautzinger; Casey Hautzinger; Greg Marchi; Maria Marchi Rosenberg; Miles Marchi; Haili Graff; Janelle Jones; Nicole Tanner; Justin Folsom; Brennan Folsom; Aaron Folsom; Gabe Toole; Ben Toole; Finn Toole; Kate Toole ; Kenneth Ross Toole, III; Keefe Toole; Palmer Harris, Cece Harris, and Annie Hamilton; and seventeen great-grandchildren.
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Joan Toole was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral in Helena where memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Dec. 5. Â Following the service, Joan’s family will receive guests at the Montana Club. Interment will be in Hamilton, Montana.
Memorials may be made to the Montana Environmental Information Center or any charity of your choice. Messages to the family may be sent by visiting the website: http://www.helenafunerals.com. An outdoor celebration of Joan’s life will be held in 2016.
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Big Sky Cremation & Twitchell Funeral Se rvice says
4 files added to the album Memories Album
Justin Folsom says
20 files added to the album Memories Album
Anonymous says
Heavenly Heights Bouquet was purchased for the family of Joan Toole.
Ryan Toole says
1 file added to the tribute wall
Dana Toole says
2 files added to the album New Album Name
Dana Toole says
Thank you Ryan!
Kim Wilson says
It was always so nice to have Joan join us at David’s various birthday parties and other events at my house in Helena — and to share St. Peters “flipper Sunday” breakfasts after church with her. Joan was always engaged and engaging, a wonderful role model for us all!
Dixie Lynn (Lockhart) says
Our most sincere sympathy at the loss of your mother. She was truly a remarkable woman and one of our best neighbors when we lived on Bowman Road east of Corvallis, MT. She gave my youngest son, Stacy Lockhart, a horse that she called Mustang. He loved that horse. We all loved Joan. With heartfelt sympathy from Rocky, Cindy, Brian and Stacy Lockhart and their mother, Dixie Lynn (formerly Lockhart) now of Harpster, Idaho.
Carolyn Squires Missoula, MT says
Serving in the Montana State Senate when Joan was working was an absolute treat and informative. She always had a smile and warm greeting when you met. Her Grandson, Dana’s son,was working the Legislature that particular Session. She was so proud to see him on the rostrum.
I also worked at Community Hospital in Missoula when K, Ross Toole was so sick. Joan’s dedication to Ross was fantastic, supportive and loving in his last days. They were soulmates and it was obvious.
It is sad to see this friend pass but we all must.I feel my life would have a hole in it had I not established a Friendship with this dear Lady.
Rest in peace Dear friend . Job well done for all Montanans!
H. D. Hampton says
Ah Joan Toole! How we admired her, lovely, talented, tolerant. Montana was blessed with her presence and is a much better place due to her endeavors. We will miss her. H. D. Hampton
Susan Little Stanaway says
I have many fond childhood memories of life on the Luther Ranch with the Marchi family! Also great times later with the Toole family. I found a few pictures in my fathers darkroom from those times past. Joan lived a full and long life, so sorry for your loss. Susan Little Stanaway
Molly Campbell says
Joannie was a wonderful person. As one of those cousins back east I was really lucky to get to know her well. When she was at the Kennedy School she spent quite a lot of time with Sally and I doing fun things like going to plays and dance performances, cooking dinner and going on walks on the beach at Ipswich and Plum Island. She was always interested and interesting. Years later she came to Boston fairly regularly to look up things at the genealogical society and again I got to meet her for dinner or to drive her north to visit Dick or Jo. She often brought some of Aphia’s homemade soap, and she always talked joyfully about everyone back in Montana so that I felt like I knew you all. I always admired her spunk and flexibility. I remember when she was 80 I went to a family party at Jon’s ranch, and Joannie was prepared to lay her sleeping bag out in the back of her station wagon for the night if there wasn’t an available bed inside. The last time I saw Joannie was when Justin drove her from Boston to New Hampshire and Vermont. Thank you Justin. Love, Molly
Molly Campbell says
1 file added to the tribute wall
Marjorie Fulton says
Loris, Ryan and I have very fond memories of our visits to the ranch near Luther. Our brother Allan was probably too young to remember the fun. As Ryan and I discussed, it does not take much for us to hear the sound of her lovely voice. What a great lady. Marjorie
Gail Hotchkiss DeBono says
I always enjoyed when Joan would come into CVS! At first I was a little concerned about her walking around in the winter. It didn’t take long before I realized her and her poles could handle anything. She was one fierce lady! I’m a better person for knowing Joan and I will miss her and carry her in my heart.
Sincerely,
Gail
CVS 8617
Brad Burgess says
While growing up in the Bitterroot, I was friends with the family. I have many fond memories of Joan ‘s exuberance and passion she exhibited in life. She was a beautiful lady and I feel blessed to have known her. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I am sorry for your loss.
Mike Rose says
Dana and David: I am so sorry to hear about your mother’s passing. What a great caring lady she was. I remember her getting me to help her mother get some minor things fixed around her home during the summers when I wasn’t teaching. I also remember her being very interested in your education and had several very interesting parent/teacher conferences with her. The knowledge she had in many different areas was always amazing to me and her kindness and thoughtfulness of others was exemplary. I know that you will miss her but the wonderful memories you all have will be there forever. I pray that you will find peace and know that she will continue to look down on you and guide you. May god bless you and please accept my heartfelt condolences to you and the rest of the family. She will be missed.
Mike Rose
Corvallis, MT.
Anonymous says
Country Basket Blooms was purchased for the family of Joan Toole.
Tonia Bloom says
I’m thinking of Joan and of you all. Joan was someone who seemed as though she could go on forever…..and she came close. I have many memories of Joan in the Bitterroot years as part of the great group of Ravalli County League of Women Voters women, who were such a big part of my life, and so many of whom have passed on in recent years. I still go by the house on Mill Creek Road frequently. My condolences to all of you for the loss of a special person. Tonia Bloom
Michelle Stearns says
The passing of Joan leaves us with a heavy heart, but with gratitude and joy to have known this truly remarkable woman. Montana is big country and she was tall timber, and her legacy is far-reaching. A champion for conservation, for women, and for Montana. We go forth knowing that we must now pick up the flag that for so many decades has been carried by our ancestors, our leaders, who taught us the way, and broke the path.
We are sorry we could not be at the services on Saturday, but look forward to joining an outdoor celebration this summer. Please let us know when that gets scheduled. Our condolences, best wishes, and hugs to the family.
Michelle Stearns and Pat Smith
1733 McClure Road
Arlee, Montana 59821
Mary Sexton says
What an amazing woman and mentor to many, including me! She lived a full, constructive, loving life. She is one of my favorite people from the Bitterroot and Helena. May you all carry on with Joan’s passions and actions. Joan’s was indeed a life well-lived.
Warm thoughts to all her family.
Mary Sexton
Choteau
Jessica Little (Sweeney) says
I met Joan when I was in high school, I responded to an ad at the counseling center for a woman who needed some help around her home. I loved spending time with her and learning all I could about genealogy and listening to stories about her husband. I loved teaching her the phrase “when in doubt, throw it out”, so she didn’t keep so much junk mail or random pieces of paper around. She was an amazing woman and she will be greatly missed.