Obituary of Joan Crowell

Joan (Hoyt) Crowell, aged 87, of Great Falls, passed away surrounded by her family following a short illness on August 28, 2025. She was born on August 10, 1938, in Portsmouth, NH to Edward and Pearl Hoyt. She graduated from Portsmouth High in 1956. She met Garland Crowell when she was a sophomore, and he was a junior. Garland joined the Air Force and returned to marry her when she turned 18. They moved with the military and lived in Wyoming, Texas, Montana, South Carolina, Montana, Alaska, and finally returning to Montana in 1977 to retire. They have been Gore Hill residents since 1978. They were married 69 years. She loved yard work, knitting, and crocheting. She spent a lot of time with the horses in the back country. Joan and Garland were founding members of the Charlie Russell Back Country Horseman. She was an avid hunter and fisherman. She was a teller for First National Bank for many years. She became the receptionist and bookkeeper for Dr. Rogers Animal Clinic. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Janet. She is survived by her husband, Garland; daughters, Debbie (Vince) Cargile and Dawna LaRoque, both from Helena; sons, Gary and Scott (Colleen) Crowell of Idaho; 5 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; her brother, Jack (Meridith) Hoyt; sister, Janella Jones; and numerous nieces and nephews. She will be buried in the family plot in Newington, NH. No public services planned. Condolences for the family may be shared online at www.SchniderFuneralHome.com.