Elizabeth Jean Montbriand

Elizabeth Jean Montbriand (née Stott) born in Bemidji, MN, 19 September 1923 to Alfred W. Stott and Lenna E. Stott (née King), Elizabeth Jean Montbriand passed on 24 June 2022 at her second home in Peters Creek, Alaska. Even though she passed at her Peters Creek home, her Bunnell street residence was where her heart remained and where she had built a life since 1951. The world has lost a talented, beautiful, kind, intelligent and loving woman. She lived a full life spanning over 98 years. Elizabeth was a remarkable mother and adored by all her children as well as many of her large extended family. Elizabeth married the love of her life Lyle James Montbriand on 2 January 1946 upon his return from his service in WW2 with the Army Air Force “Opera Torch.” She adored and missed him greatly after his passing. Elizabeth worked as a “Rosie the Riveter” and a welder in the shipyards of Vancouver, WA during WW2. She also earned her private pilots license, which she was very proud of, and teaching credentials. She then went on to teach at various schools around Bemidji, St. Paul, and Minneapolis, MN before making her trek to her new home in Alaska. Elizabeth’s first attempt to Alaska in 1948 resulted in being turned back due to a washout on the ALCAN Highway. She finally succeeded in arriving in Alaska and settling in Mt View in 1949 along with her husband, Lyle. Elizabeth and Lyle purchased a lot in Wonder Park on Bunnell Street in 1951, there they built a home and raised their family. Elizabeth was a wonderful mother, wife, and a teacher to her children. Her immediate and extended family remained Elizabeth’s true center of life. She lived side-by-side with two sisters and their families. She and her husband opened their home and life to many nieces and nephews as well as her mother and stepfather. One of Elizabeth’s greatest pleasures later in life was spending time with her family at their lake residence; she even managed a leisurely wade in the lake at the age of 97. Elizabeth’s accomplishments were many and varied before, during and through motherhood. A daughter, a sister, a student, a teacher, a wife, a mother, a caregiver, an aunt, a gardener, twice a college degree holder, and a carpenter. Elizabeth is survived by her son Randall J. Montbriand, daughters Sandra J. Montbriand, Marisa E. Montbriand and her husband, Steve Wisdorf, and Brenda J. Montbriand and her husband Glen Fuglestad. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, great-great nieces and great-great nephews. Elizabeth was loved and cherished and will be greatly missed. She requested that everyone should celebrate in their own special way, preferably “dancing, laughing and having a good time.” Many thanks to her niece Wendy Dudley (nee Carpenter) for her generosity and support throughout the years which Elizabeth and her family greatly appreciated. We would also like to extend our thanks to Laura, hospice nurse, and the rest of the Providence Hospice of Alaska family for their caring and remarkable support during this difficult time to both our mother and our family.