Violet Helen Gilbert Haigh January 28, 2018
ENNIS - Violet Helen Gilbert Haigh, 90, passed into God’s hands in Ennis, Sunday, January 28, 2018.
Vi was born July 16, 1927 in Benton Harbor, Michigan. She was the oldest child born to Bob and Henrietta Gilbert. She was steadfast and determined to earn a college degree. She paid for college by working as a nanny for a dentist. Later, she worked as a telephone operator in Yellowstone Park, thus started her love of Montana and the outdoors. She went on to earn a teaching degree from Western Michigan University.
A pioneer and independent woman, she moved to Harlowton, Montana in 1949 to begin her teaching career. She taught school in several small communities before landing in Three Forks. She met and fell in love with a local boy, June G. Haigh. From that union two sons were born in Cut Bank, John and Gary. They spent many happy times together camping, hunting and fishing.
After going back to school for her fifth year degree, the family moved to Ennis where she became a Chapter 13 Special Educator. Her job helped many students succeed in school. Vi volunteered countless hours for the Ennis Presbyterian Church in many different roles. For over 30 years, she was a Red Cross CPR and First Aid Instructor, making a stronger community for the residents in the Madison Valley. In 2001, she received the distinguished American Red Cross Hero Award. Her years of service to others impacted many people and she will be greatly missed.
She grew up a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan attending games in Chicago with her family. She was ecstatic when the Cubs won the World Series in 2017.
She is survived by her husband, June Haigh of Ennis; son, John (Kathy) Haigh, Billings; grandchildren, Katrina (Dallas) Sluder; Jay Baker, Jason (Courtney) Baker, Karisa (Dean) Boyington; and 12 great-grandchildren, Madison, Skylar, Taytum, Autumn, Jordan, Tristany, Brayden, Bailey, Ella, Ole, Tommie and Amelia Violet; and many special nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Henrietta, her brother, Bob, sister, Marian, and son, Gary.
Celebration of Life will be held Friday, June 1st at 2:30 p.m. at the Madison Valley Presbyterian Church with graveside services in Three Forks on Saturday, June 2nd at 1 p.m. In Lieu of gifts, memorials may be made to the Gary R. Haigh EMS Education Scholarship Fund at the Billings Clinic Foundation.