Janet Ann Bloom, 80, passed away peacefully Dec. 30th, 2017 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena after an extended illness.  Services will be held this Saturday, January 6th at 2:30 at the Simms Methodist Church with a dinner to follow at the Simms Lion’s Club.  Burial will take place at a later date. 

Janet was born July 22nd, 1937 in Great Falls to Charles Marion Restelli and Bertha (Wolk) Restelli.  She grew up in Great Falls and was a proud Great Falls High Bison, graduating in 1955 in the top 10% of her class.  After high school she worked for 10 years as a secretary at Great Falls Federal Savings and Loan, and subsequently at Great Falls National Bank. 

            Shortly after graduating from high school, she met and started dating Robert (Bob) Bloom, whom she married on July 12th, 1957.  Thus began a remarkable marriage that lasted 60 years, culminating in the two of them celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this past July.  They had 3 children:  Doug (Connie) Bloom, Russ (Carol) Bloom, and Trish Martinez. Janet’s life centered around the love and activities of her family which was always her top priority.  In their retirement Janet and Bob became snowbirds, spending their winters in Yuma, AZ where they made many wonderful friends. 

            Bob and Janet moved to Simms in 1968 and began farming and ranching.  Though Janet was raised a “city girl”, she became the quintessential rancher’s wife and partner, cooking meals for large haying, branding and harvesting crews while also running parts when machinery broke down and performing whatever other tasks needed to be done.   She was active in the community as a member of The Simms Women’s Club; Simms United Methodist Church; Home Demonstration Club; Cub Scout Leader; and Church School Superintendent.

            Janet is preceded in death by her parents and her sister and brother-in-law Betty and Robert Parker.  She is survived by her husband, Bob Bloom; 3 children; 5 grandchildren (Nathan, Zeb, Jake, Maddie and Taylor), one step-grandson (Terry), 3 step-grandchildren (Mariah, Brayden, Dayne), one great-grandson (Roman), one niece (Sue Gorczyca) and one nephew (Don Parker).

            In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to either the Simms Park Fund (PO Box 56, Simms, MT 59477) or the Simms Methodist Church (PO Box 208, Simms, MT 59477).  

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