Jacqueline Gay Loper

Jacqueline Gay Loper, ("Jackie" to everyone lucky enough to know her) passed away Sunday April 22, 2012 at St. Vincent Hospital in Billings due to complications from a massive stroke. "Uff da!" as Jacki would have said. She was 71 years young and living in Park City with her husband Leland "Loop". Jacki went peacefully, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on July 30, 1940 in Northfield, MN to Gertrude and Thorvald Vangen. As a child, she loved to roller skate, ice-skate, and play with her siblings. Jacki grew-up in the shaddow of St. Olaf College where her father worked and she eventually became a student. In 1958, Jacki became a pen-pal to an Army serviceman named Leland Loper who was her uncle's friend. After a year and a half of letters they finally met in June 1959. Loop appealed to the rebel in her and made her laugh. They married on July 30, 1960 and had three children. Following multiple residences they finally landed in Roberts in 1977. Jacki and her family spent many wonderful yearsw racing dirt bikes (Jacki was the 'Pit Tootsie') camping and fishing. She especially enjoyed taking rides on the back of Loop's road bike. Jackie became a secretary/clerk for the school and touched so many student's lives with her quiet patience and great sense of humor. Once the kids were grown, Jacki and Loop moved to Broadview to experiment with bar ownership. In spring 2001 they began retirement by moving to Chehalis, WA. Six years later they decided they missed family, friends, and Jacki's sisters too much. THey moved back to Montana in 2007 eventually settling in Park CIty. Throughout Jacki's life, family was fiercely important. SHe cherished spending time with her sisiters; they were her best friends. Grandma Jacki most especially adored her eight grandchildren; they were the spark of Jacki's life! Vacations were centered aroudn trips visiting grandkids, following Loop on his motorcycle racing schedule, and unwinding in front of a casino keno/poker slot machine. Behind her massive earrings and glittery rings on every finger, she was a quiet person. At home she worked on puzzles, read mystery novels, painted bird houses and other crafts, sewed wall-hanginings and enjoyed lunches with her sisters. There's really not enough paper or words descriptive enough to capture how important and special Jacki was to those who loved her. Her whole life was oriented towards others and their happiness. Jacki will be incredibly missed. Left to cherish Jacki's memory is her husband Leland; children, Dale (Anne) Loper, Thor Loper and Stormi (Tim) Kiesow; siblings Beverly Vangen, Barbara McWilliams, Gary Vangen and Joni McKenzie; eight very special grandchildren. A private family service will be held in Laurel.

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