LOIS JEANETTE ALLEN, Obituary, Fergus Co., MT

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Lewistown Paper 1994
Lewistown, MT. Fergus County

Lois Jeanette Allen, 85. of Billings, passed away Monday, Sept, 19, at 
Valle Vista Manor.

She was born March 2. 1909, in York, NE, to Harry and Cora Martin.

In 1913, the family moved to Montana and homesteaded at Kachia in Fergus 
County. Lois graduated from Fergus County High School in 1927 and 
continued her education at the Wisconsin School of Music, earning 
teaching degrees in piano and violin.

On Aug. 24, 1934. she married Burleigh K. Allen in Madison, WI Burleigh 
died Nov. 22, 1989.

Lois devoted her life to a career in music.  She received her Musicians 
Union card in 1925 and began playing for country dances while still in 
high school

  She spent 34 years on a church organ bench and in 1983, retired from 
Smith Funeral Home in Billings after 26 years of service.

Besides teaching music, she also played for dance classes, recitals and 
entertained in hotel lobbies and lounges. These included the Stagecoach 
Inn in West Yellowstone and the Gallatin Gateway Inn.

On Sept. 1, 1953, she made Montana television history by performing on 
the first live telecast in the state. The telecast originated from radio 
station KOPR in Butte, for whom she did a live program of organ music 
every night from the Finlen Hotel.

Lois was a life member of Marie Chapter 36 O.E.S. and Ladies of the 
G.A.R. in Lewistown. She was also a member of the American Federation of 
Musicians 709 in Bozeman, and a life member of the American Federation 
of Musicians 642 in Helena.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Virginia Kalina, and 
a brother, DeLette Martin.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Cora and Bill Brew, of 
Billings: grandsons, Bill Brew of Scottsdale, AZ., and Jamie and Mike 
Brew of Billings: one sister, Murna J. Southworth of Lewistown; and one
brother, Richard T. Martin of Aurora, OR.

Funeral services were Friday, Sept. 23 at Smith Downtown Chapel in 
Billings. Interment was in the Mountview Cemetery. Memorials can be made 
to the Al Bedoo Shrine Hospital Transportation Fund, P.O. Bat
20673, Billings, Moot. 59104.