Jeannette Rita Deschamps was born September 7, 1926, in Castle Rock, South Dakota, to Hormidas E. Deschamps and Regina (Brodeur) Deschamps.

She was raised at Castle Rock, attending grade school in the area and in 1941 went to high school at St. Martin's in Sturgis, graduating in 1945. While attending high school she met Bryce Gillies. He came home on leave from the Army, and they were married in October.

Jeannette and Bryce worked at many jobs, even operating a restaurant in Newell, SD, the Stockman Café. Later Jeannette worked at Fort Meade for several years until they started a dairy on Hereford Route, where she could help Bryce do what she enjoyed most – helping her husband and making a home for their family. After Bryce's passing in December of 1973, Jeannette became a longtime member of the 'Idle Hour Club'. She also found time to work in the Meade County Treasurer's Office.

Later she married again, to Tom Jackson, and the couple moved to Gillette, where she worked first at Campbell County Courthouse, and then at Worthington.

Jeannette loved camping and fishing, gardening and flowers. One of her favorite things in life was to relax and go fishing after a hard day of work. Together, she and Tom, made many happy memories enjoying the outdoors and sitting with fishing poles in their hands.

Jeannette Rita Jackson, age 95, passed away on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at Sturgis Regional Senior Care, Sturgis, SD.

Jeannette is survived by her children, Boyce (Cindy) Gillies of Whitewood, SD, Regina (Jim) Bowman of Sundance, WY, Penny Nyberg of Chadron, NE; daughter-in-law, Kathy Gillies; grandchildren, Kelly Gillies, Sturgis, Jason (Carrie) Gillies, Colorado, Springs, CO, Melissa (Alan) Neville, Aberdeen, SD, Walker Gillies, Brainerd, MN, Amy (Scott) Mobley, Wendy (Efrain) Villalolos, Bryce (Jennifer) Bowman, Jimmy (Jennifer) Bowman, all of Gillette, and Jennifer (Brahim) Doummi, of Chadron, NE; 20 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Bryce Gillies; second husband, Thomas Jackson; son, Vance Gillies; brothers, Paul and Eloi Deschamps; sister, Violet Albertson, and son in law, Ed Nyberg.

Memorial services will be 10:00 a.m. on April 22, 2022, at St. Martin's Chapel in Sturgis. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to restoration of the St. Martin's Chapel.

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