Funeral Services for Mary L. Jackson will be held Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the New Life Assembly Church with interment to follow in Central Montana Memorial Gardens.  Cloyd Funeral Home & Cremation Service is assisting with arrangements.

Mary L. Jackson, 96 of Lewistown, passed away Saturday, February 20th, at Valle Vista Manor of natural causes.  She was born February 27, 1913 in Hilger, MT to parents Clifford and Mary (Lasiak) Becraft.  Her only sibling sister Elsie was born two years later.  They lived in the Hilger and Maiden areas, attending school in the Folda, Maiden and Hilger schools.  She attended Fergus County High School graduating in 1930 with a two year teaching certificate.  She then taught at the Horse Ranch School for two years.  On October 29, 1932 she was united in marriage to Walter R. Jackson in Lewistown.  They rented a ranch West of Suffolk in the Salt Creek area.  This was during the depression era and times were hard, so they decided to sell their livestock and work for wages.  They found good jobs in the Martinsdale area on a big sheep ranch where she worked as a cook at the home ranch. After five years in Martinsdale, things begin to look up and they decided to try ranching again.  They moved to Eureka and again rented a ranch there.  The climate in that area was damp and cloudy and it was affecting Walter’s health so they decided to move to a dries climate, so they returned to Lewistown.  They found a ranch at Bercail, east of Judith Gap and they purchased the ranch in February of 1947.  Mary taught at the Bercail School for two years.  They operated the ranch running cattle and sheep for 42 years.  In 1989, they moved into Lewistown due to Walter’s declining health.  He preceded her in death later that same year.  She continued to live in Lewistown until the time of her death.
   
Mary was a member of the New Life Assembly Church and was active in the Grange when they lived in Eureka.
    
She is survived by one sister Elsie Merrill in Moscow, ID and numerous nieces and nephews.
    
In addition to her husband she was preceded in death by her parents.
    
    
Friends are asked to make memorials to the New Life Assembly Church or the charity of their choice and they may be left at the Cloyd Funeral Home.