Our Mom - 1933 - 2013
Jackie Williams, 79, passed away at her home in Vancouver, Washington, on Friday, May 15th, 2013. A lifelong resident and community leader of Williston, she had spent the last 2 ½ years in Vancouver with her daughter and family.
Jackie was born “Joan Jacqueline” Collier in Billings, Montana, on May 12th, 1933, to Fred and Erna (Bratlie) Collier. She was the youngest of three children in her family, with two older sisters that she adored. The mountains and rivers of Montana provided the backdrop for her youth and she graduated from Billings High School in 1951. After relocating to Williston to be with her sister, Dorothy Daniels (Jack) and family, she met Dewey, the man who would be the love of her life. They were married in 1957. Jackie and Dewey raised their three children, Steve, Penny, and Al, together, and were also blessed to have Dewey’s daughter, Catherine (Dee) with them for several of the earlier years of their union.
Jackie’s priorities in life (in her own words) were; “her God, her family, her country, and her work - in that order”.
She and her family were vital and active members of the historic Congregational Church, which later became First Union Church. She had a beautiful singing voice, and found great joy in singing with the church choir every Sunday, as well as being involved in sustaining and organizational efforts of the church. After the closing of First Union Church, she joined the congregational family at Faith United Methodist Church.
Jackie may be best remembered for her passion for government and politics, and her vision and exhaustive efforts for the Republican Party. She served as Chair for District 1 GOP Republicans for several years. She also managed and contributed greatly towards the campaigns and election efforts of many district and state level candidates and elected officials. In 2004, Jackie was honored to perform her duty as one of three members of the North Dakota Republican Presidential Electoral College. The resounding testimony most heard from the political community was; “If you need to get something done – call Jackie”. Many wonder if her astounding record of getting results was based on respect…..or fear. It is reportedly a healthy measure of both.
The pinnacle of Jackie’s personal career and her most gratifying contributions came from her administrative position with the (then) Williston Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic. She was intimately involved with the organizational tasks of opening the clinic in 1971 and served as Clinic Manager for many years before choosing an early retirement to spend more time with her husband, children, and grandchildren. In 1982 she served as President of the North Dakota Medical Group Management Association.
If you ask Jackie’s family and close personal friends about their fondest memories of her, they will most likely be centered on Nanny and Papa’s cabin at Blacktail Dam. It started out as four walls on a foundation and an outhouse on a vacant lot, and over the years, grew to be somewhat more than that (indoor plumbing), but never anything extravagant. Nevertheless, it was, and always will be lovingly remembered as the setting in which her family gathered and celebrated, friendships flourished, joyful laughter was ever present, and adoring grandchildren played and ate pancakes. One of her grandchildren fondly recalls that “Nanny would let us run and play all day – and giggle all night”! It was Jackie’s favorite place in the world to be.
Jackie is survived by her son, Steven (Clare) Williams, Spring Lake Park, MN; her daughter Penny Borg (Bruce Gullingsrud), Vancouver, WA; her son Al (Debbie) Williams, Williston, ND; and step-daughter Catherine “Dee” (John) Wagenman, Orem, UT. She is also survived by her grandchildren Steven Williams, Mitchell Williams, Melissa (Chad) Nelson, Bryan Hovda, Lindsay Borg, Alison (Gary) Collier, Nichole (Mike) Koch; and great grandchildren, Daniel and Jaden Nelson and Kylee and Teagan Collier; as well as step grandchildren and step great grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces.
Jackie was preceded in death by her loving husband, Dewey; her parents; sisters Dorothy Daniels and Carol Redfern; her brother-in-law, Jack Daniels; her nephew Michael Daniels; and step grandsons, Michael and Matthew Wagenman.
A Memorial Service is planned for Saturday, May 11th, at the Faith United Methodist Church in Williston. Details will follow at a closer date.
Cards to the family may be sent to Penny Borg, 11005 NW 18th Avenue, Vancouver, WA, 98685. The family requests that memorials be sent to the Faith United Methodist Church in Williston, Trinity Christian School in Williston, or the charitable organization of your choice.