Mary Jean Niebur

Mary Jean Niebur, 91 years of age, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2024 at the Phillips County Hospital. Rosary will be held Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM at St. Mary's Catholic Church and funeral services on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Jean was born in Peoria, Illinois to David "Bill" Hickey and Effy Bernadette Hickey, on December 3rd, 1933. She was raised on a farm in Camp Grove, Illinois. Upon graduating from high school, she attended Marycrest Girls College in Davenport, IA, and acquired a degree in Elementary Education. She taught 1st grade for one year in Davenport, IA before meeting the love of her life, Mark Niebur. They married on July 7, 1956 in Camp Grove, IL and together they raised 7 beautiful children. Jean and Mark lived in Iowa and Nebraska, before moving to MT in 1968, and on to Malta in 1970 to try their hand at ranching. Jean's passion was her devotion to her religion, her love for her husband and family, and her never-tiring dedication to providing for the ranch crew...no matter how large or how unexpected...even minutes before the meal! Her famous sourdough pancakes, biscuits, and French toast, spaghetti and sheet cake, nourished and fed senators, seed company executives, guests, hunters, neighbors and drifters. She loved cooking for anyone who happened to show up and always had coffee on for a quick conversation. She was an accomplished bridge player and quite a character at the bowling lanes.... "High 5!" Her love for education was evident in all of the students that she tutored over the years at St. Mary's Catholic School. Her excitement for the good fortune of others was a hallmark of her character. She loved her Packers, Cubs and Malta Mustangs!! With five boys, she grew to tolerate unexpected critters in the basement, or in the freezer until they could be cleaned or skinned. Jean found great pride in her grand, and great-grandchildren. She loved receiving and displaying photos of them on her dining room hutch and was quick to brag about them with any visitor. Our fondest memory of Grandma Jean was her unique definition of, and prolific use of, her middle finger, which tickled us all... Jean is survived by children Bill (Pauline) of Des Moines, IA, Mary (Jay) Hunt of Spokane, WA, Joe (Cathy) of Colorado Springs, CO, John (Stacy) of Lewistown, MT, Tom (Darla) of Malta, MT, Jim (Marcie) of Big Timber, MT and Ann Sautter of Malta, MT, 17 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and her devoted best friend, John Sautter. She was proceeded in death by her husband of 68 years, Mark Niebur, her parents, and brothers Jay and Jerry Hickey. She was loved by all, and had unlimited time and energy to help those in need. Her quick wit one-liners, sassy and spunky personality, along with her unwavering strength and undying spirituality will be remembered forever.