June Regnier
Edna Shandy always preferred to be called
by her middle name, June. She was born on June 30, 1929, but the
doctor wrote June 29 on her birth certificate. She said that
way, if anyone forgot her birthday, they had two chances to get
it right. And that’s the kind of person she was all of her
life—always considering others, never wanting to put anyone out,
always trying to make things easy for everyone else, be they
close family or someone she just met. That’s just one of the
many reasons that most people who met her not only liked her but
loved her. June passed away peacefully on July 17, 2010,
surrounded by family and loved ones, dozens of whom came from
many parts of the country to tell her how much they loved her
and to say goodbye.
Born in Joliet, Montana, June was the youngest of ten children
born to Earl and Grace Shandy. She was raised during the Great
Depression and the World War II years. She graduated from Joliet
High School in 1947, completed beauty school, and became a
licensed beautician. She married Neal Regnier, her husband of 52
years, on November 12, 1948, when she was just 19 years old.
Their grandchildren recall their relationship as being more of a
courtship between a pair of smitten kids than a decades-long
marriage.
June owned and operated beauty shops at the old General Custer
Hotel and the Northern Hotel in downtown Billings, and later
opened June’s Beauty Shop in the family home, allowing her to
run her business and care for her growing family, daughter
Robyn, son Michael, and daughter Jana. June was an independent
business owner who routinely worked eleven-hour days in the
beauty shop while also raising children, cooking, and caring for
home.
She faced more challenges over the years then most people
encounter in a lifetime, including, two battles with breast
cancer and a serious brain tumor, not only did she survive these
adversities, she flourished, with all of the style, grace,
faith, and good humor that characterized her life. She and Neal
also cared for their family with great heart when her son
sustained a spinal cord injury; and she steadfastly cared for
Neal for many years while he declined and eventually succumbed
to Alzheimer’s disease in 2000.
June loved her life and all of the people in it. She viewed the
world with a sense of wonder and took delight in the many simple
pleasures of life, including walking many miles each day,
tending a much loved garden and a yard full of beautiful
flowers, creating artistic floral arrangements, refinishing
antiques, reading, needle work, bible study, dancing, cooking,
baking, a nice slice of pie at the Happy Diner (chocolate, of
course), and one hotcake for breakfast, BROWN. She was thrilled
to be a grandmother to four grandchildren, all of whom she and
Neal loved dearly and with whom she had strong, close
relationships. She always expressed great interest in their
lives and upon hearing of new endeavors would remark, “Now, tell
me about that.”
June maintained her spunk, wit, inquisitiveness, and unfailing
concern for others even into her final days. Her sweetness and
caring nature will be remembered and cherished by all of those
who were fortunate enough to have known and loved her.
She is survived by her sister Helen Brown of Forsythe, children
Robyn Foret and husband Aubrey of Picayune, MS, Michael Regnier
and wife Chrissie of Missoula, Jana Lutton and husband Randy of
Centennial, CO, grandchildren Vanessa and husband Nick, Athena
and fiancée Austin, Talia and husband Bojan, and Alex.
Tom Shoop of Roberts MT became a close companion and travel
partner over the last several years. She thoroughly enjoyed his
company.
A Vigil service will be help at 7:00 PM, Friday, July 23rd at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary and Crematory. The funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Thomas The Apostle Catholic Church on Saturday, July 24th at 11:00 AM. A luncheon will be provided after the service courtesy of the Alter Society.
Remembrances
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