Joni McQuain

Joni Newell McQuain, age 84 of Broomfield CO, and formerly of Belle Fourche, passed away peacefully the morning of November 23, 2018. Her son Greg, and her daughter Renee, were at her side. 

Joni was born May 31^st, 1934. She grew up in Belle Fourche, with her parents Lon and Ella Newell, and older sister Rosemary.  As a young girl she loved to play outside, often by the river and the rodeo grounds.  One day she did not return home on time and her father Lon came looking for her. He booted her in the pants all the way home.  She taunted her sister Rosemary, who was ten years older, by dancing in front of her boyfriends, with underwear on her head. 

Joni loved school, learning, music, and riding her horse Tar Baby.  From her first moments on a horse, Lon and Ella agreed “She can ride!”.  She carried those three words throughout life as a mantra in times of challenge.  She was not allowed to learn to drive a car until she was bucked off her horse.  Wittingly she rode Tar Baby through a gate at the rodeo grounds, was bucked off, and then allowed to learn to drive. 

Joni attended the University of Colorado, in Boulder Colorado. She pledged with the Chi Omega Sorority and loved her sorority sisters. Joni studied music as she sang in the Modern Choir and played piano and clarinet.  On one occasion, Joni had a singing exam, and her song was in Italian.  She was nervous, and as she sang, she forgot Italian. She instantly continued the song in Latin, until she remembered Italian. Nobody noticed the difference. 

Joni became a music teacher in the Denver public school. She later was married and raised her daughter, Renee, and her son Greg.  She then worked as an administrative assistant in various capacities, until she retired.  She continued her love for music, performing in many local choirs, including her most recent, the Anthem Ranch Singers, as well as a barbershop quartet, Four in a Chord. She marched in the Belle Fourche Cowboy Band every July 4^th, playing clarinet, until her late 70’s.  She loved spending time with her neighbors, and her family.  Her greatest pride were her grandchildren, Meghan, Josh, Zack, Lindi and Luke.

Joni was a devout Catholic and never lost her faith. She always remained committed to the Lord Jesus.

Mom, we know you are singing away in heaven, healthy and strong, reunited with your family. We love you and miss you.

A celebration of her life will take place 2:30pm Saturday, December 1^st, 2018 at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche.  Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service, with interment in Pine Slope Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Black Hills Roundup Cowboy Band.  Everyone is invited to wear bright colors in honor of Joni.  She loved the colors blue, yellow, and purple, the Denver Broncos and Colorado University. 

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