Jane Lopp, 73

Jane Lopp passed away Friday, April 21, 2017, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle as a result of traumatic injuries sustained in a car accident on the 18th. She was 73.

She was born in Billings on Feb. 16, 1944, and adopted at birth by Russell “Ben” and Edith Wallace of Great Falls. She attended Paris Gibson before the family moved to the Flathead in 1958 where she attended and graduated from Flathead High in 1962. Jane graduated from the University of Montana with a Bachelor of Arts in English degree.

After beginning her career as a newspaper reporter for the Park County News in Livingston and substitute teacher, she worked as a planner for Flathead County from 1974-1977. She then served as the Economic Development Director for Northwest Montana Human Resources from 1978-1979 before initiating a career in insurance and financial planning. Jane joined Prudential in 1989 after 10 years with Equitable. Jane was a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Certified Long Term Care (CLTC) consultant.

Jane was a force of nature, who was genuinely interested in the lives, relationships, goals and concerns of every person she met. She was a fierce advocate for justice, for her community, her clients and her family. She tirelessly fought for women’s rights and was an important figure in the Equal Rights movement at the local, state and national levels. An outstanding athlete, Jane was one of the first women at Flathead High School to letter in track, was a terrific softball and basketball player and loved the outdoors. Jane was discovered to have a rare form of muscular dystrophy in her 30s and yet never let it slow her down or limit her activities. Throughout her life she was a staunch supporter of youth sports in the Flathead and could be found next to the scorer’s table, next to the bench or behind the backstop at basketball, volleyball and softball games at both Glacier and Flathead. Her passion to serve others was demonstrated by the length and breadth of her professional and volunteer work. Driven by the pursuit of excellence, Jane was a valued mentor and ally, an indefatigable and empathetic supporter and advocate for children, the disabled and disadvantaged, minority groups, education and fairness. A lifelong learner, she invited conversation, encouraged thoughtful and respectful discussion and exploration, considered all potential points of view and then fearlessly and forcefully proceeded. She creatively helped individuals and groups to see and then realize unimagined opportunities, solutions and ultimately a better world.

Business: Prudential Field Advisory Council 2004-2006, Financial Planning Advisory Committee 1977-2006, (Chair 2004-2006). Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, Business & Development Committee (Masterplan Update). Montana Life & Health Guaranty Association (Board of Directors, 1994-2017) (Secretary-Treasurer 1994-2017). Northwest Montana NAIFA, 1980-2017, (President, 1988-1989). Montana Association of Life Underwriters, 1980-2017, (Board, 1987-1989). Private Industry Council, 1988-1998. Flathead Cooperative Planning Coalition- 1994. Northwest Montana Human Resources Development Council (Economic Development Director, 1978-1979). Flathead Area-wide Planning Organization Planner 1974-1978. Committee on Rural Development 1977, (Chair). Liaison with Columbia River Basin Commission 1975-1977.

State Appointments: Montana Human Rights Commission, 1993-2001 (Chair 1995-1997). Governor’s Council for Montana’s Future, 1992. Montana Women’s Prison Site Selection Committee-1991 (Chair). Supreme Court Gender Fairness Task Force, 1990-2017. Montana School for the Deaf & Blind Foundation, 1988-1996. County Printing Board 1991-1993 (Chair). Governor’s Council for Women in Employment 1981-1985, (Chair, 1981-1983). Montana State Extension Advisory Council, 1977-1983. Co-Chair, Governor’s Conference on Employer Sponsored Child Care 1986. Coordinator with Montana Comparable Worth Study Task Force 1983-1985. Montana Extension Service Advisory Council, 1980-1985.

Community: Kalispell ERA Council Charter Member. Flathead County Library System Board of Trustees, 2008-2017. Flathead City County Health Board, 1987-1995 (Chair, 1989-1995). United Way of Flathead County (Board of Directors, 1987-1992), (Executive Committee, 1988-1992), (Nominating Committee, 1987-1989), (Chair, 1987), (Strategic Planning Committee- Chair, 1990-1992). American Association of University Women, (Montana State President, 1980-1982), (State Board, 1975-1990), Kalispell Branch, 1974-Present, (Co-Chair “An Afternoon with Mae Sarton”), (Co-Chair “An Evening with Carolyn Heilbrun”). Kalispell Rotary Club (Membership Chair), (President 1991-1993), (Newsletter Co-Editor, 1993-1997), (Rotary Basketball Team Sponsor for many years). IFUW (Group Facilitator Women and Work at Triennial Conference, Netherlands 1983), (UN Seminar Pairing Model Montana And New Zealand). Disabled Recreational Access Movement Board (DREAM), 1986-1993. Flathead County 4-H Council and 4-H Council and 4-H Leader 1974-1984. Hedges School and Russell School PTA, 1970-1980. School Dist. 5 Accreditation and Advisory Committees, 1968-1990. Montana Child Abuse Prevention Council, 1985-1988. Flathead Child Abuse Prevention Council, 1986-1989. MSU Project 80, 1980. University of Montana Alumni Association, Life member. University of Montana Fine Arts Advisory Council 2005-2017.

Awards: Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Great Chief Award, 1995 (Co-Recipient with Robert Lopp), Montana Women’s Lobby Carry the Torch Award, 1995. 4-H Silver Clover Award 1980. AAUW Named Gift Honoree, 1982, 1993. Glacier Pilot Club Disabled Professional Woman of the Year, 1992. Centennial Equity Award, IMAGE (In Montana Awareness Generated Equity). Who’s Who in American Women, 1992-2017.

Political: Flathead County Republican Central Committee. Precinct Committeewoman Flathead County 1992-1998. Montana Republican Women Board, 1980-1986 (Nominating Committee Chair, 1986), (Resolution Chair, 1983), (District Director, 1980-1982). Flathead County Republican Women 1969-2017.

Jane is survived by her husband of 53 years, Bob Lopp, daughter Cheryl Finley and her husband Franklin “Chip” Finley, with granddaughters Sara, Lara and Mary, son Bobby Lopp with granddaughters Madison, Xio and Brinkley Lopp.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at Darlington Funeral Home and a celebration of Jane’s life and contribution will be held at 4 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jane may be made to: the ImagineIF Library Foundation, Kim Crowley, Director. Call 758-5826 for more information; Flathead Rotary Community Foundation, P.O. Box 481, Kalispell, MT 59903; or the United Way, https://unitedwaycares.org/give